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HOME CONTACT E-Learning Unit 3: The EU Institutions and Modes of Governance Introduction The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe Dissolving of the Pillar Structure Reforming the Union´s Competencies A Clear-Cut Catalogue of Competences? Categories of Competences Reforming the Procedures and Instruments Revision Procedures Legislative Procedures Budgetary Procedure A Revised Institutional Architecture The European Parliament Increase in Competence and Function With New Strength Towards a Bicameral System A Full-Fledged Parliament? The European Council An Expanded List of Tasks The President of the European Council The Council of Ministers Composition of the Council and its Presidency The New Majority Formula An Enhanced Ability? The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs The European Commission Reforms in the Light of European 'Leitideen' An Enhanced President of the Commission The College Perspectives Towards a New Institutional Balance? In a Fusion Trend? The TCE as a Further Step in the Evolution of European States? Further Readings .	The President of the Commission 2004-2009 - José Manuel Barroso. Source: Paul O´Driscoll III.5.1 An Enhanced President of the Commission With view to the enlargement of the Commission, the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) has reinforced, quite contrary to original institutional visions that emphasised the collegiate principle, the tasks of the President and his prerogatives within the college (Art. I-27 TCE) - ranging to the possibility of dismissing single 'colleagues' following his request (Art. I-27 (3) TCE). A censure motion in the European Parliament cannot target the president alone, but the Constitutional Treaty continues with the tradition that a vote of no-confidence will affect the entire college. The rights of the designated President to select his colleagues are, however, and contrary to the proposal of the Convention, subject to a common accord with the Council (Art. I-27 (2) TCE) [Graphic]. Assuming a triangle of tension between the collegiate system, the responsibility of each Commissioner for his domain and the claim to leadership of the President, the Constitutional Treaty will strengthen the position of the President; it will also have to be observed, if and how the President can steer his sizeable team. Considering the size and heterogeneity of the Commission, the creation of separate, more or less 'firm' groupings cannot be excluded. It is less clear along which criteria such informal coalitions could form: based on personal trust, their specific fields, party-political preferences, interests of member states or even a mixture of these. Links: European Commission website Code of conduct Commission Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe	Art. I-27 TCE 'Election of the Commission' 1. Taking into account the elections to the European Parliament and after having held the appropriate consultations, the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall propose to the European Parliament a candidate for President of the Commission. This candidate shall be elected by the European Parliament by a majority of its component members. If he or she does not obtain the required majority, the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall within one month propose a new candidate who shall be elected by the European Parliament following the same procedure. 2. The Council, by common accord with the President-elect, shall adopt the list of the other persons whom it proposes for appointment as members of the Commission. They shall be selected, on the basis of the suggestions made by Member States, in accordance with the criteria set out in Article I-26(4) and (6), second subparagraph. The President, the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs and the other members of the Commission shall be subject as a body to a vote of consent by the European Parliament. On the basis of this consent the Commission shall be appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority. 3. The President of the Commission shall: (a) lay down guidelines within which the Commission is to work; (b) decide on the internal organisation of the Commission, ensuring that it acts consistently, efficiently and as a collegiate body; (c) appoint Vice-Presidents, other than the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, from among the members of the Commission. A member of the Commission shall resign if the President so requests. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall resign, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article I-28(1), if the President so requests.
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EU E-Learning Units

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E-Learning Unit 3: The EU Institutions and Modes of Governance

Reforms in the Light of European 'Leitideen'
An Enhanced President of the Commission
The College

The President of the Commission 2004-2009 - José Manuel Barroso.

Source: Paul O´Driscoll

III.5.1 An Enhanced President of the Commission

With view to the enlargement of the Commission, the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) has reinforced, quite contrary to original institutional visions that emphasised the collegiate principle, the tasks of the President and his prerogatives within the college (Art. I-27 TCE) - ranging to the possibility of dismissing single 'colleagues' following his request (Art. I-27 (3) TCE). A censure motion in the European Parliament cannot target the president alone, but the Constitutional Treaty continues with the tradition that a vote of no-confidence will affect the entire college. The rights of the designated President to select his colleagues are, however, and contrary to the proposal of the Convention, subject to a common accord with the Council (Art. I-27 (2) TCE) [Graphic]. Assuming a triangle of tension between the collegiate system, the responsibility of each Commissioner for his domain and the claim to leadership of the President, the Constitutional Treaty will strengthen the position of the President; it will also have to be observed, if and how the President can steer his sizeable team. Considering the size and heterogeneity of the Commission, the creation of separate, more or less 'firm' groupings cannot be excluded. It is less clear along which criteria such informal coalitions could form: based on personal trust, their specific fields, party-political preferences, interests of member states or even a mixture of these.

Links:

Art. I-27 TCE 'Election of the Commission'

1. Taking into account the elections to the European Parliament and after having held the appropriate consultations, the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall propose to the European Parliament a candidate for President of the Commission. This candidate shall be elected by the European Parliament by a majority of its component members. If he or she does not obtain the required majority, the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall within one month propose a new candidate who shall be elected by the European Parliament following the same procedure.

2. The Council, by common accord with the President-elect, shall adopt the list of the other persons whom it proposes for appointment as members of the Commission. They shall be selected, on the basis of the suggestions made by Member States, in accordance with the criteria set out in Article I-26(4) and (6), second subparagraph.

The President, the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs and the other members of the Commission shall be subject as a body to a vote of consent by the European Parliament. On the basis of this consent the Commission shall be appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority.

3. The President of the Commission shall:

(a) lay down guidelines within which the Commission is to work;

(b) decide on the internal organisation of the Commission, ensuring that it acts consistently, efficiently and as a collegiate body;

(c) appoint Vice-Presidents, other than the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, from among the members of the Commission.

A member of the Commission shall resign if the President so requests. The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall resign, in accordance with the procedure set out in Article I-28(1), if the President so requests.

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