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	EU E-Learning Units
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 .	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 [link code of conduct commission] 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 according to which criteria such informal coalitions could build themselves up: 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	The President of the Commission 2004-2009 - José Manuel Barroso. Source: Paul O´Driscoll
GLOSSARY: 'Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)' This is the term used to describe negotiations between the member states with a view to amending or supplementing the Treaties. National envoys pre-negotiate decisions at administrative as well as political level, which are finally voted by the heads of state and government and ratified by the member states (Art. 48 TEU). An IGC is of major importance as regards European integration, where changes in the institutional and legal structure, conferral of further powers and the framing of new treaties have always been the outcome of intergovernmental conferences (e.g. Single European Act and Treaty on European Union).

EU E-Learning Units

CONTACT

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

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 [link code of conduct commission] 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 according to which criteria such informal coalitions could build themselves up: based on personal trust, their specific fields, party-political preferences, interests of member states or even a mixture of these.

Links:

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

Source: Paul O´Driscoll

GLOSSARY:

'Intergovernmental Conference (IGC)'

This is the term used to describe negotiations between the member states with a view to amending or supplementing the Treaties. National envoys pre-negotiate decisions at administrative as well as political level, which are finally voted by the heads of state and government and ratified by the member states (Art. 48 TEU). An IGC is of major importance as regards European integration, where changes in the institutional and legal structure, conferral of further powers and the framing of new treaties have always been the outcome of intergovernmental conferences (e.g. Single European Act and Treaty on European Union).