EUABC A dictionary on words related to the EU

Commission President

: José Manuel Barroso, Commission President (Photo: European Commission)

The Commission is led by a President, currently Romano Prodi, a former Italian Prime Minister. The next President is appointed by a qualified majority of at least 17 of the 25 Prime Ministers in the European Council and approved by a simple majority in the EU Parliament, according to the Treaty of Nice.

The future

France and Germany have proposed that the Commission President shall be appointed by the EU Parliament.

The EU Constitution proposes that a superqualified majority in the Council (72% majority of Member States who together comprise 65% of the EU population) shall appoint a candidate to be approved (elected) by the EU Parliament. If the EU Parliament rejects the candidate the process starts over. See Article I-26.1

Links