Swedish MEP reveals KEY issue with EU Commission Presidency appointment system
SWEDISH MEP Cecilia Wikstrom revealed the appointment system of the President of the European Commission is the cause of "democratic deficiency" the European Union is often blamed for.
Swedish MEP: The EU commission were not elected
European MEPs have been pushing for a change in the system adopted by Brussels for the selection of the President of the European Commission.
MEPs have called for a directly elected Commission President rather than someone selected by parties' bosses.
Swedish MEP Cecilia Wikstrom claimed the change would ensure the European Union would stop being accused of "democratic deficiency".
Spitzenkandidat: Swedish MEP reveals why the system should be changed
They were never elected by citizens of Europe, they were just appointed
Speaking to BBC Daily Politics, Ms Wikstrom said: “They were never elected by citizens of Europe. They were just appointed.
“In this case, we have Jean-Claude Juncker who was appointed by the EPP as the EPP was the biggest party.
“So we would get away from that and people would stop blaming us for democratic deficiency if they can actually pick up the list and vote for a person.”
Spitzenkandidat: How Jean-Claude Juncker was elected
Many argue the current system, referred to as the Spitzenkandidat process, favours the party winning the most seats in the European Parliament and is little more than a handshake agreement among the main European political parties, the European Council and the EU Parliament.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said: “We cannot be in the position that we have nothing to say, that there are only two big nations and the Commission, which are really deciding about everything.”
But the European People's Party announced they will reject anyone who was not a Spitzenkandidat in the last European Parliamentary election.
German MEP Manfred Weber said: "The EPP will not accept any candidate for the future Commission President who was not presented during the campaign as the lead candidate of a democratic party and can bring together a qualified majority in the newly elected European Parliament."
Supporters of the Spitzenkandidat system include Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar as well as Italy and Spain.
In a speech to the EU Parliament, Mr Varadkar said: “Let’s make permanent the Spitzenkandidat system, and democratise choosing candidates for other leading positions within the EU.”