Külügyi Szemle - A Teleki László Intézet Külpolitikai Tanulmányok Központja folyóirata - 2003 (2. évfolyam)
2003 / 2. szám - EURÓPA - Claus Juul Nielsen: Together in One Europe
Together in One Europe Commission, for example in the form of a new procedure regarding the election of the Commission Chairman. However, it is important in this election procedure to ensure the right balance between large and small countries. And it is also important to ensure the Commission's independence in relation to the other institutions. The election should take place in an electoral college consisting of a limited number of members representing national parliaments and the European Parliament respectively. The right to nominate must rest with member states governments. With respect to the future organization of the Presidency of the Council we must face the fact that the existing rotation system will have to be adjusted and improved if it is to continue in an enlarged EU. Denmark will be able to accept a continuation and further development of the present system, which have the advantage that large and small countries are given equal status. And at the end of the day it may prove difficult to find a better alternative. But perhaps it will be wise already now to look for a new grand solution. It is an approach that entails considerable structure changes in the Council. The key element of such a solution would be an elected chairman of the European Council. Judged on the historic experiences, geographical location and size of population of our two countries and the positions so far stated in the Convent it is my impression that at the end our ideas and positions will be quite similar meaning that there shall be a good basis for future cooperation among us in the upcoming inter-governmental conference and I think, that such opportunities shall be used. Strengthening the common foreign and security policy From the point of view of a small country the ideal would be for foreign and security policy to be a common EU matter. This would bind the large countries to a common line and smaller countries could gain greater influence on the international scene. However, the large countries are not likely to give up their national sovereignty in foreign security policy. Can anyone imagine France and the UK giving up. their permanent seats on the UN Security Council for a joined EU seat? And let us not be hypocritical either. We know very well from our own debate that also a small country guards its national sovereignty for instance when it comes to posting Danish soldiers abroad. Therefore our point of departure must respect that the foreign common security and defense policies of the EU will continue to be based on cooperation among the members states firmly anchored in the Council of Ministers, but within the framework of intergovernmental cooperation we should endeavour to make foreign security and defense policies as common as possible. 2003. nyár 15
