John Palmer (London): For too long serious political debate about the future development of the European Union has been distorted by the constant mantra from populists, euro-sceptics and others about opposing "rule by unelected Brussels bureaucrats." Although this is a gross distortion of the reality - that decisions are taken by elected governments and an elected European Parliament - the fact that the President and other members of the European Commission (which cannot pass laws but does propose legislation) have always been appointed rather than elected has been an embarrassment.
The new Treaty of Lisbon now opens the way for European Union parties fighting for election to the European Parliament in June next year to propose who should be chosen as the next President of the Commission. So for the first time future Presidents of the Commission who will have their own democratic mandate. This will give further democratic political weight to voters in determining the political direction taken by the European Union in the years to come.
But can Europe's political parties rise to the challenge? Will the European socialists, greens, liberals, Christian democrats and the rest prove capable of deciding who should be chosen to run in their name for the Commission Presidency? As someone who has canvassed the cause of an elected Commission President for some years I am delighted that a citizens' initiative has been taken in Denmark and elsewhere with an online petition asking for signatories to demand that the political parties decide to fight the June 2009 election with their candidates for the Commission post as part of their campaigns www.who-is-your-candidate.eu. I think this is a cause all democrats should support.
Two other citizens' initiatives are worth mentioning. The online petition to oppose the nomination as Tony Blair as the first President of the European Council (http://stopblair.eu/) has already drawn more than 26,000 signatures from across the EU and may even be succeeding in its objective. Finally there is a petition calling for the two jobs of President of the Commission and President of the Council to be merged (and elected of course) in future http://www.whodoicall.eu - another very sensible initiative.
