Event: The Commission’s Leadership and the Governance of Europe

With the Juncker Commission in office for a hundred days on the date of the event, the Jacques Delors Institute and Friends of Europe invited the EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to debate the challenges facing European governance.

Key issues for discussion included the qualities needed for the job of President of the European Commission: is it all about personality, or are factors like institutional architecture and the political context also in play? Should the Commission do more to make public the shortcomings of national governments? Would a regular TV address by the Commission president help to improve the connection with Europe’s citizens by updating them on recent developments, global flashpoints and key issues ranging from Ukraine and Syria to migration, unemployment, energy and the euro? Was the rise of Syriza, Podemos and extremist newcomers likely to change the EU’s political calculus significantly?

Video and podcast from the debate available.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 17.03.15: Juncker says EU needs Britain, but can't change basic treaty http://www.euractiv.com/sections/uk-europe/juncker-says-eu-needs-britain-cant-change-basic-treaty-312950

EUObserver, 17.03.15: Juncker: 'Time to deepen European integration' https://euobserver.com/political/128012

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