How the Spitzenkandidaten process and Juncker’s reforms might shape the future of the European Commission

One of the most important innovations in the EU in recent years has been the so called ‘Spitzenkandidaten’ process, under which the major European political groups nominated candidates for President of the Commission prior to the 2014 European elections. Martin Westlake assesses the legacy of the process for future elections. He writes that the Spitzenkandidaten system did not emerge in isolation in 2014, but instead reflected long-term trends in the EU’s institutional development which are likely to continue to shape the future of the Commission.

• Primary Source

LSE : Europe in Question Discussion Paper Series, No.102 (January 2016): Chronicle of an Election Foretold: The Longer-Term Trends leading to the ‘Spitzenkandidaten’ procedure and the Election of Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission President http://www.lse.ac.uk/europeanInstitute/LEQS%20Discussion%20Paper%20Series/LEQSPaper102.pdf

ESO: Background information: A new Commission President in 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-new-commission-president-in-2014-commons-library-standard-note/

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