Verhofstadt unveils ‘third way’ in bid to woo Schröder

Date: 14/11/02

By Dana Spinant

GERHARD Schröder, the German chancellor, is being urged to back a 'third way' for the future of Europe that would strengthen the powers of the European Commission - and preferably ditch the idea of an EU president.

The compromise blueprint was outlined by Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt during a visit to Berlin yesterday (13 November). Verhofstadt, whose idea is being jointly spearheaded by the Netherlands and Luxembourg, knows Schröder's backing is crucial if proposals for an EU president put forward by the UK, France and Spain are to be blocked.

'The Benelux countries do not want a presidential regime for Europe,' Verhofstadt said.

'What we propose is a third way between the status quo and the 'ABC' proposal [by José María Aznar, Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac],' the premier's special advisor, Peter Moors, told European Voice. The Benelux countries hope to persuade Schröder to take their cue; with officials in Berlin and Paris due to unveil a common paper on the future of Europe in December, the chancellor's position could be decisive in the debate.

So far, Germany has not allied itself with the other large states; however it has expressed only vague support for the small countries' position, preferring to keep its options open.

Verhofstadt believes his third way will win the day. The outline, which is still to be fleshed out, calls for a strong Commission with a president elected by the European Parliament and confirmed by the European Council.

It also proposes that one person should be in charge of foreign relations by combining the jobs currently held by Javier Solana, the High Representative for foreign affairs, and Chris Patten, the external relations commissioner.

Although it has not been discussed yet by the Benelux leaders, Commission President Romano Prodi's suggestion that the EU executive assumes political responsibility before the European Council may also be part of the final proposal.

Verhofstadt's confidential one-page outline, seen by this paper, rejects a 'permanent president of the European Council' and insists on the 'importance of equality between member states' while addressing the EU presidency.

However, Verhofstadt does not entirely rule out a compromise with supporters of an EU president. 'We know we have to give something to the French; we cannot ask Germany to convince them to accept everything we propose and give up all their plans,' one Belgian official said.

Nevertheless, the Benelux countries - and Germany it is believed - would only accept an EU president whose job description is as weak as possible. A condition would be that he is a member of the European Council, in other words an acting prime minister or head of state. Also, he should be appointed for a short period of one or two years and carry out only limited tasks. The president of the Union should have no executive functions, according to the Benelux trio.

As well as Germany, Verhofstadt expects support from Portugal, and hopes that his third way will keep Austria and Finland on board. The Belgian leader travels to Lisbon to meet Prime Minister José Manuel Durão Barroso on 3 December. He is also seeking allies among candidate countries, in particular from the Visegrad four (Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland) as well as Slovenia.

If they get France and Germany on board, with Italy committed to a neutral role as broker of the future Treaty of Rome, the small states have a huge chance to become pivotal in the Convention on the future of Europe.

Gerhard Schröder, the German chancellor, is being urged to back a 'third way' for the future of Europe that would strengthen the powers of the European Commission - and preferably ditch the idea of an EU president.