Graham's blog Monday 22 June 2009

Published on Mon 22nd Jun 2009

The European Council meeting (aka heads of state and government summit) last Thursday and Friday unanimously nominated Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term. They also reviewed progress in getting the economy back on track and in fighting climate change, but that appeared to attract much less attention; and, to be frank, their decisions in these areas were less newsworthy. The big questions now are 'can they secure a majority for Barroso in Parliament and, if so, when?'

The four Liberal Prime Ministers had been unanimous over lunch on Thursday that they wanted Barroso re-nominated at the summit and approved by Parliament in July. I had to point out to them that whilst around the table we had Prime Ministers and Foreign and EU affairs ministers from many countries, Germany, France and Italy were not among them: and these three countries supply three of the four largest delegations in my Group. At the moment there is no majority for Barroso in my Group. Nonetheless I undertook to try to build one.

On Friday there was helpful news. The intemperate Socialist Group leader Martin Schulz issued a characteristically intemperate statement describing what he called 'the council's attempt to fast track the re-appointment of Barroso' as 'a political, legal and institutional outrage'. He vowed that the Socialists would not vote for Barroso in July.

This leaves the European People's party (Barroso's party) with no choice other than to strike a deal with my group if they want to see him confirmed before the summer break. But they have first to approach us and second to offer us something in exchange; perhaps the presidency of the European Parliament, for which I am a candidate, either in the first or the second half of the parliamentary term.

Sounds good for me? Far too early to tell. The third party candidate is almost always in the weakest position. And a lot can happen between now and the vote on 14 July. But it might just work out. My delay in penning this missive (I normally write on Friday) is down to the work I am putting in to my campaign. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.