Three weeks after the European elections, the European Council has not made any progress on proposing a candidate for the post of European Commission president. Council president Herman Van Rompuy today is meeting with the leaders of all the main parliamentary groups.
Hannes Swoboda, president of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, stated after his meeting with Van Rompuy:
"We reiterate that Jean-Claude Juncker – as the candidate of the largest group in the European Parliament – must have the right to be the first to seek a majority in the European Parliament, through proposing an adequate work programme.
"It is a basic principle of democracy that the European Commission must represent the balance of the European Parliament, where the EPP has a slight lead and the S&D Group is the second largest group. Our candidate Martin Schulz received wide support from citizens across the EU. The voters' choice should be respected in the formation of the European Commission.
"It is urgent that we start working on the priorities of the EU: fair socio-economic policy, a common migration policy and the fight against tax evasion.
"Obstructionism and threats are not helpful, but harmful. Those in the European Council who are delaying, distracting and derailing this process are the reason why so many citizens are frustrated with Europe."
