Speculation about EU “top jobs”
The press here (as elsewhere in Europe) is full of speculation about EU “top jobs”, and in particular whether Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch PM, is a candidate for the job as full-time President of the European Council. There’s a large appetite in London for news on Mr Balkenende’s prospects and intentions. Of course, as yet there’s no job available – at least not until the Czech President has signed Czech ratification of the Lisbon Treaty – and Mr Balkenende has said that he is not a candidate. Many in his governing coalition have made it clear they want him to stay here; the prospect of new elections which may follow his departure to Brussels is not particularly appealing to some parties. I’ll have an opportunity to test the political temperature this week when a number of Dutch MPs are coming to a dinner I’m hosting for the UK House of Commons Select Committee on Home Affairs. The next few days and weeks are going to be very interesting....
Posted at 15:16 02 November 2009 by Paul Arkwright | Comments[0]
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