If the EU doesn't function fully democratically that has a lot to do with the lack of enthusiasm of certain member states for the European Project. The idea of a directly elected European 'President' is something I am very much in favour of. Or if that's too much asked, perhaps we could have had Blair rather than Van Rompuy.
Of course a directly elected president would never work. I'm aware that the intelectual-left of this forum dislikes the concept of nation states and that a lot even wish to see a United States of the World goverment. But people in general like their national states. They fought wars to gain indipendence, and they are not willing to give that up. As soon as the European Union in any way shape or form will start to look like a United States of Europe (which it already is in a lot of areas) all public support of the Union would crumble. That's why it was never possible to pass the EU constitution, but it was possible to pass the Lisabon Treaty. Even though they were 95% the same when it came to what was actually in them, it's all about name. A President of Europe elected like the President of the United States would never be accepted in any European country ever outside of the political elite, because that would reveal that we aren't indipendant nations any longer.
Besides the leaders of Europe would never accept a strong president telling them what to do. The strong leader they want to rule the whole EU is themself. If they can't have themself rule, they much rather prefer a weakling like Van Rompuy who will not be able to stand in their way.
Poll
