Grayling Blog

Who do you speak to in the European Union?

Posted on 5.03.2010 by Russell Patten

I was recently asked by a friend in the US who President Obama should speak to in Europe. I was going to say Grayling of course (!) but then realised that it was going to be a lot more complicated! My explanation was as follows:

“He should probably first speak to the President of the European Council,” I said, “because he is the top guy in Europe. This is a new job, so he has only been in power for a few months – a Belgian called Herman Van Rompuy who is very keen to engage on the world stage.”

“However, since he does not have any real powers, I would advise that Obama also contacts José Manuel Barroso because he has been around for a long time and is President of the European Commission, which is responsible for policy and legislation.”

"Then again, there is also the President of the European Parliament, the only democratically elected institution representing the interests of European citizens, not to mention the leaders of the major EU Member States, such as UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, or French President Nicolas Sarkozy".

I went on to explain that these latter people were critical players on the European stage because they are the leaders of the three most important countries in Europe and in some ways are actually more important than the President of the Commission, the Parliament, and the so-called Council of Ministers!

Then I realised I had forgotten to add that Obama should also consider contacting Baroness Catherine Ashton, who is the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy, as well as the Prime Ministers of Spain, Belgium, and Hungary as they currently share the Presidency of the Council under the new troika system.

“So all in all,” I concluded, “should President Obama wish to speak to Europe, he will either have to make some strategic choices or literally engage with all of them! No wonder he has put it off! Personally, I would not like to be in his shoes… unless of course I had Grayling to guide me through the EU maze!”