Give Europe a Face ... Give it a President!

“Who is Mr Europe? Give me his phone number!”

U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once complained that he didn't know Europe's telephone number. What he meant was that when a crisis blew up, Americans did not know who to turn to as the authentic and immediate voice of Europe.

That question has not completely been answered, even though the EU now has a High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy in the shape of former NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana and a Foreign Affairs Commissioner in the shape of former British Minister Chris Patten.

However, Europe needs far more than a High Representative or a Commissioner for Foreign Policy. Europe needs a President representing all European citizens in all policy areas. A President would give Europe a face for the outside world but also give Europe a face for European citizens. He or she would give Europe direction and identity. Only the President of the European Commission can really carry this role.

S/he should be elected democratically and transparently by the European Parliament and thus represent the political majority which won the European elections.

- Thus another good reason for voting in the European Parliament elections!