Cox ready to take on role as EU chief

Pat Cox is relaxed at the prospect of a “hectic” future if EU leaders choose him as European Commission president.

The European Parliament president – who is standing down as an MEP – told journalists he was calm about his career prospects – and did not rule himself out of a new role in the EU’s top job.

“I am relaxed about what my future holds. It could be hectic if one choice was made or I will take a nice long holiday with my family if another choice is made,” he said.

Cox – whose name has been short-listed among those in the race for the EU executive’s president – stressed that deadlock over choice was down to a surfeit of good candidates.

“It is not a dilemma of an absence of choice but perhaps of an excess of appropriate choices,” he said.

The parliament chief is telling Europe’s leaders that a deal must be done in early July – before MEPs gather for the first time after European elections.

MEPs in the new parliament are set for a debate and a vote on the new commission president timetabled for July 21.

“The real importance is that it is done before the parliamentary session in July.”

“The nominations can not be left until the eve of that meeting,” he said.

“What profit a delay, better if we could complete the business now.”

Cox played down moves by MEPs to insist on a candidate reflecting the political make up of the parliament’s largest grouping, the centre right – with 38 per cent of the seats.

“I am bound to remind you of course that the parliament is a parliament of minorities, including of course its largest group,” he said.

• Previous article
• Next article