MEPs warned off choice of Brussels chief

Europe’s future should not held hostage by the “cheap games” of right wing MEPs, a UK minister has said.

British Europe minister and vice-president of the European socialists has attacked right-wingers seeking to make the EU commission president a party political post.

Denis MacShane has hit out at a January demand by centre-right MEPs that the appointment of EU executive’s chief should reflect the result of June’s European elections.

The leader of the European Parliament’s  EPP group, Hans-Gert Pöttering , the largest bloc of MEPs, has repeatedly insisted he will not countenance a left winger if the right triumphs at the polls.

MacShane believes the German Pöttering’s stance to be “arrogance”.

“The choice of the commission president is not for factional party political manoeuvring in Strasbourg,” he said.

“We need the best-qualified candidate for the job, irrespective of party label or what previous posts they have held.”

London has thrown its weight behind current EU justice chief Antonio Vitorino – the Portuguese commissioner is a left winger.

And MacShane is clearly irritated that right wingers are using an expected European parliamentary majority to bounce in candidates such as Austria’s leader, Wolfgang Schussel or former Belgian PM Jean-Luc Dehaene.

“Europe as a whole - governments, MEPs and national parliamentarians - needs to reflect on the best woman or man for the job,” he stresses.

“Europe's future is too important to be left to cheap party political games by just one of the many Strasbourg political outfits.”

Highlighting the right’s deep divisions, MacShane argues that even if Pöttering had the commission chief as his gift the EPP would face a row should it choose a pro-EU candidate for the top job.

“Mr Pöttering knows full well that British Conservatives will not support any of the ultra-federalist candidates who want a European superstate of the kind he favours,” he said.

Europe’s leaders have pledged to take the results of European elections “into account” when choosing the EU executive’s president in late June.

While hats are in the ring, the contest is a closed one as candidates jockey to win approval or, at least, not outright disapproval from national capitals.

Front runners and contenders – so far

Antonio Vitorino – Justice commissioner and London’s preference. France and Germany are not keen, as the left winger is regarded as too close to Tony Blair.

Costas Simitis – The former socialist Greek PM has cast iron pro-EU credentials and respect across Europe. His handling of the EU presidency as deep European splits over Iraq emerged has been praised.

Paavo Lipponen – another jobless national leader, the Finn is up for any of the Brussels posts this November. Germany may smile on the social democrat but France is not keen on the idea of a Nordic EU chief.

Jean Claude Juncker – the centre right Luxembourg PM seems to have ruled himself out in order to fight national June elections – he is expected to win.

Wolfgang Schussel – the right wing Austrian chancellor faces an insurmountable hurdle, say diplomats. His French is not up to scratch, an “absolute” Paris requirement.

Jean Luc Dehaene – the former Belgian PM, from the political right, is highly spoken of and acceptable to France and Germany. But there are strong hints that out-of-work former national leaders, though well known on the Brussels circuit, may not be in the frame this time around.

Guy Verhofstadt – the current Belgian PM, a liberal, is well respected across EU capitals. But Washington is not a fan, and with EU-US relations high on the agenda this may rule him out.

Pat Cox – the European Parliament president has upped his profile for a bid at the commission’s top job. Some leaders may regard him as too institutionalised and current Irish health commissioner David Byrne is planning a Brussels comeback as justice chief.

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