Tony Blair: Europe needs elected president

 
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The European Union should consider having an elected president as part of a “grand bargain” of measures to restore confidence following the eurozone crisis, Tony Blair said today.

The former prime minister — who would be a front-runner as a candidate if an EU presidency was created — said economic needs and the democratic deficit should be addressed in one comprehensive agreement.

“The only way confidence can be restored is with a fully comprehensive set of measures that convince markets and public alike that the fundamental issues have been overcome,” he told an audience of senior politicians in Berlin. Arguing against a piecemeal approach to banking and bail-out reforms, he said a “big bang” would be more effective economically.

However, he admitted that forcing the pace of political union would be “extraordinarily fraught”.

He said measures to make voters feel closer to the European project would be vital, but that a popular election for a president would work.

Mr Blair said: “A Europe-wide election for the presidency of the Commission or Council is the most direct way to involve the public. An election for a big post held by one person — this people can understand.”

Previous “no” votes in France and Netherlands to treaties showed that the public was more worried about ceding power to European institutions. “The balance will need to be struck. If not, then the whole project risks failure,” said Mr Blair.

He also warned that a two- or three-speed Europe would be doomed to break up if it lacked a strong centre.

He said: “I would give a stark warning: if eurozone structures end up with a Europe that is fundamentally divided politically as well as economically, rather than a Europe with one political settlement that accommodates different levels of integration within it, the EU as we know it will be on a path to break up.”

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