Nah, I think it will be.

You’re on! Beers the next time we meet up?

I do not believe that any “6 month presidency” can ever do anything good. It takes at least one year in order to do whatsoever a job of responsibility in the layman life. Why the hell should things be easier in the political european tasks? I tend to believe that this type of presidency is only a “honorary” appointment and that the true power in EU resides uniquely in the EU Commission which, by the way, is not a democratically elected body. The 6 month presidency CANNOT have the know how to manage the EU, hence has not the power to move into directions not approved by the former. But, perhaps, is just what is wanted.

HW

While the half a year presidency is probably too short, and that is one of the reasons I think justify scrapping it in a near future, there is a tradition of working in what the press in Spain calls a troika, so together with the moment president there are both members from the previous and the next presidency working at the same tasks.

DSW

The real power in the EU does most certainly not wielded by the commisssion. It has never held a candle to the council of ministers, and has become lesss and less important during the last decade.

Antoni, that’s exactly what I was getting at with my aside about the Irish minister. The OSCE, for example, has made an institution of the troika for the better part of the last ten years. I suspect that this is done for other rotating offices as well, but don’t know to what extent it’s been formalized within the EU, or within any EU countries. How do Spanish troikas function?

Doug, I don’t think it is a regulated norm. Simply a rational way to get things done. I like the fact that it forces the various states to blend their own intérêt du jour with those of others which may have quite different interests and in doing so are providing for the whole of the EU.

As for your question on the Spanish troikas, if I understand correctly your question, I think they have not be too bright. Aznar has none of the abilities of González, the results is that while there are quite a few Spaniards in important places of the EU organigram, they are rather relics of the past, like Solana and Solbes. The rest may be are worthy but they lack projection, and I feel that nowadays Spain has an impact below its weight.

DSW

Hi Antoni, I mis-read your original post, hence my confusing question. I’ll ask around and see what people know about troikas at the ministerial level…