Do you think the appointment of an EU president will improve the workings of the union?

44% YES 56% NO

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Your Reaction

• No, the revolving presidency worked very well with most countries using their breif stint in charge to demonstrate their value to the union and took pride at their attempts to advance the EUs agenda.
  DaveH  Ireland
• Give it a rest! It's just another layer of treacle on top of the pancake.
  Joseph  Ireland
• Yes its back to basics from those wonderful folks who gave us the Third Reich, the British and Napoleonic aggrandizement. Put grey men and unelected token women in the front office so Europe can get back to what it knows best -big powers doing what they want regardless of the wishes of their people or the interests of small nations. Its back to a Franco-Germanic carve up with Britain as the begrudging partner that has to be given its share of the spoils. Keep it all behind closed doors and never let democracy interfere in matters that are above it. This is Lisbon
  Michael Baldoyle  Ireland
• No, Its like asking would Irish fans be happy with free tickets to see France play in the world cup, No, we are moving more and more towards a United States of Europe, where Fatties in suits can command a European Army and move against they who have assets worth taking or political philosphy worth opposing, the European Super State is on its way and its intentions will be no less murderous than the United States......
  The Irish Observer  Ireland
• Of course, now we can speak with a unified voice, hopefully no more dilly-dallying if a Bosnia type situation arises again.No we have a rival to USA who can speak with the backing of us all. Maybe we can even start to get our finances organised a bit better now also.
  John Murphy  Spain
• Yes, but only marginally. It won't help much with internal matters, the rotating presidency did that job reasonably well. In external relations it should help to present a more consistent persona. I re-iterate my point from a couple of weeks ago about John Bruton's disadvantage in coming from a non-NATO member state. This was a fatal handicap and the significant thing is that Irish people don't see it. The Irish just have no conception how important military alliances are to continental Europeans.
  Hugo  Ireland
• Will he have the power to insure a replay of the disputed controversial World Cup playoff game ? If not he's just another powerless "unelected figure head" controlled by a power hungry nominating caucas .Will he get a salary and expence account ?
  paorach  Canada
• Why shouldn't the citizens of the member states have a general election for the presidency, one man, one vote and all of that, what's with all this appointing whoever?? Oh yea, forgot, Lisbon....Thanks, Ireland..
  Jim  Other
• They have appointed a non-entity and a deputy non-entity to these well paid posts, so they mustn't consider the president's job to be a kernel function. My guess is that the prime ministers of the 6 biggest member states have the key clout in moving the decision making process forward.
  Sean  China
• The choice indicates that the national leaders do not want to be eclipsed by the new EU structure. The choice sets the precedent for an EU president who is merely a meeting manager instead of a decision maker. They should have gone with a heavyweight. Kissenger's question remains unanswered.
  Richard  Ireland