Van Rompuy, the ideal Mr Euro

Published on 3 August 2011 at 15:52

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As the crisis continues, Herman “Van Rompuy has become Mr Euro,” headlines De Standaard. “Disagreement between the 17 countries which have adopted the euro has caused a lot of damage. Cacophony and the absence of a common policy have sapped market confidence in the Eurozone’s ability to resolve its problems,” and have contributed to the need for a single voice on the euro. The idea of European economic governance was proposed as early as 2008 by Nicolas Sarkozy, but was not supported by Angela Merkel. Now, according to De Standaard, the German Chancellor has “changed her mind.”

Better still, Eurogroup President Jean-Claude Juncker has announced in an interview with France’s Le Figaro that Van Rompuy “is the logical and natural candidate” to chair Eurozone summits, which would not be in conflict with Eurogroup meetings. Until now, explains De Standaard, the Eurozone “is legally represented by finance ministers and chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker.” At the same time, the European Council composed of government leaders from 27 member states and chaired by Van Rompuy has been holding more and more meetings on the subject of the euro. According to Juncker, the idea of a new European governance could be defined in detail at the next European Council summit in October.

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