No double role for Van Rompuy

Since August 16 EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy has also been considered a possible head of a new economic government for the Eurozone countries. The left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung suspects his double role of EU Council president and boss of the euro countries could present a conflict of interests: "The interests of countries without the euro are by no means identical to those of the euro countries. At every summit the non-euro countries will be keeping a wary eye on whether Van Rompuy is really speaking for all 27 countries or just for the club of 17 to which he belongs by birth. What's more, his double function would also work against other institutions. Up to now the European Commission has been responsible for economic analyses. It would be expensive and pointless to set up a second body to do this. The same goes for the European Parliament. ... Admittedly, with a little idealism the reality could be quite different. The club of 17 euro countries would allow its president to work independently, and even give him the right to issue directives - and accept his decisions. Only then would the term 'economic government' be truly justified."

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