Der scheidende EP-Präsident wurde als Abgeordneter wieder gewählt und widmet sich nun der Frage, wer zukünftiger Kommissionspräsident wird - seinen Erwartungen zufolge Barroso. Am Ende seines Mandats zeigt sich Pöttering zufrieden mit den Fortschritten, d

Interview des Tages: Hans-Gert Pöttering bleibt im Parlament aktiv

We're at the summit   of the European Council.

There's been much debate in the press   about the Barroso question -

on who the next President   of the Commission should be.

Do you also consider this to be   the most important topic at this summit?

There's also the question   of the Lisbon Treaty and Ireland,

as well as the future   of the financial markets.

But the question of the Commission   Presidency remains a crucial topic.

How do you expect the Council to decide?

And will there be   consequences for the Parliament?

I expect the Council to make a suggestion,

and I expect it to be   the current President of the Commission,

Subsequently, the consultation process   will have to be carried forward.

Some groups -   or maybe we should say future groups -

have already argued heatedly   that because of this legal uncertainty

the parliamentary vote for the President   of the Commission should be postponed

until the legal certainty   of the new treaty will be in force.

Up to now it has been the opinion   of the Conference of Speakers -

which consists of   the chairmen of the political groups -

We have to wait until the Conference   of Speakers comes together and decides.

The next meeting will be on 9 July, and   then we'll consider the political situation.

I have recently noticed   that high-profile journalists in Germany

where each decision of the Council   has to be ratified by the Parliament first.

These journalists say we wouldn't need   an EP if all Member States would do so.

The Parliament is   an equal co-legislator of the Council.

The European Parliament is a crucial   element of the European democracy.

Thank you, Hans-Gert Pöttering.   -Thank you.