Blackpool Liberal Democrats

"DAVIES FOR PRESIDENT"

In anticipation that the Czech President will eventually sign off the Lisbon Treaty, the 27 EU governments have started hunting around for someone to become the first full-time president of their European Council.

The role is defined very simply: "to convene meetings and take forward the work." The selection process is anything but transparent, and from the newspaper stories that have appeared it looks like a beauty contest between middle aged men.

So today, with my tongue in my cheek, I have written to all 27 heads of government and offered myself as a candidate. I reckon I fit the bill quite well, and I've been in politics longer than Tony Blair, so why not? My letter to the various prime ministers is reproduced below.

My real aims are to make the point that the selection of such a potentially powerful figure should not be made from such a narrow circle, that women candidates should be prominent given their dearth elsewhere (26 of the 27 EU leaders are men), and that the shortlisted candidates should spell out publicly their personal principles and convictions before the decision is made.

There are few rules to this selection contest, only the leaders have votes but there's nothing to stop YOU also putting your name forward. Let's ALL stand to become president of the European Council!

Chris Davies MEP

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Dear Prime Ministers

President of the European Council

You will shortly seek to fill the post of President of the European Council. I wish to submit my candidature for your consideration.

As a white, middle class, man in my 50s, with a Cambridge University education and 30 years of political experience, I believe I possess qualifications similar to those of other potential candidates named in the media.

To my credit I can claim that, unlike some of my rivals, I have never deceived either of the two parliaments to which I have belonged, and I bear no responsibility for the illegal invasion of another country that led to the death of many thousands of innocent people. I hope these facts will not prejudice my application.

Although the position has not yet been advertised, and the criteria for selection has not been determined, I have no doubt that the Council will want to follow good employment practice and to select the best person for the job. Europe possesses an abundance of talented people that can be numbered in tens of millions, and no doubt you will want to encourage all those with an interest to apply. Quite recently I had myself to recruit a new parliamentary assistant and received 755 curriculum vitae within one week, so I appreciate that it will take some effort to sift through the applications. However, better this than choosing from only a limited circle of names.

Given the lack of women in senior positions I understand entirely that for the sake of balance and proper representation across the EU institutions you may wish to compile an all-female shortlist. In this case I will withdraw my application without complaint or hesitation.

Article 15 of the Lisbon Treaty requires the President to convene and chair meetings of the European Council "and drive forward its work." Clearly the political views of the office holder will have great influence upon the way the role is developed, so let me indicate my personal priorities:

1. As President I will not shrink from pointing the finger at those heads of government who fail to put into practice the principles and core values proclaimed in the Lisbon Treaty; those, for example, who represent countries where freedom of the press is constrained, where discrimination against minorities is rife, and where corruption is rampant and undermines the rule of law;

2. I will refuse to allow the European Council to dwell only on the short term and the next round of elections. With 200,000 additional people on our planet every day we are experiencing rapid environmental denudation and a massive loss of natural resources. The introduction and application of policies and practices that steer Europe and our world in the direction of genuine long term sustainability is essential and urgent;

3. I will press for the European Union to abandon the dual standards and hypocrisy that undermines its position as a potential force for good on the world stage. As a first step I will demand that we uphold the human rights provisions within the EU-Israel Association Agreement. It is unacceptable that we give preferred trading status to a state that is in military occupation of Palestinian land and practices collective punishment against the people of Gaza .

I trust my application commends itself to you. I can make myself available for interview at your convenience.

Yours sincerely

Chris Davies MEP

P.S. I should point out that my first executive position was to chair Liverpool City Council's housing committee at a time in the 1980s when the opposition was dominated by Trotskyite members of the 'Militant Tendency'. I do not anticipate that chairing meetings of Europe 's heads of government will prove any more difficult.

YouTube video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-8C-9lDPYo

Facebook Group at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=183552277666&ref=mf

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Richard Marbrow

Campaigns and Communications Officer for Chris Davies MEP

Tel: 0161 477 7070

Mobile: 07803 931901