Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel is calling for a re-evaluation of the EU's leadership model, including the possibility of directly electing a president to represent the bloc.
Luxembourg's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Xavier Bettel, has raised concerns about what he describes as an institutional problem within the European Union, citing confusion over who is authorised to take a stance on specific issues.
During an interview with RTL Radio on Saturday, Bettel highlighted what he views as a leadership issue within the EU, suggesting that the role of the President of the European Council should be re-evaluated. He expanded on these remarks during media interviews in Brussels on Monday, emphasising the need for clearer decision-making processes.
"In the US, when the president speaks, their word stands. In Russia or China, when the president speaks, their word stands," Bettel stated. "In Europe, however, we first question whether the person speaking has the authority to do so and whether they are the right individual to make such a statement." He further noted that debates often arise over whether high-ranking EU officials or heads of member state governments should be the ones to address certain issues.
Bettel also proposed a potential solution for the future, questioning whether the next European elections should include a direct vote for an EU president. Such a leader, he argued, would represent Europe as a whole and hold the legitimacy of being elected by its citizens.
