Luxembourg foreign minister Xavier Bettel on Monday called for the direct election of an EU president who could speak for all 27 member states on the international stage, expressing his frustration at what he thinks is the chaotic decision-making process of the European Union.

Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Bettel said that it is never really clear who is authorised to speak on behalf of Europe, particularly in view of the current geopolitical situation.

“In America, when the president says something, it is so. In China and Russia too,” Bettel explained during a doorstep interview. “Here, when someone says something, they first check whether he or she is the right person to do it.” Europe is therefore merely “confetti” on the international stage, he added.

He also suggested that majority voting on foreign policy – except perhaps when decisions are made on sanctions – could be the way forward if Europe really wants to have some weight. “Unanimity in Europe is complicated at the moment, we have to admit,” Bettel said. He explained that it is unacceptable that 26 member states have to wait until a country like Hungary decides it will join in with a policy.

Direct vote at next EU elections

Bettel questioned whether it was not time to directly elect a president for Europe at the next EU elections – someone “who also has the consent of the citizens and represents Europe”.

According to Bettel, one possibility would be to cast a vote for a presidential candidate in addition to the the ballot for members of the European Parliament.

His remarks mark a U-turn for Bettel. The DP politician was previously rather sceptical about the so-called Spitzenkandidat system of lead candidates in the EU elections. Under this system, the EU parties nominate Europe-wide candidates for the presidency of the European Commission.

Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Juncker in 2014 was the first European Commission president to run as the lead candidate and land the position.

At the following election in 2019, however, EU leaders blocked lead candidate Manfred Weber from office, nominating German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen instead behind the scenes.. Von der Leyen in 2024 ran as the incumbent lead candidate, securing her second mandate.

(This article was first published by Luxemburger Wort. Translation and editing by Duncan Roberts)