Relationship With President Barroso
President Van Rompuy (chairing the strategic body of the EU bringing together the presidents or prime ministers of the member states with the right to set EU priorities) has an uneasy relationship with European Commission President Barroso, head of the EU's day-to-day executive which also has the right to initiate legislative and budgetary proposals. The latter has been keen to ensure that President Van Rompuy does not trespass on the European Commission's prerogatives, but the European Council has often charged Van Rompuy, rather than Barroso, with various tasks. Both represent the EU externally at bilateral or multilateral (G8 or G20) summits at the level of heads of state. There have been calls for the position of president of the European Council and president of the European Commission to be merged in due course.
Read more about this topic: Herman Van Rompuy
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