The European Commission has criticised proposals for a permanent chairman of the European Union made by former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing who is drafting a constitution for an enlarged bloc.
The EU executive said the blueprint for reforming EUinstitutions outlined yesterday by Mr d'Estaing would create rival bureaucracies and undermine accountability and effectiveness.
"Increasing the number of presidents and vice-presidents, setting up a bureau, can only bring confusion. Duplication of bureaucracies goes against common sense and against indications coming from all sides," the Commission said in a statement.
It said Giscard's proposals could lead to unequal treatment of the 15 member states, to be joined by 10 acceding countries in May 2004, and would jeopardise trust between them.
The criticism comes on the eve of a crucial debate on the future shape of EU institutions in the full 105-member Convention, chaired by Giscard, which is due to present a draft constitution to EU leaders at a June 20 summit in Greece.