France and Germany will propose a dual presidency for the European Union today, telling the convention on the continent's future both the European Commission and EU member states should have stronger leaders.
French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder have agreed to split the difference between their competing visions of the EU's future by proposing more powerful heads for the Commission and the European Council.
The proposal, to be sent today to a group drawing up an EU constitution, blends France's wish to defend member states' powers through an enhanced Council and Germany's goal of a more integrated Europe through a stronger Commission.
"Once again, we have shown the French-German motor, which is so important for European integration, works well," Mr Chirac said after a working dinner with Mr Schroeder in Paris.
Critics say boosting both bodies will further complicate decision-making in the EU, which will expand from 15 to 25 or more members in coming years, but the deal looked likely to become the model for the EU's future leadership.
Mr Chirac and Mr Schroeder skirted around the issue of how a dual presidency would work, emphasizing instead how the deal struck was an ideal compromise for both countries.
They admitted they had originally held positions quite far apart from each other on the EU presidency, a key issue at the constitutional convention chaired by former French President Mr Valery Giscard d'Estaing.
"France accepted that the President of the Commission be elected by the European Parliament," Mr Chirac told journalists after the dinner. The Commission head is currently proposed by member states and ratified by the Parliament.
"Germany accepted that the European Council is chaired by a president elected by the European Council with a qualified majority for five years or a renewable 2-1/2 year term," he added.