Former Head of the Irish Government, Bertie Ahern, has been suggested for the position, as has Tony Blair. They could find themselves in a role for 2 and a half years, up from the previous six months. The U would be hoping one of them could perhaps do for Europe what Ken Livingstone did for the council of London as Mayor, to set the agenda for future leaders and bring a sharp authority and voice. The change that a visible President will bring to the emphasising issues such as sanctions against Burma {http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/04/24/afx4930469.html} will have a novel value initiall, but the increased powers that EU will wield will do more than streamline and knock it into a more aerodynamic shape: the EU will now.

Europe’s expression of collective power  and increased unity has already been been televised in the official signing, but the changes will not come into force until 1st January 2008. The Irish Government will be  hoping to become the final member state to ratify the treaty, days after the House of Lords. It’s passing seems inevitable. We will have to wait and see whether the EU will change. But this federation of nations will now have a louder voice, and in the run up to 2009, after the hype of Obama Vs McCain has died down, the question of EU, and it’s ability to compete with India and China, as well as better serve it’s people will be called into question.