(Photo: Brian Finifter/Flickr) Presidents Answerable to the People The European Union is entering a new era of more openness and greater power for the European Parliament, the only truly transnational elected body of the European Union. Currently, the Parliament grills the Commission President each month at 'President's Question Time'. But what about the 'other' President? The President of the European Council's job is to set the “political direction and priorities” of the EU, as head of the European Council. He, too, should face the Parliament and take into account its views and priorities. European Alternatives launches a campaign to demand a President answerable to the people How would it work? European Alternatives demands the establishment of a dedicated Question Time strengthening the relation between the elected European Parliament and the new President of the European Council. The President of the European Council must, under the Lisbon Treaty, present a report to the Parliament four times a year following the meetings of the Council. But we should go further than this: Parliament should be able to ask questions of this report, seek answers of the President, make recommendations for his work, and follow through the outcome of past recommendations. The President should use his platform to promote and explain his actions, and take stock of the Parliament's views on his work. There is no clear provision in the Lisbon Treaty for this. But such a step would open dialogue and allow for a fuller discourse and greater transparency. Making the institutions answerable to the parliament ‘Question time’ for the Commission President and the Council President should not become simple exercises in evasion, but rather the basis for a genuine holding to account of the Commission and the European Council in the European Parliament, the seat of democratic representation at the European level. Question Times should strengthen Parliament as an institution of scrutiny; and will enable the Council President to be responsive to the Union that he guides.