In a clear and well argued post, Stanley Crossick at Blogactiv looks at the procedure for appointing the President of the European Commission, and the College of Commissioners. Consider how nuanced that system is, with its democratic legitimacy thanks to the involvement of the European Parliament, and set it against the complete lack of democratic accountability of the President of the European Council. Also bear in mind how closely the Parliament looked at Rocco Buttiglione in 2004 and you see it’s willing to take its mandate to scrutinise the Commission very seriously.