Conclusion: Whither the Spitzenkandidaten Process?

The chapter presents the key findings and takeaways from the book, elaborating on the past experience, current state of play and future prospects of the Spitzenkandidaten process and the wider issue of executive leadership selection in the EU. The conclusion reiterates the importance of an in-depth understanding of the innovation, and the implications of the process for the study and practice of European integration, the EU political system and its policy-making. The chapter summarises the contributions of the volume with regard to intra- and interinstitutional relations, party politics and the EU’s constitutional framework. Building on these findings and a wider discussion of the experience of the first ten years of the Spitzenkandidaten process, the chapter offers a composite and nuanced assessment of its impact and the dynamics it has engendered. Finally, based on the prior discussion, the chapter concludes by raising a number of specific recommendations on how to future-proof the process in the light of past experience and the underlying objectives to be achieved, highlighting how the 2024 EP elections represent a crucial milestone for the future practice of the process.