Quote:
Originally Posted by
csirl http://www.askaboutmoney.com/showthread.php?p=616688#post616688
Where do you start? The EU Commission is not elected, yet it makes decisions that should have democratic accountability. The seats in the EU Parliament are not allocated evenly - some countries have more seats per population that others (I know Ireland is one of these, but that doesnt make it right). Also some countries with similar populations e.g. France & Poland, do not have a similar number of seats. There is also an attitude that if something wont fly with the Parliament, which has some democratic accountability, then just use the Commission to get it done. I know some people will argue that the Commission is appointed by various Governments etc. etc. and therefore is democratic because the Governments were elected. But I think that this argument is weak as the Commission is too many degrees of separation away from any sort of democratic accountability to make it democratic.
The Labour Party webpage on [broken link removed] makes a good riposte to that.
Quote:
The Reform Treaty gives a greater role for the Oireachtas and other national parliaments in screening new proposals. If nine parliaments believe a proposal breaches the subsidiarity principle, whereby decisions must be taken as close as possible to the citizen, the Commission must explain it further or table a redraft. If 15 have such concerns and if either half the Member States or MEPs agree,the proposal falls.
95% of European laws, including justice and home affairs issues for the first time, become subject toamendment or veto by MEPs ('co-decision').
It provides for greater transparency by insisting that national ministers meeting in Council mustmeet in public when discussing and adopting laws.
All EU spending, including agricultural spending for the first time, must be approved by MEPs.
It provides for a 'Citizens Initiative' whereby one million EU citizens can request action by the EU inareas of EU competence.
It provides for the election of the European Commission President and the appointment of theCommission by the European Parliament. EU Prime Ministers will continue to nominate the candidate for Commission President but must take account of the political balance arising from the preceding European Parliament elections (e.g. if the Socialist Group emerges as the largest group in theEP after the June 2009 elections, the next nominee for Commission President is likely to be a socialist). These changes will make it clear that the Commission is not an 'unaccountable bureaucracy' butan executive dependent on the continued confidence of MEPs, who can dismiss it.
It ensures that small countries like Ireland will continue to enjoy a disproportionate weight withinthe Council and the Parliament.
It provides for regular talks between the European level Social Partners and for a structured dialoguebetween the EU and civic society, including religious and non-confessional organisations.