tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post8211272287825971658..comments2024-02-25T10:22:38.186+00:00Comments on The European Citizen: The Democratic Europe ActEurocentrichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-82241012349174302452009-02-13T19:16:00.000+00:002009-02-13T19:16:00.000+00:00Well, while it does entail some further integratio...Well, while it does entail some further integration, my suggestion is meant to ensure democratic accountability of the powers currently held by "Brussels" and involve citizens more in European governance. I would be hesitant to define the final destination of European integration since I think it would be best for it to evolve. Evolution rather than intelligent design.<BR/><BR/>I think that this opening of the system would provide a great boost too engagement with the EU and could lead to more integration.<BR/><BR/>A more parliamentary system would be quite representative of Europeans, and it reflects the political systems of most member states; I've few problems with this system. The main reasons I went for the Presidential system are that it is a good institutional way of forcing the EuroParties to become better organised as they will have to compete for a single post. Of course there are many drawbacks to the presidential system too. <BR/><BR/>In fact, the parliamentary system may even be better in terms of centralising EuroParties since the groups would be able to offer ministerial (commissarial?) posts. Still, I'm not decided on which system I prefer because the EP manages to make good enough use of its powers a lot of the time, and I'm not sure the parliament would be as effective under the executive-dominated parliamentary system.<BR/><BR/>Is there some sort of workable 3rd way, other than semi-presidential systems?<BR/><BR/>With regard to the MEP-citizen ratio, I think that it should be brought more into line with the one man one vote principle, but I do think that there should be a minimum number of MEPs per member state.<BR/><BR/>On the Council, I'm still attached to a Bundesrat-style Council with national parliamentary oversight. I think that the member states shouldn't be excluded from the system, and I can't really see the EU evolving that way.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't want to see an EU where the EP and the Council/a Senate can change the constitution, except in perhaps the most minor of minor scenarios. If the EU became that federal, the states must be included, with at least 2/3 of states agreeing to the changes. As for now I think that unanimity of the states for treaty change needs to be preserved for the legitimacy of any changes. By major changes I mean any treaty that's not a treaty of accession, etc.Eurocentrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-6101409219630873682009-02-13T12:10:00.000+00:002009-02-13T12:10:00.000+00:00This is a good starting point for discussion on wh...This is a good starting point for discussion on what democratic change the European Union needs.<BR/><BR/>Here are a few comments to start with: <BR/><BR/>I am inclined to believe that a prime ministerial system and coalition governments would reflect the diversity of Europe. <BR/><BR/>In my view, the new European Union needs a basic law / constitution, which can be altered by the two chambers of the European Parliament. <BR/><BR/>The Convention method could be used for major constitutional reform. <BR/><BR/>The lower house would need to represent the citizens fairly equally (one person, one vote). <BR/><BR/>The differences in size between the member states are so great that I imagine even the senate would need some differentiation; possibly three groups of states with 1x, 2x and 3x the basic number of senators. <BR/><BR/>Foreign, security and defence policy would be federal powers. So would international economic relations and the internal market. <BR/><BR/>Internal security and justice would have a federal tier and a national one. <BR/><BR/>Naturally income and expenditure would be decided by the federation for its purposes. <BR/><BR/>The federation would be called the Federal Republic of Europe (not the United States of Europe), since it would be based on its citizens primarily.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.com