tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post8524868011044994572..comments2024-02-25T10:22:38.186+00:00Comments on The European Citizen: Reforming the CommissionEurocentrichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-73671439885070344052009-08-18T15:16:59.156+01:002009-08-18T15:16:59.156+01:00At the end of the day, the council has to be the o...At the end of the day, the council has to be the outlet in which national governments are involved in the decision making process. The faster that the commission becomes a proper cabinet appointed to run real portfolios the better. And parliment will never gain it's legitamacy in the eyes of ordinary people until the commision is derived from it.<br /><br />As you say, we can all agree that this will not happen anytime soon. In fact the only way these things happen is if they are part of a full root and branch reform of the way the EU is run, not through piecemeal reform.Albertnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-59665568821127519962009-08-18T03:02:32.893+01:002009-08-18T03:02:32.893+01:00As well as the extra cost, it creates confusion ov...As well as the extra cost, it creates confusion over which Commissioner has control/competence over what, and it encourages bureaucratic turf-wars.<br /><br />#3 would be an option I would be completely against, but I have heard it suggested somewhere before, so I put it up as an option. Barroso has been more a follower of the Council than a shaper of the agenda, and I'd agree that he's been a weak Commission President.<br /><br />#4 is definitely a long term option, if anything. #2 or #5 would be more realistic (if still politically controversal) because national identity and representation is still an important part of the Commission's legitimacy, even if it needs to be slimmed down for practicality's sake.Eurocentrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-9802930919548230382009-08-17T18:24:36.395+01:002009-08-17T18:24:36.395+01:00Thanks for this post: you raise an important issue...Thanks for this post: you raise an important issue. From your listing of existing Commissioners it is clear there are already too many (remember that each additional Commissioner requires a consequent additional entourage of civil servants, counsellors, etc - at the EU taxpayers' cost).<br /><br />You suggest, #3, that the independence of the Commission could be threatened by your proposal shown there. Surely this independence has already been compromised by Barroso? He has shown himself too easily swayed by strong national leaders: to the extent that he has over-ridden Commissioners to prevent proposals that those leaders don't care for. Barroso has failed the EU in his role as Commission President.<br /><br />I prefer your #4 or #5. The election of the Commission President is already too much under the influence of strong national leaders. Parliament, which we do get to elect, should offer a more democratic way of electing the Commission President. Sadly, the newly-elected EMPs don't appear to have any candidate to put up against Barroso.french dereknoreply@blogger.com