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Great diary - and much needed. Your 4 summing up points make real sense.

As usual, once the facts are presented simply and understandably, a new truth emerges. It seems much of the EU bureacracy and elite 'politicians' are incapable of communicating to the average European - whether about CAP, the Constitution, or indeed any other of the key issues.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Jun 26th, 2005 at 09:14:03 AM EST
The more I read about the EU's current problems, the more I agree with you that the EU bureaucracy is "incapable of communicating with the average European."

It seems to me that the obvious solution to this problem is to give more power to the European Parliament. If Europeans thought their views on EU policies mattered, they'd probably take more of an interest in EU issues.

by Matt in NYC on Sun Jun 26th, 2005 at 11:51:12 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I'm not sure even that would work. MEPs are still elected by voters that don't really think it matters, because MEPs don't have any real power.

It is still seen as a 'kicked sideways' dumping ground. An ex-PM of Finland (Anneli Jäteenmäki, who was forced to resign in disgrace) is apparently wandering around making no contribution at all - either because she is language-challenged or is using the 'well-paid holiday' in Brussels to plot her comeback in Finland.

Give the MEPs real power as a 'lower chamber' and give the commisioners a pan-european unifying role, modelling them more on the Senate. Perhaps 4 from each country.

Then voting for MEPs would have more meaning.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Jun 26th, 2005 at 12:43:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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