EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso is worried that his institution will be sidelined under the new EU treaty which potentially introduces a new power hierarchy into the European Union. In a frank interview with Belgian newspaper de Standaard, Mr Barroso admits that he is eyeing the new treaty with some concern as it risks seeing member states circumvent both the commission and European Parliament and take decisions among themselves. "If the new treaty is ratified, which I strongly hope, we will have to make sure that its changes are not abused to reduce the de facto power of the European institutions." Member states are currently putting the final touches on the EU treaty which is hoped will be in force by 2009.
Not that they are not in their rights, after all the EU is an intergovernmental organization. We have met the enemy, and it is us — Pogo
