European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

I arrest you in the name of the Commission!

by Colman
Tue Sep 13th, 2005 at 12:13:43 PM EST

This should be fun:

Brussels has won the power to make governments apply criminal sanctions against companies that break EU environmental law.

The move, hailed by the European Commission as a “landmark” ruling, could extend the EU executive's rights into new policy areas.

Criminal sanctions for breaches of EU internal market, data protection laws and intellectual property rights could become the norm.

. Home
. About
. Contact
. New User Guide
. FAQ
. ET Editorial Guidelines
. Search
. Search (Google)

Username:
Password:

. Make a new account
. Reset password

I arrest you in the name of the Commission! | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: I arrest you in the name of the Commission! (none / 0)

Hopefully they'll go after Microsoft first.

by asdf on Tue Sep 13th, 2005 at 12:38:55 PM EST

Re: I arrest you in the name of the Commission! (none / 0)

This:

sanctions against companies that break EU environmental law

...heading this:

breaches of EU internal market, data protection laws and intellectual property rights

...looks like a Trojan horse to me. Or window dressing. Or what is the appropiate English expression for selling a policy with its opposite.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Tue Sep 13th, 2005 at 03:25:51 PM EST

Re: I arrest you in the name of the Commission! (none / 0)

It's an interesting change in the balance of power certainly.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Sep 13th, 2005 at 06:03:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I arrest you in the name of the Commission! (none / 1)

Yep, but what is it worth?

I don't see many members of this Commission (especially Barroso) as ones who'd really care to use their new powers to persecute companies breaking environmental laws - as opposed to using their powers on the pro-business issues, which (by 'breaking' rules on competitiveness) can in fact mean crushing pro-environment legislation.

More generally, I would only like to see the Commission getting stronger if the Parliament got significantly stronger before, as the democratic check-and-balance on the Commission. Unless that happens, such empowering only enhances the effect of anti-democratic tendencies in the Council (i.e. the national governments).

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Sep 14th, 2005 at 06:00:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I arrest you in the name of the Commission! (none / 0)

I didn't say it was good: I said it would be fun and interesting. These are not expressions of enthusiasm!

I'm not in favour of more power for the Commission - I'd prefer to see them answer more to the Parliament as you say. This makes the Commission more powerful relative to the Council as well.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 14th, 2005 at 06:34:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I arrest you in the name of the Commission! (none / 0)

I didn't say it was good: I said it would be fun and interesting. These are not expressions of enthusiasm!

:-)

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

by DoDo on Wed Sep 14th, 2005 at 08:41:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I arrest you in the name of the Commission! (none / 0)

Im OK about this. After all, at national level these kinds of prosecutions go on anyway.

by mango2002 on Wed Sep 14th, 2005 at 04:35:46 AM EST

I arrest you in the name of the Commission! | 7 comments (7 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Go to: [ European Tribune Homepage : Top of page : Top of comments ]