tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post8451394794529853089..comments2023-09-28T12:28:57.598+03:00Comments on Grahnlaw: Euro crises: European Council eviscerated?Ralf Grahn http://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-46205910073957472842012-02-26T07:41:05.243+02:002012-02-26T07:41:05.243+02:00@CJWilly
Thank you for your comment, which refle...@CJWilly <br /><br />Thank you for your comment, which reflects your observations as a professional covering the EU institutions at work.<br /><br />The series of blog posts continues in order to cover different aspects of the political and economic crisis.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-42638820384735985732012-02-25T12:03:46.072+02:002012-02-25T12:03:46.072+02:00Hmm. What is the "European Council" if n...Hmm. What is the "European Council" if not the periodic summits of heads of state/government, the rulers of the European Union and its constituent nations? Is it the functionaries occupying the Justus Lipsius building? Is it Herman Van Rompuy's office? Why should either of them be empowered with any legitimacy or authority or be expected to have any connection with the citizens?<br /><br />In terms of "distance from the citizens" this is hardly surprising. Heads of state/government are by nature among the most authoritarian/opaque parts of any government, being the most powerful and politically sensitive part of the executive.<br /><br />The European Council, defined as the summits, has completely dominated the eurozone crisis. Effectively under (Franco-)German leadership, it has completely marginalized any role for MEPs (reduced to endless impotent protestation) and the Commission's bureaucrats (reduced to humiliatingly defending the Council's pseudo-definitive compromises).<br /><br />So... yeah. The powerful rule Europe regardless of institutional-legal niceties and "innovations".CJWillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12308915381352486644noreply@blogger.com