To kill a Europhile

I feel sorry for the few British and even fewer English proponents of European integration, most of them are paralysed by the fear of withdrawal from the EU. In the hostile climate of the UK, brave are the so called Europhiles with a vision beyond the sudden death by Brexit, of real reform for all EU citizens, introducing democracy and needed powers for better outcomes. Read To kill a Europhile

European Council anti-reform camp

The British prime minister David Cameron seems to find it an absolute necessity to pick a fight at practically every European Council meeting. He perverts the meaning of ”EU reform” by newspeak, since it seems to consist of scrapping the aim of ever closer union, resisting every move towards EU democracy and restricting the right to free movement of persons. Read European Council anti-reform camp

Bundesregierung positive about EU democracy

After the treaty text and annexes Denkschrift zum Vertrag von Lissabon vom 13. Dezember 2007 (from page 133) explained the different provisions. On page 136 we find the new election procedure presented as an important contribution to more democracy. The gist is that the outcome of the election is going to determine the choice of person more than before, leading towards more of a personality contest in the European elections, making them more attractive to voters. Read Bundesregierung positive about EU democracy

Democracy in Europe (8 June 2014): Spitzenkandidaten, democracy and powers

The AECR, established around the UK Tories, rejected what they called a 1950s vision of Euro-federalism and arrogantly, Louis XVI style, refused to field a candidate for the Commission Presidency as part of the 2014 European election. Read Democracy in Europe (8 June 2014): Spitzenkandidaten, democracy and powers

War on the EP 2014 election winner

Here is a compilation of blog articles about the election procedure for the president of the European Commission and the war declared on the outcome of the 2014 elections to the European Parliament. Read War on the EP 2014 election winner

Denial or confirmation for Spitzenkandidaten?

While sifting through comments describing the aim and content of Article 17(7) TEU about the new ”parliamentary” system to elect the president of the European Commission, I have struggled to understand if politicians, journalists and citizens who vehemently deny the change can be acting in good faith. Read Denial or confirmation for Spitzenkandidaten?

EU democracy debate

Disillusionment, resentment and (impotent) rage are engendered by the system itself, as we saw in the European elections. Read EU democracy debate

More power for European Parliament

The Lisbon Treaty made the election of the president of the European Commission more like the parliamentary procedures in states where coalition governments are formed after elections. Here is another comment on the new procedure in the Treaty of Lisbon, Article 17(7) TEU - read More power for European Parliament

Westphalian D-day

British politicians and UK based media have launched an extermination campaign against the tender sprouts of civic and democratic aspirations in the eurozone and the wider European Union, symbolised by the measly concession the member states made to the EU citizens in the Treaty of Lisbon, the new ”parliamentary” election procedure for the president of the European Commission. Read Westphalian D-day

EU Commission president – reversed election system

Since some keep ridiculing and de-legitimising the directly elected European Parliament, and its role in the election process for the next president of the European Commission, here's another snippet of information about the purpose of the new and reversed system (part of a package which gave the European Council new powers and a permanent president). Read EU Commission president – reversed election system

Spitzenkandidat AD 2004

Having seen the efforts to ignore, then shoot down the new election procedure for the president of the European Commission, the faith in the good will of men can look a bit misplaced, but for the record... Read Spitzenkandidat AD 2004

Germany fooled by France?

If France secured the appointment by the European Council of its chair (president), it would be fair play to ensure that it secures the German part of the bargain as well. If not, as some rumours have it, Germany would come out the loser. Read Germany fooled by France?

Electing the president of the European Commission – Article 17(7) TEU

The permissive consensus having reached road's end - instead of democratic reform of the eurozone or wider EU - some national leaders continue their efforts to claw back prerogatives to the intergovernmental and opaque European Council and further down to their own level of competence. Read Electing the president of the European Commission – Article 17(7) TEU

Falsifying the Lisbon Treaty, are they?

Five political groups (with about 75% of the popular vote) communicated their intent regarding the top candidate of the winning Europarty, Jean-Claude Juncker of the European People's Party (EPP), to the European Council, but EUCO chose to rebuff the EP and the voters instead. Read Falsyfying the Lisbon Treaty, are they?

Happy Fourth of July?

Each year I commemorate the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) and the 1787 federal prototype, the Constitution of the United States of America, which replaced the Articles of Confederation, as great achievements in political history. - Independence Day, July 4th is an excellent time for reflection, on both shores of the Atlantic. Read Happy Fourth of July?