European commitment and gender balance

In addition to the treaty criteria of general competence, European commitment and independence, as well as the expectation of irreproachable performance of duties regarding each commissioner, we can expect Juncker to bring up the gender balance of the future Commission, subject as a body to a vote of consent by the European Parliament. Read European commitment and gender balance

European Council 2013 on competitiveness

In the previous blog post we saw president Herman Van Rompuy presenting, in the publication The European Council in 2013, how the European summits were engaged to enhance competitiveness, promote free trade, to develop the single market and to ease the regulatory burden. The next step is to read: European Council 2013 on competitiveness

Van Rompuy on EU competitiveness 2013

Against the background of the UK Europe minister David Lidington's calls for EU competitiveness, free trade, single market reform and cutting red tape, we continue to explore the reality of European Union efforts. Read Van Rompuy on EU competitiveness 2013

Reinventing EU competitiveness?

Competitiveness requires more comprehensive action than negotiating free trade agreements, clearing single market obstacles and cutting red tape. Membership of the EU, or even the maligned eurozone, does not exclude world class competitiveness. We must ask what the European Union fails to do, to earn the constant stream of nagging from prime minister David Cameron, Europe minister David Lidington and the rest of the UK government about the lack of profound reform. Read Reinventing EU competitiveness?

What is competitiveness, Mr Lidington?

When the government of Britain is betting continued membership on competitiveness reform by the European Union, the situation is serious enough, at least politically. Growth and jobs are important for us EU citizen regardless. For our own sake it is worth looking at how the European Union contributes. We saw the UK's Europe minister David Lidington calling for EU competitiveness in his Berlin speech. Read What is competitiveness, Mr Lidington?

David Lidington confronts EU competitiveness

After the selective foreign policy participation appetizer and what looks like Cameron's self-betrayal over Juncker, we get to the UK Europe minister David Lidington's menu of market courses, intended to prove that there is, indeed, a positive British agenda for EU reform. Read David Lidington confronts EU competitiveness

Was Cameron betrayed? (Updated)

Despite dark hints about betrayal from perceived European allies, this much should have been clear even to a 10 Downing Street enamoured with its own cleverness, before forcing the issue: If the EU countries must choose between Europe and Britain, they must always choose Europe, as Churchill would have realised by now. Read Was Cameron betrayed? (Updated)

David Lidington tackles ”misconceptions”

The European Council 26-27 June 2014 conceded that some countries may halt on the road to ever closer union, provided they allow for the rest to proceed unhindered, something Britain has still to learn. Currently, the United Kingdom is far from a fully contributing member state of the European Union, so what more – meaning less – does it want? Read David Lidington tackles ”misconceptions”

Anatomy of Britain in Europe

The Mauritshuis in The Hague has just reopened after renovation, part financed by the European Union. Let me therefore recall Rembrandt's painting The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp, before I start dissecting the United Kingdom as a member of the European Union, using normal membership as the measure. Legal exceptions, historic experience and current attitudes form the basis for a few suggestions. Read Anatomy of Britain in Europe

Ever closer union – without Britain

Since the government of the United Kingdom did not propose an alternative candidate, we do not know who would have been so much closer to their agenda of exceptionalism and narrowly defined market reform calls, as to merit such a vicious and counterproductive campaign against Juncker and the democratic lead candidate (Spitzenkandidat) system. Read Ever closer union – without Britain

European Council 26-27 June 2014: Ad fontes

To the sources – ad fontes – inspired the humanists of the Renaissance to study the original classical texts and the leaders of the Protestant Reformation to base religious teaching on the Bible. Here, more modestly, I want to remind readers of the official documents produced by the important European Council meeting, which ended yesterday evening. Read European Council 26-27 June 2014: Ad fontes

European Council to set strategic agenda

We can expect a strategic European Council agenda, trying to reconcile different ambitions on how the European Union should tackle the internal and international challenges during the five year term of the newly elected European Parliament and with a new Commission in office. Read European Council to set strategic agenda

Juncker vote

Impetus, political directions and priorities are necessary, but the doers for the EU have to be found, as laid down in the treaties. Today, the European Council needs to take the first decision to form a new EU Commission in a timely manner. Read Juncker vote

European Council on single market and regulatory reform

After the presentations of the UK review of the balance of EU competences and the single market overview, I promised to look up some later policy papers and developments. This takes us to the European Council meeting today and tomorrow (26-27 June 2014). Read European Council on single market and regulatory reform

Review of EU single market competences

The Review of the Balance of Competences between the United Kingdom and the European Union: The Single Market (HM Government; 83 pages, including the annexes): This report is an overview of the single market, but it also presents sources and evidence for detailed study. The presentation could serve as a primer for students or lay readers who want to understand the subject, not only in Britain. It opens up relevant topics for discussion in the UK and elsewhere, including the governments in other EU member states. Read Review of EU single market competences

Cameron introduces transparency in the European Council

By insisting on a vote among the heads of state or government to end his ill conceived, misdirected and calamitous crusade, PM Cameron does a good turn for transparency in the intergovernmental EUCO chambers, where past eliminations of candidates have reached the public only belatedly and based on anecdotal evidence. Read Cameron introduces transparency in the European Council

UK review of the balance of EU competences

This blog entry contains short references to the democratic Europe theme and to the British prime minister David Cameron's renegotiation and EU reform calls, before an introductory look at the UK review of the balance of EU competences. Read UK review of the balance of EU competences

EU democracy and reform – for Europeans and for Cameron

Because the United Kingdom has cast itself in the role of the principal opponent of a democratic European Union, Britain's contrary aims have been the focus of the discussion. For ease of future reference, I am going to offer a compilation of links to blog entries after the previous collection on the same theme, with links to 13 articles: War on the EP 2014 election winner. The twelve newer blog posts on the democracy and anti-democracy theme are... Read EU democracy and reform – for Europeans and for Cameron

European Parliament Elections 2014 Pamphlet

More Europe, more democracy declares the Athens based think tank Bridging Europe – @BridgingEurope on Twitter - thus keenly interested in EU institutions and democracy. Read European Parliament Elections 2014 Pamphlet

Help me find Cameron's EU reform

I have wondered. I have read speeches, newspaper reports and articles. Still, I am at a loss to explain what Cameron's ”positive agenda” is. What does the UK prime minister and leader of the Conservatives mean by EU reform? Read Help me find Cameron's EU reform

Reading tips: European Parliament elections 2014

How did it go? What did we learn? In this note, I just want to point to two pan-EU assessments of the elections to the European Parliament. Read Reading tips: European Parliament elections 2014

Christine Nissen: Democratic legitimacy

Christine Nissen adds that it would be unwise for the heads of state or government to go against the expectations of the Parliament. Read Christine Nissen: Democratic legitimacy

Democracy in Europe (15 June 2014): PDU blueprint for democracy

The eurozone and the EU have constrained democracy at the state level, without introducing democracy at the European level, where certain important issues should be solved in a more natural order of things. Read Democracy in Europe (15 June 2014): PDU blueprint for democracy

Cameron a catalyst for European level democracy?

The UK review of the balance of competences has advanced to its fourth and last semester, from spring to autumn 2014, although the third semester is still continuing, but the review does not seem to have produced any new thinking about the democratic rights of EU citizens or the democratic future of the European Union. I wonder if history is going to look at Mr Cameron as a catalyst for European level democracy. Read Cameron a catalyst for European level democracy?

UK - EU member pro tempore

If Britain sees Germany as its most important ally in EU affairs, why not fast-forward into the 21st century in order to catch up with the cautious Germans on democratic reform? Read UK - EU member pro tempore

How long, O Cameron, will you abuse our patience?

UKIP and the three traditional main parties – Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats - ignored the lead candidates and have now formed a Westminster consensus to delegitimise the outcome, publicly and inside the European Parliament. - The English exports of fair play and sportsmanship seem more alive and well on the Continent. Read How long, O Cameron, will you abuse our patience?

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?