tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post6568367282160190771..comments2023-09-28T12:28:57.598+03:00Comments on Grahnlaw: Czech stewardship: We don’t give a damnRalf Grahn http://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-8453051878523534232009-02-18T12:55:00.000+02:002009-02-18T12:55:00.000+02:00Gawain, Thank you for commenting. Legally, every E...Gawain, <BR/><BR/>Thank you for commenting. <BR/><BR/>Legally, every EU member state is bound by the obligation to cooperate sincerely (loyal cooperation). <BR/><BR/>Once upon the time the British taught the rest of the world sportsmanship. <BR/><BR/>Still, in my humble opinion, you join a club to play for your team, not against it. <BR/><BR/>Additionally, your country negotiaties and signs a treaty. You see no moral obligation to get it ratified? <BR/><BR/>Your country is in a special position of responsibility as President of the EU Council. Yet you see no moral imperative to show stewardship? <BR/><BR/>But your comment about the Czech (Parliament and Government) being elected only by their own people makes sense in way. <BR/><BR/>It shows why the so called double legitimacy is both artificial and flawed. <BR/><BR/>The European Union needs real powers on the world stage, but these have to be built on real democracy at European level. <BR/><BR/>There is much room for improvement on both fronts.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6406430766424642773.post-89331789186805674272009-02-18T10:59:00.000+02:002009-02-18T10:59:00.000+02:00"with a moral obligation to drive forward the comm..."with a moral obligation to drive forward the common interests, not pander to nationalist sentiments".<BR/><BR/>OK so the Czechs hold the Presidency, but the only moral obligation they have is to their own people who elected them. Nobody has a moral obligation to the European Union. Now you might contend that they should have turned down the Presidency if they were not prepared tpo go with the flow. But moral obligation? Ralph I think you go too far. Surely if their are any moral obligations floating about they are held by those governments who promised to consult their people, but failed, or those who did consult their people and promptly ignored them.Gawain Towlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08583658895528269901noreply@blogger.com