Comments on: A new job description for EU Commissioners? http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/a-new-job-description-for-eu-commissioners/ European Opinion Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:41:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ray http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/a-new-job-description-for-eu-commissioners/#comment-22171 Ray Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:48:05 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3577#comment-22171 Why not go the other way, and break the link between commissioners and countries? Have them elected by parliament. The current nominated-by-a-country-but-don't-represent-that-country thing just isn't credible. Why not go the other way, and break the link between commissioners and countries? Have them elected by parliament. The current nominated-by-a-country-but-don’t-represent-that-country thing just isn’t credible.

]]> By: Julien Frisch http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/a-new-job-description-for-eu-commissioners/#comment-22161 Julien Frisch Mon, 15 Sep 2008 07:32:28 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3577#comment-22161 I think that it is rather a shortcoming of the present commissioners if they represent their countries' interests and do not work in favour of the joint EU interests (whatever this is in certain fields). Having a double national representation through Council and Commission would be totally in contrary to the idea of the European Union, and it would also counteract the intentions to reduce the numbers of commissioners - because if they represented countries, we would need 27 (or more if more countries enter the Union). I think that it is rather a shortcoming of the present commissioners if they represent their countries’ interests and do not work in favour of the joint EU interests (whatever this is in certain fields).

Having a double national representation through Council and Commission would be totally in contrary to the idea of the European Union, and it would also counteract the intentions to reduce the numbers of commissioners - because if they represented countries, we would need 27 (or more if more countries enter the Union).

]]> By: Anonymous http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/a-new-job-description-for-eu-commissioners/#comment-22160 Anonymous Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:15:45 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3577#comment-22160 # P O'Neill Says: McCreevy is a much more “house-trained” commissioner than when he first went in. Funny guy, you obviously don't work for him... (I do.) # P O’Neill Says: McCreevy is a much more “house-trained” commissioner than when he first went in.

Funny guy, you obviously don’t work for him… (I do.)

]]> By: Ingulf http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/a-new-job-description-for-eu-commissioners/#comment-22159 Ingulf Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:27:41 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3577#comment-22159 Well, there are problems with the Council of Ministers as representation of national interests, for all that this is supposed to be its raison d'etre. Unlike a directly elected representative, the ministers have no incentive at all to raise a fuss if the council votes in a way they don't like on some issue - or even to trumpet their achievement if a vote goes their way. So the national representative is never 'seen to be' representing out interests. I think that for this reason, the representative to the /council of ministers/ should be elected. The interesting thing about that is that it could probably be done without having to edit any treaties. How? by doing it at a national level, one country at a time. Because the whole point of the council is to represent the national interests, no-one can complain about how a country chooses its representative, so long as the various conditions in the treaties are fulfilled. I blogged about this a while back: http://ingulf.livejournal.com/2007/09/22/ Well, there are problems with the Council of Ministers as representation of national interests, for all that this is supposed to be its raison d’etre. Unlike a directly elected representative, the ministers have no incentive at all to raise a fuss if the council votes in a way they don’t like on some issue - or even to trumpet their achievement if a vote goes their way. So the national representative is never ’seen to be’ representing out interests.

I think that for this reason, the representative to the /council of ministers/ should be elected. The interesting thing about that is that it could probably be done without having to edit any treaties. How? by doing it at a national level, one country at a time. Because the whole point of the council is to represent the national interests, no-one can complain about how a country chooses its representative, so long as the various conditions in the treaties are fulfilled.

I blogged about this a while back:
http://ingulf.livejournal.com/2007/09/22/

]]> By: P O'Neill http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/a-new-job-description-for-eu-commissioners/#comment-22149 P O'Neill Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:15:45 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3577#comment-22149 I don't accept the premise either. Even in terms of ideology, McCreevy is a much more "house-trained" commssioner than when he first went in. The environment matters. I don’t accept the premise either. Even in terms of ideology, McCreevy is a much more “house-trained” commssioner than when he first went in. The environment matters.

]]> By: David Weman http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/a-new-job-description-for-eu-commissioners/#comment-22148 David Weman Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:08:41 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3577#comment-22148 But do you accept the premise? I sure don't. Country of origin just isn't as important as the view's of the various commision advisors and tehcnocrat, the views of the directorate staff, your ideology, the ideology of the commission as a whole... But do you accept the premise? I sure don’t. Country of origin just isn’t as important as the view’s of the various commision advisors and tehcnocrat, the views of the directorate staff, your ideology, the ideology of the commission as a whole…

]]> By: Steve http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/a-new-job-description-for-eu-commissioners/#comment-22147 Steve Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:54:40 +0000 http://fistfulofeuros.net/?p=3577#comment-22147 How about unelected unaccountable Dictators?. It is true after all!. How about unelected unaccountable Dictators?.

It is true after all!.

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