<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	>
<channel>
	<title>Comments on: Not on Faith Alone</title>
	<atom:link href="http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/not-on-faith-alone/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/not-on-faith-alone/</link>
	<description>European Opinion</description>
	<pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:13:26 +0000</pubDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3</generator>
		<item>
		<title>By: Michael D</title>
		<link>http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/not-on-faith-alone/#comment-5190</link>
		<dc:creator>Michael D</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Oct 2004 22:10:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=873#comment-5190</guid>
		<description>Reminds me of the British minister for transport that couldn't even drive. Margaret Thatcher was her name.

</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Reminds me of the British minister for transport that couldn&#8217;t even drive. Margaret Thatcher was her name.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Ken</title>
		<link>http://fistfulofeuros.net/afoe/the-european-union/not-on-faith-alone/#comment-5189</link>
		<dc:creator>Ken</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Oct 2004 04:10:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://fistfulofeuros.net/wordpress/?p=873#comment-5189</guid>
		<description>"The irresistable force of one Commissioner per country is about to meet the immovable object of some Commissioners? clear unfitness for their portfolios."

Good. The sooner the EU can become a more efficient body clearly appointed on fitness to each particular job, the better. Not saying I don't want jobs spread about - that's essential if we are to convince all countries that the European Union is a worthwhile continental project and not some ideological showboating of a Franco-German alliance. But at the same time, having commissioners who clearly aren't suited to their jobs doesn't help anyone. And only goes further to reinforce the feelings of disenfranchisement and unaccountability. The problem to me seems to be that in each country the European elections become more of a battle over which party's European policy is most palatable rather than genuinely thinking what is best for Europe. Changing the structures of the EU to become far more popularly accountable, and to give the Parliament more genuine powers, would be a great positive step in this regard. A free ministerial post per country is not.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;The irresistable force of one Commissioner per country is about to meet the immovable object of some Commissioners? clear unfitness for their portfolios.&#8221;</p>
<p>Good. The sooner the EU can become a more efficient body clearly appointed on fitness to each particular job, the better. Not saying I don&#8217;t want jobs spread about - that&#8217;s essential if we are to convince all countries that the European Union is a worthwhile continental project and not some ideological showboating of a Franco-German alliance. But at the same time, having commissioners who clearly aren&#8217;t suited to their jobs doesn&#8217;t help anyone. And only goes further to reinforce the feelings of disenfranchisement and unaccountability. The problem to me seems to be that in each country the European elections become more of a battle over which party&#8217;s European policy is most palatable rather than genuinely thinking what is best for Europe. Changing the structures of the EU to become far more popularly accountable, and to give the Parliament more genuine powers, would be a great positive step in this regard. A free ministerial post per country is not.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
</channel>
</rss>
