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The European Parliament: now with balls!
From the BBC:
At last!
The Parliament has finally shown Barroso who's the boss, by pressuring him into removing an unacceptable commissioner.
This is excellent news for the European democracy, as the Parliament now dares to wield its power. This sure makes a difference with the past (including the very recent past), where the EU-Parli was full of "yes-men", who feared to threaten the Holy Consensus if they stood for their beliefs.
This is good news for the European democracy in two aspects:
- It shifts power from the individual governments toward the Parliament. Some years before, Italy would have never thought its candidate could possibly be worried by what was an unimportant institution.
- It is the first time I'm aware of, that the European Parliament is successful at pushing a decision based on ideology. Should the trend continue, the EU will be closer to the voter at last, because a vote is mostly determined by one's worldview (meaning that the worldview of the Europeans will finally be taken into account)
Here's hoping the European Socialists will now continue having guts, and will now use their newly found power to do something about the terrible state of our economic policies.
Barroso backs down over EU vote
A vote to approve the new European Commission has been delayed after the incoming president withdrew his proposed line-up of commissioners.
Jose Manuel Barroso said more time was needed to choose a commission that the European Parliament would approve.
MEPs had threatened to veto the new commission over the inclusion of Rocco Buttiglione, who has expressed controversial views on gays and women.
Mr Buttiglione had been chosen as justice and home affairs commissioner.
The new commission had been due to start work on 1 November.
Incumbent commission leader Romano Prodi and his commission will now remain in office until a new team is approved, but there is no clear protocol on how to proceed.
I have come to the conclusion that if a vote is taken today, the outcome will not be positive for European institutions or for the European project
Jose Manuel Barroso
To applause from MEPs, Mr Barroso told parliament he believed the outcome of Wednesday's vote would not have been "positive for the European institutions or the European project".
"In these circumstances, I have decided not to submit a new commission for approval today."
He added: "I need more time to look at this issue and to consult with the council... so that we can have strong support for the new commission."
Mr Barroso said he would consult EU leaders and parliament before putting forward new proposals "in the next few weeks".
Victory
The BBC's Tim Franks says MEPs who had planned to vote against the commission believe Mr Barroso's move marks a decisive shift in who wields what power inside the European Union.
He says Mr Barroso has two choices: to reshuffle his commission line-up and put Mr Buttiglione in a less contentious portfolio or ask Italy to propose another candidate.
Parliament President Josep Borrell said the EU was now entering "virgin political territory".
Socialist floor leader Martin Schulz said the outcome was "a victory for the European Parliament, especially for my group".
On Tuesday, Mr Barroso had made last-ditch pleas to deputies to back his team, but refused to seek a replacement for Mr Buttiglione.
Mr Buttiglione, an Italian, recently said he regarded homosexuality as a sin and he suggested unmarried women made bad mothers.
The Italian press reported on Wednesday that Mr Buttiglione had refused a request from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to withdraw his candidacy.
Solution
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson was among those who welcomed the decision to postpone the vote, but said the setback has not been helped by Mr Barroso's "inaction".
"This is a setback but it is not the end of the world, by any means," he said.
"However, I would have to add that MEPs will be looking at three or four other commissioners who do not appear to be up for the job."
Hans-Gert Poettering, head of the conservative European People's Party, which had been expected to support Mr Barroso's new team, said: "We are all confident to find a solution."
The 732-member parliament cannot choose to reject Mr Buttiglione alone - deputies must accept or reject the new commission as a whole.
The 24 new commissioners were initially put forward by the governments of individual member states.
A vote to approve the new European Commission has been delayed after the incoming president withdrew his proposed line-up of commissioners.
Jose Manuel Barroso said more time was needed to choose a commission that the European Parliament would approve.
MEPs had threatened to veto the new commission over the inclusion of Rocco Buttiglione, who has expressed controversial views on gays and women.
Mr Buttiglione had been chosen as justice and home affairs commissioner.
The new commission had been due to start work on 1 November.
Incumbent commission leader Romano Prodi and his commission will now remain in office until a new team is approved, but there is no clear protocol on how to proceed.
I have come to the conclusion that if a vote is taken today, the outcome will not be positive for European institutions or for the European project
Jose Manuel Barroso
To applause from MEPs, Mr Barroso told parliament he believed the outcome of Wednesday's vote would not have been "positive for the European institutions or the European project".
"In these circumstances, I have decided not to submit a new commission for approval today."
He added: "I need more time to look at this issue and to consult with the council... so that we can have strong support for the new commission."
Mr Barroso said he would consult EU leaders and parliament before putting forward new proposals "in the next few weeks".
Victory
The BBC's Tim Franks says MEPs who had planned to vote against the commission believe Mr Barroso's move marks a decisive shift in who wields what power inside the European Union.
He says Mr Barroso has two choices: to reshuffle his commission line-up and put Mr Buttiglione in a less contentious portfolio or ask Italy to propose another candidate.
Parliament President Josep Borrell said the EU was now entering "virgin political territory".
Socialist floor leader Martin Schulz said the outcome was "a victory for the European Parliament, especially for my group".
On Tuesday, Mr Barroso had made last-ditch pleas to deputies to back his team, but refused to seek a replacement for Mr Buttiglione.
Mr Buttiglione, an Italian, recently said he regarded homosexuality as a sin and he suggested unmarried women made bad mothers.
The Italian press reported on Wednesday that Mr Buttiglione had refused a request from Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to withdraw his candidacy.
Solution
Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson was among those who welcomed the decision to postpone the vote, but said the setback has not been helped by Mr Barroso's "inaction".
"This is a setback but it is not the end of the world, by any means," he said.
"However, I would have to add that MEPs will be looking at three or four other commissioners who do not appear to be up for the job."
Hans-Gert Poettering, head of the conservative European People's Party, which had been expected to support Mr Barroso's new team, said: "We are all confident to find a solution."
The 732-member parliament cannot choose to reject Mr Buttiglione alone - deputies must accept or reject the new commission as a whole.
The 24 new commissioners were initially put forward by the governments of individual member states.
At last!
The Parliament has finally shown Barroso who's the boss, by pressuring him into removing an unacceptable commissioner.
This is excellent news for the European democracy, as the Parliament now dares to wield its power. This sure makes a difference with the past (including the very recent past), where the EU-Parli was full of "yes-men", who feared to threaten the Holy Consensus if they stood for their beliefs.
This is good news for the European democracy in two aspects:
- It shifts power from the individual governments toward the Parliament. Some years before, Italy would have never thought its candidate could possibly be worried by what was an unimportant institution.
- It is the first time I'm aware of, that the European Parliament is successful at pushing a decision based on ideology. Should the trend continue, the EU will be closer to the voter at last, because a vote is mostly determined by one's worldview (meaning that the worldview of the Europeans will finally be taken into account)
Here's hoping the European Socialists will now continue having guts, and will now use their newly found power to do something about the terrible state of our economic policies.
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