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outubro 17, 2004
Brussels power grab ahead of EU treaty
[Fonte: Financial Times]
The European Union's new constitution is not yet ratified, but moves are under way in Brussels to anticipate some of its key measures, regardless of whether it ever comes into force.
Members of the European parliament, who gain new powers under the constitutional treaty, are pressing for some of that extra influence now. However, the move is controversial, with some MEPs warning that cherry-picking parts of the treaty before it becomes law will be seen as undemocratic.
The constitution may never come into force, since it has to be ratified by all 25 member states, many of which will put the treaty to referendums over the next two years.
But political leaders in the European parliament are drawing up a list of reforms they would like to implement immediately, reflecting "the spirit" of the constitution.
They plan to ask European leaders to consult them fully in two areas where they currently have no formal role: reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy, and legislation in justice and home affairs.
The treaty would give them a legislative say in both areas, but European parliament officials say MEPs should at least be consulted on them before ratification.
"The parliament will propose making progress in areas where we don't prejudge the ratification of the treaty, but where it seems sensible to take steps forward in the spirit of the constitution," said one parliamentary official.
The formal request is expected to be made later in the year to Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg prime minister, who takes over the EU presidency in January.
But Andrew Duff, a Liberal Democrat member of the parliament's constitutional affairs committee, said: "I think it could look terribly bad if we tried to pick à la carte from the treaty those bits we especially like."
However he said the parliament should press the Council of Ministers - the EU's most powerful legislative body - to pre-empt the treaty by implementing the section which says they should decide new laws in public.
The European parliament is not alone in its impatience to carry out reforms now; eurozone finance ministers have pre-empted the treaty by appointing Mr Juncker as theirsemi-permanent president - dubbed "Mr Euro" - a job foreseen in the treaty.
An embryonic EU diplomatic service is also being prepared for the time when, or if, a new EU foreign minister is created by the treaty.
Publicado por jpdias às outubro 17, 2004 11:06 PM