Oh dear … February 1, 2008
Posted by smiffy in European Union, Fianna Fáil, Lisbon Treaty.trackback
Chris Andrews, TD, in a letter to today’s Irish Times (sub. req’d), writes:
Madam, – Does anyone know who the current President of the European Council is? Does anyone care? Would anyone agree that this lack of knowledge about European leaders has resulted in a weaker and disconnected EU? The six-month rotation of the presidency of the Council of Ministers served a purpose in its time but it is now defunct.
The Lisbon Treaty will amend the presidency of the Council so that it will become a two-and-a-half year term. This does not mean a “federal Europe”, but is one of the measures designed to improve identity with EU leaders. It will improve democracy and transparency, not hinder them.
Do ordinary EU citizens know the difference between the job of External Relations Commissioner, currently held by Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and the job of High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, held by Javier Solana? They probably don’t. That is because there is very little difference. Is it not time to clarify such roles, streamline institutions and job descriptions and, as a result, create stronger links between EU leaders and EU citizens?
The current President of the European Council is Dimitrij Rupel, the foreign minister of Slovenia. Who knows, if the next president of the European Council is Irish, wouldn’t we be proud? – Yours, etc,
Deputy Andrews may have been better off checking his facts before making rash statements about what people know or care about.
The six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of Ministers may be defunct, but the Lisbon Treaty does not abolish it. Apart from the External Relations Council, the various Council formations will continue to be chaired by Member States on a six-monthly rotating basis. Andrews seems to be getting confused with the European Council, a completely different body comprised of the Heads of State and Government of each Member State, with no legislative role within the Union and which meets every three months.
In addition, it’s good to see that Andrews’ own knowledge reflects the ignorance of ‘ordinary EU citizens’. The current President of the European Council is not Dimitrij Rupel, but Janez Janša, the Slovenian Prime Minister. And the next President of the European Council will not be Irish. It will be Nicolas Sarkozy. The permanent President will only take up office in 2009 (assuming that the ratification of the Treaty goes smoothly).
The Lisbon Treaty enhances the role of the national parliaments of Member States in the scrutiny of EU legislation. With deputies of Andrews’ calibre and knowledge in the Dáil, we can be assured that Ireland’s future in the European Union is in safe hands. Won’t we be proud?
That’s such a stupid error to make. I’m amazed many people in his position appear to eschew fact checkers… it doesn’t bode well for the pro-Treaty campaign…
Smiffy,
I’ve read your post a few times and I’m still not clear. So, there’s an EU Council of Ministers and there’s also a European Council? Yes? No?
Is it any wonder the average citizen can’t abide European matters.
Not sure that last line will stand up given the popularity of the EU in Ireland.
Eagle,
Yes these are two bodys are distinct. The Council of Ministers is the grouping of 27 ministers of whatever area of competence is under consideration – e.g. agriculture. The European Council is the grouping of the 27 heads of state or government.
Tomaltach is correct. While it may be a little confusing at first given the similarity in names, the EU system really not that much more complicated than the institutions of government of many states. Whatever about the average citizen, Chris Andrews really has no excuse for this kind of sloppiness with basic facts.
a wizard did it
The Wizard of Eu…
[...] he is ignorant. He’d hardly be a Sunday Independent journalist otherwise and, as Smiffy demonstrated previously, it’s a mistake that others have made. Perhaps we might even forgive poor [...]