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You probably do not live in Europe (or maybe you just like trolling?). First I am a voter and I do take the EU parliament seriously. I also consider what the g

by illys 9y ago

You probably do not live in Europe (or maybe you just like trolling?). First I am a voter and I do take the EU parliament seriously. I also consider what the groups and candidates voted in the past before giving them my vote - especially on topics like world trade giant agreements (TTIP, TATFA, CETA... - yes they also vote on that and it is very meaningful for our future). You may also read some documentation on the powers and functions of the EU Parliament: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament#Powers_and_functions https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament#Powers_and... You may also just read the news: -> UK just voted to get out of EU to escape EU funding and regulations - so probably those regulations do exist at a significant extend. -> A recent example: the GSM roaming (a former giant cash machine against consumers) just got extinguished within EU countries by EU regulation. So probably - yes - they can set rules on repairability and durability.

taway_1212 9y ago
> A recent example: the GSM roaming (a former giant cash machine against consumers) just got extinguished within EU countries by EU regulation. Wasn't that the European Commission (and not Parliament) though? They seem to be significantly more powerful.
- vidarh 9y ago
  EU law needs to be proposed by the Commission (though the Maastricht Treaty gives Parliament powers to request that the Commission should put forward proposals on their behalf), and then normally approved and/or amended by both Parliament and the Council, with drawn out conciliation procedures if one or the other changes the proposals too much. The complexity stems from the legal status where the EU is in some respects a confederation of sovereign states, where the governments of the member states need to represent their respective nations, and in some respects a union of people. The gradual shift of power towards the Parliament represents attempts to shift it towards the latter, while the Commission and Council represents the treat realities where delegating more power to Parliament would require constitutional changes in a number of member states to cede the sovereignty (currently this is worked around by having the treaties bind the respective governments to take make the required decision - it's exploiting the wide latitude most governments have in exercising treating rights and obligations.
  - taway_1212 9y ago
    Thanks for the writeup! This gives some insight into how convoluted the system is and hence why people don't trust it.
peoplewindow 9y ago
How is he trolling by stating the facts? You might wish it were different but the EU Parliament doesn't have any real power. It can call for things all it likes, but it can't make law, which raises the question of why it calls itself a Parliament. The single purpose of a Parliament is to make law, after all. The wiki page you link to does say that. Voters have been figuring it out. Turnout for EP elections has been falling steadily since the institution was first created: http://www.ukpolitical.info/european-parliament-election-turnout.htm http://www.ukpolitical.info/european-parliament-election-tur... From 62% to around 40% on average. People don't bother voting because the EP can't/won't actually do much except cheerlead for the EU itself and demand it does more. This sort of story appears from time to time. The EP calls for this, it calls for that. Nobody pays much attention because these "calls" don't matter. The EU's laws can only be changed by the Commission, and EU law is made entirely in secret (unlike every other legislature in the world save North Korea). So there's little point trying to get involved or care what they do - EU law just "appears" fully formed and gets implemented without debate. https://euobserver.com/institutional/136630 https://euobserver.com/institutional/136630
- yorwba 9y ago
  > You might wish it were different but the EU Parliament doesn't have any real power. The EP can't initiate new law, but they can still vote on law proposed by the Commission, which does give them a certain amount of power. Your second link mentions MEPs doing back-room deals with the Commission and European diplomats, which they certainly couldn't do if they were entirely powerless. I'm also skeptical on your claim that North Korea is the only other legislature where this secret law-making happens. Other autocracies aside, in any system with political parties, proposed legislation will most likely be circulated within the party for some time; then discussed informally with leaders of other parties that might be necessary for a majority, before it is first presented at a public hearing.
  - gpderetta 9y ago
    They can also extensively amend laws and have the right to ask the commission to submit a proposal, and as far as I understand, the commission routinely obliges. So, while it might not have the jure initiative power, it does de facto.
netcan 9y ago
I live in Ireland, and I didn't intend to troll though I should have probably written that differently. I was reacting mostly to the language of the recommendations. Though, I also think we have a serious polity problem. I think many Europeans people treated recent EU parliamentary elections as an opportunity for protest or half-serious voting. I think this creates a negative feedback between disempowered parliament and an electorate that doesn't take it seriously or want to give it more power.

by illys 9y ago

taway_1212 9y ago

> A recent example: the GSM roaming (a former giant cash machine against consumers) just got extinguished within EU countries by EU regulation. Wasn't that the European Commission (and not Parliament) though? They seem to be significantly more powerful.

vidarh 9y ago
EU law needs to be proposed by the Commission (though the Maastricht Treaty gives Parliament powers to request that the Commission should put forward proposals on their behalf), and then normally approved and/or amended by both Parliament and the Council, with drawn out conciliation procedures if one or the other changes the proposals too much. The complexity stems from the legal status where the EU is in some respects a confederation of sovereign states, where the governments of the member states need to represent their respective nations, and in some respects a union of people. The gradual shift of power towards the Parliament represents attempts to shift it towards the latter, while the Commission and Council represents the treat realities where delegating more power to Parliament would require constitutional changes in a number of member states to cede the sovereignty (currently this is worked around by having the treaties bind the respective governments to take make the required decision - it's exploiting the wide latitude most governments have in exercising treating rights and obligations.
- taway_1212 9y ago
  Thanks for the writeup! This gives some insight into how convoluted the system is and hence why people don't trust it.

peoplewindow 9y ago

How is he trolling by stating the facts? You might wish it were different but the EU Parliament doesn't have any real power. It can call for things all it likes, but it can't make law, which raises the question of why it calls itself a Parliament. The single purpose of a Parliament is to make law, after all. The wiki page you link to does say that. Voters have been figuring it out. Turnout for EP elections has been falling steadily since the institution was first created: http://www.ukpolitical.info/european-parliament-election-turnout.htm http://www.ukpolitical.info/european-parliament-election-tur... From 62% to around 40% on average. People don't bother voting because the EP can't/won't actually do much except cheerlead for the EU itself and demand it does more. This sort of story appears from time to time. The EP calls for this, it calls for that. Nobody pays much attention because these "calls" don't matter. The EU's laws can only be changed by the Commission, and EU law is made entirely in secret (unlike every other legislature in the world save North Korea). So there's little point trying to get involved or care what they do - EU law just "appears" fully formed and gets implemented without debate. https://euobserver.com/institutional/136630 https://euobserver.com/institutional/136630

yorwba 9y ago
> You might wish it were different but the EU Parliament doesn't have any real power. The EP can't initiate new law, but they can still vote on law proposed by the Commission, which does give them a certain amount of power. Your second link mentions MEPs doing back-room deals with the Commission and European diplomats, which they certainly couldn't do if they were entirely powerless. I'm also skeptical on your claim that North Korea is the only other legislature where this secret law-making happens. Other autocracies aside, in any system with political parties, proposed legislation will most likely be circulated within the party for some time; then discussed informally with leaders of other parties that might be necessary for a majority, before it is first presented at a public hearing.
- gpderetta 9y ago
  They can also extensively amend laws and have the right to ask the commission to submit a proposal, and as far as I understand, the commission routinely obliges. So, while it might not have the jure initiative power, it does de facto.

netcan 9y ago

I live in Ireland, and I didn't intend to troll though I should have probably written that differently. I was reacting mostly to the language of the recommendations. Though, I also think we have a serious polity problem. I think many Europeans people treated recent EU parliamentary elections as an opportunity for protest or half-serious voting. I think this creates a negative feedback between disempowered parliament and an electorate that doesn't take it seriously or want to give it more power.