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>Sometimes the pro-EU movement’s most promising (if passive) argument was that the EU runs things much better than the UK, so let’s just give all the power to B
by yokaze 6y ago
>Sometimes the pro-EU movement’s most promising (if passive) argument was that the EU runs things much better than the UK, so let’s just give all the power to Brussels instead.
I think, no one argues that the EU runs things better in principle. The argument is that having to deal with a single set of rules is superior to having to so with multiple different ones (which to some degree is the current status within the EU too).
How those rules are executed is orthogonal to it, and I would say that most proponents of the EU will agree, that there is room for improvement, as you surely will with how things are run in the UK.
The power is not simply given to Brussels, your government has in most cases a veto. And depending on how your parliament has set up the checks and balances with your government, the agreements are subject to your parliaments approval.
In other cases it has go through EU parliament, and you can lobby your MEP.
So, in essence, it is not some anonymous thing in Brussel doing things, it is your government and your MEP to whom you can direct your complaints. In most cases though likely the very same government you still have to content with.
- p_l 6y agoAlso, the "unelected bureacrats", with exception of EU civil service, are the Council of the European Union (EDIT: thank klelatti for correction) - which is formed of Ministers and Heads of State of all members.
- pjc50 6y agoThe UK has zero business complaining about unelected rule-makers while the House of Lords still exists.
- ClumsyPilot 6y agoFunny enough, I found most things coming out of the HOL more sensible than the commons!
- pjc50 6y agoSadly this is true.
- klelatti 6y agoNearly! The European Commission is the civil service. You're thinking of the Council of the European Union often known as the Council of Ministers. https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/institutions-bodies/council-eu_en https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/institutions-bodie...
- vmilner 6y agoQuite. The European Commission generally consists of people who have lost an election in a member state, and have had to find something else to do... :-)
- klelatti 6y agoYou may very well think that, but I could not possibly comment ;) Of course the criticism of the Commission is that it does more than 'just' implement policy. I think that's fair criticism but probably inevitable given it has to co-ordinate 27 member states.
- KSteffensen 6y agoThe European commissioners are suggested by the governments of the members states. Lobby your local state government if you are not happy about their choice of commisioner.
- klelatti 6y agoAnd the commissioners have to be assessed and approved by the European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings-2014/en https://www.europarl.europa.eu/hearings-2014/en