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> Never forget EU commissars are not elected officials, they are named by an totally informal group called "Eurogroup", to which supposedly only 15 EU president

> Never forget EU commissars are not elected officials, they are named by an totally informal group called "Eurogroup", to which supposedly only 15 EU presidents participate. However, as it's not formal, it's completely opaque how they get chosen. EU commissars are not directly elected officials, no, but they are also not "named by a totally informal group". 'EU Commissars' (typically called an European Commissioner) are nominated by their member state, one each. The European Parliament then votes on the whole. So they are still under democratic control: through the various chosen governments of the states, and through the EP. The Eurogroup -- a discussion body for the 19 states that use the Euro as currency -- had nothing to do with the SWIFT ban. (it does have a bunch of issues from a democratic perspective, although it seems like most of the members are just their country's finance minister... which makes sense for a discussion forum about the Euro?).

pomdapi 5y ago
Mostly agree with what you wrote with the following precisions : > "named by a totally informal group" I used the term "informal" from the legal point of view. I'll have a box of cookies of your choice delivered to your home if you can find me the treaty basis, or any other legally formal basis for its existence. > "EU Commissars" That was tongue-in-cheek from me, as related to Bolchevik buraucratic komissars - lovers of all things centralized. > had nothing to do with the SWIFT ban The Eurogroup didn't have it, correct, but the people it chose did very much so. Similarly, what's that about waging war, which happened in the same bureaucratic breath yeasterday ? I don't remember J.Borell or Ch.Michel having been chosen as commanders in chief. > So they are still under democratic control [...] (it does have a bunch of issues from a democratic perspective) In the end, I'm partly Swiss, so I abhor my democracy being representative with a separation degree larger than n=1, or directly myself.

pomdapi 5y ago

Mostly agree with what you wrote with the following precisions : > "named by a totally informal group" I used the term "informal" from the legal point of view. I'll have a box of cookies of your choice delivered to your home if you can find me the treaty basis, or any other legally formal basis for its existence. > "EU Commissars" That was tongue-in-cheek from me, as related to Bolchevik buraucratic komissars - lovers of all things centralized. > had nothing to do with the SWIFT ban The Eurogroup didn't have it, correct, but the people it chose did very much so. Similarly, what's that about waging war, which happened in the same bureaucratic breath yeasterday ? I don't remember J.Borell or Ch.Michel having been chosen as commanders in chief. > So they are still under democratic control [...] (it does have a bunch of issues from a democratic perspective) In the end, I'm partly Swiss, so I abhor my democracy being representative with a separation degree larger than n=1, or directly myself.