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> This came as a surprise to me because I have only learned about it recently (during the last year or so), even though I've been voting in the European electio
by sofixa 4y ago
> This came as a surprise to me because I have only learned about it recently (during the last year or so), even though I've been voting in the European elections ever since my country joined the EU (in 2007). And I liked to think of myself as reasonably well-versed when it comes to politics, and, as such, I'm pretty sure the majority of the European electorate doesn't know that basic thing either. I mean, it's the European Parliament, no? They're the ones who suggest and propose laws, no? That's why we elected them there, no?
I don't know, i was taught this in high school (my country also joined in 2007), and I've never been left with the impression that people I've discussed EU laws with are unaware of how power is shared in the EU.
However, the EU parliament is not a rubber stamp. There's a wide variety of political leanings represented in it ( up until a few years ago 1/4 were from anti-EU parties). Proposals often get rejected or amended:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/votes.html?tab=votes https://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/votes.html?tab=vot...
- paganel 4y agoI’ve read a statistics that in 2016 it was approving 97% of the law proposals coming from the Commission. In 2007 I was already employed, with no connection to school whatsoever, I’d say people like me still form the majority when it comes to European Ellections (i.e. people who think that the national parliament and the European one are pretty much the same when it comes to their nature) Maybe the younger generations will be more knowledgeable when it comes to continent-wide political movements, even though I have major doubts about that (they’re less politically involved than we were, for example).
- sgjohnson 4y ago> I’ve read a statistics that in 2016 it was approving 97% of the law proposals coming from the Commission. I'd love to see the source for this.
- paganel 4y agoI saw it mentioned in this Perry Anderson book [1], I'll have to find the physical book that is hidden somewhere behind other books in a corner of my living room and find the exact page. I'll see what I can do but I don't promise anything :) [1] https://www.versobooks.com/books/3883-ever-closer-union https://www.versobooks.com/books/3883-ever-closer-union