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This is an EU parliament resolution, and the EU parliament has very little real power. That doesn't make it politically meaningless, but it in no way compels th

by rickmb 15y ago

This is an EU parliament resolution, and the EU parliament has very little real power. That doesn't make it politically meaningless, but it in no way compels the European Commission or the joint EU governments to actually do anything about it.

tarkin2 15y ago
That's not been true since the 1970/80s really. The Parliament must approve the EU's budget (and has rejected it for political reasons before), approve the Commission's staff, the Parliament has even taken the Council to court about its failure to propose a budget on-time, 80% of all laws must be passed by the Parliament to come into force, has made plenty of amendments to directives, and it most famously had its forthcoming vote of no confidence force the Commission to quit in the 1980s. [1] In this case, it can use its influence over the Commission to get it to propose legislature. Has done very similar things in the past. And don't forget, these MEPs can influence the direction of Council, especially via countries like Italy who are really keen for the European Parliament to have more power and influence. This obviously doesn't mean a directive will appear tomorrow, but such resolutions are an essential and powerful step towards change in European Politics. [1] http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EOSDFfmFJZYC&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=european+parliament+rejected+budget+reason&source=bl&ots=VKjcAQ5VmQ&sig=8tMBFrIg5xoRAH1u4tglv6zYz74&hl=en&ei=fJXFTrvVNYjRhAfvvODbDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EOSDFfmFJZYC&pg=PA68&...
- rmc 15y ago
  The Parliament must approve the EU's budget The EU doesn't really have a budget in the same way the US federal government has a budget (right?), so it's not really a big power.
  - tarkin2 15y ago
    €120.7 billion for the year 2007. From wiki. It's not so much it just has budgetary powers, but it must also approve most of the EU directives: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament#Legislative_procedure http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament#Legislative...

by rickmb 15y ago

tarkin2 15y ago

That's not been true since the 1970/80s really. The Parliament must approve the EU's budget (and has rejected it for political reasons before), approve the Commission's staff, the Parliament has even taken the Council to court about its failure to propose a budget on-time, 80% of all laws must be passed by the Parliament to come into force, has made plenty of amendments to directives, and it most famously had its forthcoming vote of no confidence force the Commission to quit in the 1980s. [1] In this case, it can use its influence over the Commission to get it to propose legislature. Has done very similar things in the past. And don't forget, these MEPs can influence the direction of Council, especially via countries like Italy who are really keen for the European Parliament to have more power and influence. This obviously doesn't mean a directive will appear tomorrow, but such resolutions are an essential and powerful step towards change in European Politics. [1] http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EOSDFfmFJZYC&pg=PA68&lpg=PA68&dq=european+parliament+rejected+budget+reason&source=bl&ots=VKjcAQ5VmQ&sig=8tMBFrIg5xoRAH1u4tglv6zYz74&hl=en&ei=fJXFTrvVNYjRhAfvvODbDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEcQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q&f=false http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=EOSDFfmFJZYC&pg=PA68&...

rmc 15y ago
The Parliament must approve the EU's budget The EU doesn't really have a budget in the same way the US federal government has a budget (right?), so it's not really a big power.
- tarkin2 15y ago
  €120.7 billion for the year 2007. From wiki. It's not so much it just has budgetary powers, but it must also approve most of the EU directives: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament#Legislative_procedure http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament#Legislative...