| CONTENTS:
1.
Editorial
2. Euro-Quotes
3. Speaking to…Prof David Phinnemore
4. The new Commission
5. Commissioner's Hearings
6. Echoes of Political Parties
7. Youth on the Move
8. GEAF Events
1.
Editorial
Dear
Europeans!
The
year 2004 is slowly, but surely, moving towards its end. It certainly
has been a very exciting year for European Politics. It was the
year of European Parliament's elections, it was the year of the
first European Constitution, it was the year when a new Commission
was elected and it was the year when the EUropean Union opened its
door to Turkey. All together, this events gave a new face to Europe.
In
this issue we will focus on what has perhaps been the most exciting
event of all - the election of the new European Commission in the
European Parliament (EP). For many of us demanding a different procedure
of electing the Commission President and individual Commissioners,
the developments can be judged as positive. The institutional "confrontation"
has been widely regarded as positive by the European citizens and
the National media have found some interest in the matter - resulting
in more Europeans being aware of what happens in European institutions
and political life.
In
addition, the EP has placed itself on a more ambitious route than
those before. After the low participation in the European Elections
in June, we have witnessed a strong stand of the EP vis-à-vis
the Commission and the Council. Will this bring us to a Europe where
citizens have more influence on how decisions are made? Will this
result in a higher participation at the next EP elections? Will
this result in more and better awareness about European Politics.
All these questions are addressed by Prof David Phinnemore in the
interview included in this edition of the Newsletter.
These
developments might guarantee a very European year in 2005. They
bring a healthy measure of optimism that the EU is moving closer
to a Union of its citizens and not mere Member States and their
governments. With this in mind we wish you joyful New Year's celebrations
and a successful 2005!
Enjoy
the last days of 2004!
Best
regards,
Editor
in Chief
NOTE: This Information Newsletter will continue to be published
in 2005 on a two-weeks basis and will provide information on different
topics of European interest. The next issue will be in your inboxes
on the 10th of January 2005.
Your
contributions are welcome at newsletter@giveeuropeaface.net
, deadline for the next issue is 7th January 2005. You can read
all articles of this Bulletin in full length on: http://www.giveeuropeaface.net
Contact
details follow at the end of this newsletter.
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2.
Election-Quotes
In
this edition we focus on quotes about the "non-election"
of the European Commission on the 27th October 2004.
-----
"This
statement brings the EU into political virgin territory."
”Sooner
or later it was going to happen; sooner or later the parliament
was going to use the powers the Treaties have conferred on it. You
can not give power to an institution subject to the condition that
it will never use it.”
Josep Borrell (PES), the President of the European Parliament
-----
“MEPs
have found the escalator that will lead them, if necessary to a
position where they can use their constitutional ‘nuclear option'-the
power to sack the whole EC.”
Andrew
Duff (ALDE), MEP
-----
“The
European Parliament moved from the puberty to maturity in one fell
swoop. For MEPs was like watching history unfold.”
Catherine
Stihler (PES), MEP
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3.
Speaking to...Prof David Phinnemore
In
this issue we speak with Prof David Phinnemore from the Queen's
University in Belfast. Prof Phinnemore is senior lecturer on a variety
of European issues, but one of his main areas of interest is the
Constitutional development of the EU.
-----
1.
In June elections for the European Parliament (EP) we have seen
a picture of a tired Europe ¯ a low turnout, an increasing influence
of anti-European parties and a general apathy towards European affairs.
After the hearings in the European Parliament with the candidates
for the new Commission we have seen a diametrically different situation
¯ an EP that is willing to take matters in its hands.
Do
you see any connection among these two events and do you think that
European citizens will have the chance to see a radically different
EP in the next 5 years?
I
wonder whether we should really interpret the outcome of the EP
elections so negatively. Within the EU(15), turnout was on average
slightly higher than in 1999 and although eurosceptic parties did
make gains, they are still a small minority within the EP. As for
whether the EP will be more assertive over the next few years, much
will obviously depend on its President and the leadership of the
major groupings. The EP certainly seized a valuable opportunity
during the hearings for the incoming Commission to prove that it
is an institution with powers that it exercises independently and
in a responsible manner. This brought it respect and may help change
popular views of it.
2.
More on the hearings. The European Constitution will give more powers
when electing a new Commission to the EP, but during the recent
events Barrosso seemed to be left aside in the corner by the member
states and there is a danger this might stay in the future. Do you
think that now the future candidates for President will have less
problems with reshuffling their teams in case of need?
The
experience of 2004 will certainly make the member states think more
about who they propose as Commissioners in the future. And withholding
approval can no longer be regarded as a 'nuclear option' for the
European Parliament. Threatening to withhold approval worked this
year and this will encourage MEPs to contemplate issuing similar
threats again. This should give the Commission President ¯ who will
also be elected by the European Parliament ¯ more leverage over
the member states.
3.
The »Buttiglione case« has been very present in the
national media as well. According to some surveys, a significant
number of people has heard about the issue and this created some
room for a European debate. How do you evaluate the perception of
the EP after the hearings? Will this increase the interest of European
citizens to follow more the work of the EP and more importantly
to vote in the EP elections in 2009?
I
certainly get the impression that the European Parliament is now
more highly regarded. It gained media attention and generally I
think citizens saw it behaving in a responsible manner in exercising
one of its key responsibilities. Whether the positive perception
will persisit is open to question. Much will obviously depend on
how much the various national media report proceedings and debates.
The evidence suggests that since the Buttiglione affair, the coverage
has returned to previous levels. This does not bode well. On the
other hand, ratification of the European Constitution is attracting
attention. If anything is going to stimulate greater popular engagement
with EU matters and lead potentially to a higher turnout in the
2009 elections, it is this.
4. Many claim that the whole story about electing the new
Commission has benefited European Union, since it gave its Institutions
more visibility. Do you think that the EU needs more institutional
conflicts like this ¯ similar to the national one ¯ and do you think
that such conflicts bring the EU to political normality?
Institutional
conflicts do attract media, and by implication popular, attention.
Such attention is to be welcomed. Yet they cast the EU in a very
unflattering and distorted light and therefore can actually undermine
the image and perpetuate stereotypical views of the EU. The challenge
is to develop popular awareness and understanding of the EU based
on what it actually does rather than on sporadic and often over-sensationalised
'crises' and 'power struggles'.
For
more information about Prof David Phinnemore visit the website:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofPoliticsInternationalStudies/
AboutUs/StaffProfiles/Phinnemore/
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4.
The new Commission
The
new Commission took office on the 22nd November. Its President José
Manuel Durão Barroso is leading a team of 24 Commissioners.
Commission
president:
- Jose Manuel Barroso, Portugal
Vice-presidents:
- Siim Kallas, Estonia: administrative affairs, audit and anti-fraud
- Jacques Barrot, France: transport
- Guenter Verheugen, Germany: enterprise and industry
- Franco Frattini, Italy: justice freedom and security
- Margot Wallstroem, Sweden: institutional ties and communication
strategy
Other members:
- Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Austria: external relations
- Louis Michel, Belgium: development and humanitarian aid
- Markos Kyprianou, Cyprus: health and consumer protection
- Vladimir Spidla, Czech Republic: jobs and social affairs
- Mariann Fischer Boel, Denmark: agriculture and rural development
- Olli Rehn, Finland: EU enlargement
- Stavros Dimas, Greece: environment
- Laszlo Kovacs, Hungary: tax and customs union
- Charlie McCreevy, Ireland, internal market and services
- Andris Piebalgs, Latvia: energy
- Dalia Grybauskaite, Lithuania: financial programming and budget
- Viviane Reding, Luxembourg: information society and media
- Joe Borg, Malta: fisheries and maritime affairs
- Neelie Kroes, the Netherlands: competition
- Danuta Huebner, Poland: regional policy
- Jan Figel, Slovakia: education, training, culture and multilingualism
- Janez Potočnik, Slovenia, science and research
- Joaquin Almunia, Spain: economic and monetary affairs
- Peter Mandelson, United Kingdom: trade
The
list and profiles of the new members of the European Commission
that will sit on office until 2009, can be found at:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/commission_barroso/index_en.htm
-----
4.1.
Barroso's statement on the 27.10.2004
"I
have asked to take the floor at this point because I think it is
important that I share with you my analysis of the present situation.
I have listened very attentively to yesterday's debate. I have had
extensive contacts with the group leaders and I have also spoken
with the President of the European Council. I have come to the conclusion
that if a vote is taken today, the outcome will not be positive
for European Institutions or for the European project.
In these circumstances, I have decided not to submit a New Commission
for your approval today.
I need more time to look at this issue and to consult with the European
Council further so that we can have strong support for the new Commission.
It is better to take time to get it right. These last days have
demonstrated that the European Union is a strong political construction
and that this Parliament, elected by popular vote across all our
Member States, has a vital role to play in the governance of Europe.
I was honoured to have received your support as president designate
in July. I committed myself then to work actively with you in the
European interest; I renew that commitment today. I think we can
agree, Mr President, on our common commitment to reinforce the democratic
nature of European integration, and I would hope that we can arrive
at an outcome in the next few weeks which will permit us to take
forward work in the European Union in this spirit. I can always
offer you a loyal cooperation for the good of Europe."
-----
4.3.
Barroso's statement on the 17.11.2004
Plenary
session of the European Parliament
Mr
President, Honourable Members
Three
weeks ago I suggested to “stop the clock”. Today, I believe it is
the moment to start it again and submit my team to your approval.
The
decision to postpone the vote was widely welcomed both inside and
outside this Parliament as a means to create the conditions for
a positive outcome to this process of approval; a process which
shows European democracy in action.
Tomorrow
you can choose to give strong parliamentary support to the
incoming Commission and by doing so you can deliver a
further victory for European democracy.
You
can confirm a Commission that wants - as I clearly indicated in
July when I had the honour to receive your support as President-designate
- to have a close relationship with this Parliament (a “positive
complicity” as I like to call it); a Commission that with your support
and partnership can drive forward a European agenda
that can make Europe matter to its citizens....
You
can read the full Barroso's statement on-line at:
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/
04/484&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
-----
4.4.
Full result of the vote on approval of the Commission
The
new Commission was (after a three-weeks delay) elected on the 18.
November 2004. The result was 449 votes in favour to 149 votes against
with 82 abstentions.
For
the full information about the voting on the Barroso Commission
II, please visit the EP "Daily Notebook" at:
http://www2.europarl.eu.int/
-----
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5.
Commissioner's hearings
All
the hearings of the candidates for the European Commission were
streamed on-line and are still available at:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/press/audicom2004/index_en.htm
The
general Hearings website:
http://www.europarl.eu.int/hearings/commission/2004_comm/default_en.htm
-----
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6.
Echoes of Political Parties
In
this section we try to collect the political reactions of the European
Parties and Youth Political Parties to
the recent events in the EP related to the non-election of the first
Barroso Commission.
-----
6.1.
ELDR
Press
Release: Barroso makes right decision in last moment
Brussels/Berlin, 27 October 2004
ELDR
Party President Dr Werner Hoyer, MP responds to the withdrawal of
the proposed line up of designate Commissioners by Commission President
designate Barroso:
“Commission
President designate Barroso has taken the right decision today to
withdraw his line up of designate Commissioners.
Full
PR on-line: http://www.eldr.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=528
-----
Press
Release: EU Commission and European Parliament reinforced !!!
22/11/2004
Berlin:
Werner Hoyer, MdB, Vice-President and Speaker of the FDP Group in
the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag, made the following
comments on the approval of the new European Commission by the European
Parliament:
Barroso
has made good use of the two weeks he had asked for in order to
set up a new team to head the Commission. His new proposal took
into account the legitimate concerns of the European Parliament
and therefore received the support of a large majority of the European
Parliament.
Full
PR on-line:http://www.eldr.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=533
-----
6.2.
EPP Group in the EP
Press
Release: Full confidence in Rocco Buttiglione
12/10/2004
T
he EPP-ED Group has full confidence in the personal and
political abilities of the Italian Commissioner-designate Rocco
Buttiglione, EPP-ED Group Chairman Hans-Gert Poettering has declared.
F ollowing the latest reports on votes in the European
Parliament's Justice and Home Affairs Committee, Poettering made
clear that Buttiglione had the full confidence of the EPP-ED Group.
Full
PR on-line:
http://www.epp-ed.org/Press/showpr.asp?PRControlDocTypeID=1&
PRControlID=2942&PRContentID=5634&PRContentLG=en
-----
Press
Release: EPP-ED Group supports new European Commission.
21/10/2004
The
Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, Hans-Gert
Poettering, has said that the outcome of the meeting with the future
Commission president Jose Manuel Durao Barroso as positive. Mr.
Barroso, he said, had affirmed once again that close relations between
the Commission and Parliament would be a priority in his work. Mr.
Poettering's belief that for the EU to be effective, it required
both a strong Commission and a strong Parliament was also shared
by Mr. Barroso in the meeting of Chairs of political groups in the
EP. Mr. Poettering furthermore welcomed the Commission President's
announcement that the would assume a role of 'policy-guidance' in
the new Commission, thus enhancing the accountability of the Commission.
Full
PR on-line:
http://www.epp-ed.org/Press/showpr.asp?PRControlDocTypeID=1&
PRControlID=2977&PRContentID=5684&PRContentLG=en
-----
Press
Release: Hans-Gert Poettering
calls on Parliament to give its confidence to the new European Commission
26/10/2004
Speaking
in a debate in the European Parliament on the new European Commission,
the Chairman of the EPP-ED Group said:
"On the 22 July the European Parliament decided to vote with confidence
for the future President of the European Commission, Mr Barroso.
We expressed our trust and our confidence on that occasion. Today
you are here with your team, the team of future Commissioners who
have been proposed by the governments of the Member States. As the
future President of the Commission you have stated that you are
prepared to co-operate very closely with the European Parliament.
Full
PR on-line:
http://www.epp-ed.org/Press/showpr.asp?
PRControlDocTypeID=1&PRControlID=2988&PRContentID=5705&PRContentLG=en
-----
6.3.
PES Group in the EP
PR:
Socialists warn 'Barroso' in stand-off.
14th
October 2004
Socialist Euro MPs today, 14th october 2004, threw down a warning
to Commission President-designate José Manuel Barroso after
he dismissed serious criticisms of his team by parliamentary inquiry
committees. To loud applause in the European Parliament, Socialist
Group leader Martin Schulz declared: "If Mr Barroso wants to have
the confidence of the Socialist Group, he has to come up with a
different way of treating this house."
Read
on-line:
http://www.socialistgroup.org/gpes/servlet/
Main/Communique~2?_wcs=true&lg=en&from=list&id_press_release=2502
-----
Party
of European Socialists (PES)
PR:
EUROPEAN SOCIALISTS DECLARE 'VICTORY' OVER BARROSO CLIMB-DOWN
27 October 2004
President of the European Socialist Party Poul Nyrup Rasmussen declared
"victory" today after a showdown with the disgraced incoming European
Commission forced its president designate Jose Manuel Barroso into
a climb-down over his controversial Italian nominee commissioner
Rocco Buttiglione.
Full
PR on-line: http://www.pes.org/scripts/NewsEvents/pressarchive_detail.asp?lang=EN&ID=266
-----
6.4.
Greens/EFA Group
PR:
Commission withdrawal is a victory for Parliament
Strasbourg,
27 October 2004,
The
Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament welcomed José
Manuel Barroso's withdrawal today of his proposed college of European
Commissioners as a victory for parliamentary democracy.
Co-Presidents
of the Greens/EFA Group, Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni
, said:
"The
Parliament, and the voters who elected us, won an important victory
today. We stood up to pressure from Member States and rejected the
unsuitable candidates that they wanted to dump into extremely important
jobs in the Commission."
Read
the full PR on-line: http://www.greens-efa.org/en/press/detail.php?id=2110&lg=en
-----
PR:
Greens/EFA will reject deeply flawed Commission
Strasbourg,
26 October 2004
Daniel
Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni , Co-Presidents of the Greens/EFA
Group in the European Parliament, today announced that their Group
had no confidence in Commission President-designate José
Manuel Barroso's proposed team and would thus vote to reject the
new EU executive tomorrow in Strasbourg.
They
said:
"We
believe, and others believe, that this is a deeply flawed Commission.
Yet José Manuel Barroso has failed to address our concerns
about some of his potential colleagues. He has ignored repeated
calls for a reshuffle and instead proposed that he will take personal
responsibility for any problematic issues that arise.
Read
the full PR on-line: http://www.greens-efa.org/en/press/detail.php?id=2103&lg=en
-----
PR:
Barroso must present new proposal for the Commission
Istanbul,
20 October 2004
The
Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament today called upon incoming
Commission President José Barroso to present a new proposal
for his line-up of Commissioners to the Parliament.
A
resolution tabled for next week's Strasbourg plenary session stresses
that the Greens/EFA Group wants a strong Commission with political
legitimacy and that is ready and able to bring forward the European
project and promote sustainable development. The Commission as currently
presented does not guarantee either of these principles, according
to the Group.
Read
the full PR on-line:
http://www.greens-efa.org/en/press/detail.php?id=2092&lg=en
-----
6.5.
European Liberal Youth (LYMEC)
PR:
MEPs have a duty to vote against Mr. Barroso's Commission
October 25, 2004
LYMEC,
European Liberal Youth, is deeply concerned at the recent turn of
events at the heart of the European Union. To all liberal democrats
and liberal-minded people alike, Rocco Buttiglione's remarks on
homosexual rights, immigration and the role of women in modern society
are clearly unacceptable and demonstrate that he is not competent
for the position. Mr. Barroso's response on Friday was thoroughly
unsatisfactory and shows a total lack of respect to the European
Parliament .
On-line:
http://www.lymec.org/modules.php?op=modload&
name=News&file=article&sid=278&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
-----
6.6.
Young European Socialists (ECOSY)
PR:
Demanding a Different European Commission
Brussels ¯ 20 October 2004
In the coming days you will vote on a new European Commission for
five year term. We, progressive youngsters from all over the European
Union, demand a European Commission different from the one Mr. Barroso
propose.
We believe in a European Union with a more powerful European Parliament,
as it is the only European body elected by its citizens. We also
believe in a European Union that respects diversity and at the same
time fundamental human rights. In this context we are deeply concerned
about the nomination of Mr. Rocco Buttiglione as the new Commissioner
for Justice, Freedom and Security.
Read
full PR on-line: http://www.ecosy.org/index.php?transID=00000000000000001545
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7.
Young on the Move!
7.1
JEF-News
-----
PRESS
Postponing the EP vote: right result, wrong method
Wednesday, 27.10.2004
Reacting
to the news that the European Parliament vote to confirm the new
European Commission has been postponed, the Young European Federalists
(JEF-Europe) welcome the fact that the views of the European Parliament
have been taken into account.
"It
is very welcome that Barroso has finally deemed it necessary to
listen to the European Parliament," stated Jon Worth, President
of JEF-Europe....
Full
PR on-line: http://www.jef-europe.net/presscentre/archives/002121.html
-----
Commissioners
crisis: EP power to select the only solution
Thursday, 21.10.2004
Faced
with the possible rejection of the whole European Commission by
the European Parliament, the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe)
recognise the recent difficulties in the nomination process of the
new Commission as being the result of a system that can no longer
be sustained.
"Concerns
about the competence and views of the Commissioners at the hearings
have proven to be the straw that broke the camel's back for the
European Parliament," stated Jon Worth, President of JEF-Europe....
Full
PR on-line: http://www.jef-europe.net/presscentre/archives/002120.html
-----
Row
over Commission hearings shows institutional defects
Friday, 08.10.2004
The
Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) are concerned by the hearings
for the incoming European Commissioners and understand the frustrations
of the European Parliament that feels it does not have the powers
to get the Commission team that EU citizens deserve and that reflects
the party political balance in the Parliament.
"The
European Parliament is rightly frustrated," commented Jon Worth,
President of JEF-Europe...
Full
PR on-line: http://www.jef-europe.net/presscentre/archives/002118.html
To
see Press Releases on other topics, please visit the JEF Press Centre:
http://www.jef-europe.net/presscentre/
-----
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8.
GEAF Events
"GIVE
EUROPE YOUR SAY! - FACE THE CONSTITUTION DEBATE "
21.-23.
January 2005
Join
the main event of the season!!!!
The
“Give Europe a Face” campaign celebrates its 6 months anniversary.
To commemorate it more than hundred of young people who have participated
in the project will take part in an international gathering in Brussels
from 21st to 23rd January 2005.
The
objective of the event aims on one hand motivate youngsters to continue
participating in the project, and on the other communicate to a
wider audience which face Europe's young citizens want it to have.
You
will have the opportunity to take part in a mock referendum campaign,
seeing the mid-term results of the campaign and viewing the Exhibition
of GEaF postcards…besides of course meeting new and former members
of JEF…and party like only the JEFfers know.
If
you want to know more about "Give Europe your Say! Face the Constitution
Debate" Event click
here
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CONTACT
DETAILS
The
bulletin is produced by:Young European Federalists/ Jeunes Européens
Fédéralistes (JEF)
Editor in chief: Marko Bucik, Bureau Member JEF-Europe
Chaussée de Wavre 214d
1050 Brussels
info@giveeuropeaface.net
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