Europe now has an unelected President and foreign minister

[Rum]

Is it just me? Yesterday the council of Europe agreed to appoint two total unknowns to the positions of President of the European Council and 'representative' (i.e. foreign minister). The only people who had a say in this were the 26/7 council members who voted and the people of Europe are now, as a consequence being 'led' by two unelected officials.

Don't underestimate the powers of these people either. Herman van Rompuy will be the guy Obama phones if there is an international crisis. Baroness Ashton, who is not elected to *any* position (she is from the house of Lords) will make decisions about foreign policy and matters related to war and peace.

Europe is notoriously bureaucratic and no doubt they will both be hamstrung by their appointers - that's one reason they chose total nonentities, so their profiles would have no charisma at all - they don't want a Tony Blair flouncing around the world with his cheesy grin speaking for Europe.

If I, with a relativity positive view on Europe am feeling this, how, I wonder does it go down with my fellow unrepresented citizens!?

[floppit]

Like you, by and large I'm pro Europe but I think this stinks - along with the whole House of Lords! It seems slightly surreal and very much new territory so as for what will happen next, I've not the faintest!

[Horwood Beer-Master]

Like you, by and large I'm pro Europe but I think this stinks - along with the whole House of Lords! It seems slightly surreal and very much new territory so as for what will happen next, I've not the faintest!

"Very much new territory"? Unelected officials have always had the biggest say in Europe.
Have you ever voted for an EU commissioner?

[floppit]

Fair play. Although I happen to agree that it's likely to be who Obama rings in the night and I'm much less sure that was always the case. On the whole though I will utterly accept non elected individuals have historically had power and until we see how this plays out it could prove to be similar to what's gone before.

[Clinton Huxley]

These guys will just be chairing meetings, sending out agendas and making sure the projector is working for the powerpoint presentations. I'm not too bothered by it. We should endeavour to turn the UK into a democracy first, before worrying about the continentals.

[Rum]

These guys will just be chairing meetings, sending out agendas and making sure the projector is working for the powerpoint presentations. I'm not too bothered by it. We should endeavour to turn the UK into a democracy first, before worrying about the continentals.

While you have a point to a certain extent I think you misunderestimate (I do miss Bush at times!)their potential to be unelected representatives of the EU as a whole. They are supposed to represent the collective wishes of 27 member states. That simply isn't always possible and I can see the role developing - maybe 'creeping' towards and executive one.

Edit: I also think it is a PR disaster. The process has been opaque, generally unexplained to the public and looks sly and underhand.

[Azathoth]

Fucking lizards again

[Clinton Huxley]

I also think it is a PR disaster. The process has been opaque, generally unexplained to the public and looks sly and underhand.

I believe this is a direct quotation from the EUs mission statement...

[klr]

I also think it is a PR disaster. The process has been opaque, generally unexplained to the public and looks sly and underhand.

I believe this is a direct quotation from the EUs mission statement...

Except it was in French.

[Clinton Huxley]

I also think it is a PR disaster. The process has been opaque, generally unexplained to the public and looks sly and underhand.

I believe this is a direct quotation from the EUs mission statement...

Except it was in French.

"I promise, upon my honour, to do exactly as I have stated" would look shifty when translated into French. Everything in French looks shifty. Or pervy.

Bunch of syphilitic layabout!

[The Red Fox]

Britain's PM is unelected as well, having only been voted into the top spot by his constituents and the Labour party. The new EU President has only ever received votes from Belgians. What's the difference except for scale?

I think we need to get our own house in order first before criticising Europe, it doesn't look good to be hypocritical.

[Clinton Huxley]

Britain's PM is unelected as well, having only been voted into the top spot by his constituents and the Labour party. The new EU President has only ever received votes from Belgians. What's the difference except for scale?

I think we need to get our own house in order first before criticising Europe, it doesn't look good to be hypocritical.

+1

Afraid her Maj has got to go. And the Lords. And reform parliament. Reduce to about 400 MPs, move it to Birmingham or Manchester and have fixed terms of office.

[klr]

Britain's PM is unelected as well, having only been voted into the top spot by his constituents and the Labour party. The new EU President has only ever received votes from Belgians. What's the difference except for scale?

I think we need to get our own house in order first before criticising Europe, it doesn't look good to be hypocritical.

+1

Afraid her Maj has got to go. And the Lords. And reform parliament. Reduce to about 400 MPs, move it to Birmingham or Manchester and have fixed terms of office.

But the Corgis stay. You've got to keep luring the tourists somehow ...

[Clinton Huxley]

Britain's PM is unelected as well, having only been voted into the top spot by his constituents and the Labour party. The new EU President has only ever received votes from Belgians. What's the difference except for scale?

I think we need to get our own house in order first before criticising Europe, it doesn't look good to be hypocritical.

+1

Afraid her Maj has got to go. And the Lords. And reform parliament. Reduce to about 400 MPs, move it to Birmingham or Manchester and have fixed terms of office.

But the Corgis stay. You've got to keep luring the tourists somehow ...

Watch it! There's more to Blighty than the Royals. There's DAiryland FarmWorld too...

http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk/attrac ... lcome.html

[Horwood Beer-Master]

Britain's PM is unelected as well, having only been voted into the top spot by his constituents and the Labour party. The new EU President has only ever received votes from Belgians. What's the difference except for scale?

I think we need to get our own house in order first before criticising Europe, it doesn't look good to be hypocritical.

+1

Afraid her Maj has got to go. And the Lords. And reform parliament. Reduce to about 400 MPs, move it to Birmingham or Manchester and have fixed terms of office.

Can somebody explain to me where this massive urge to reduce the number of MPs comes from?

It's a fairly basic equation here, The fewer the number of MPs, the more 'diluted' each of our individual votes is, and the more MPs get to treat the public with contempt safe in the knowledge that it will now take an even larger number of their constituents to change their vote at the next election in order to vote them out.

I say increase the number of MPs! (just decrease each of their wages by at least the same degree)

Smaller constituencies are more jittery, and can swing against the sitting MP more easily - this makes them nervous.

Don't you want nervous MPs? I know I do!