EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Reform
MEPs want greater influence over appointments
By Simon Taylor - 19.03.2009 / 00:00 CET
Call for more control over make-up of Commission; concern that some parties are being left out.
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Former Parliament president quits as as president of the European University Institute. |
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Centre-left and centre-right MEPs line up to prevent committee votes being recorded. |
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Costs are too high for European Parliament delegation. |
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EXERTING INFLUENCE Jean-Luc Dehaene, a Belgian centre-right MEP and former prime minister, has written a report that addresses the impact of the Lisbon treaty on the institutional balance of the EU. EC
Fact file
Taking charge
Policy responsibilities under the Lisbon treaty, according to the Dehaene report:
? The president of the European Council would represent the EU at heads of state or government level on common foreign and security policy matters.
? For external relations policies which fall under the competence of the EU rather than the member states, such as trade, development and external assistance, the Commission president would be responsible for representing the EU.
? The high representative would be responsible for conducting political negotiations for the EU.
? The rotating presidency of the EU would be responsible for legislative work of the Council of Ministers, apart from the foreign affairs council, which would be chaired by the high representative for foreign and security policy.
? The foreign minister from the country holding the presidency of the EU should replace the high representative when he or she is not available to chair the foreign affairs council.
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