The Hindu : E.U. to revamp executive wing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 04, 2003

International

International

E.U. to revamp executive wing

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS MAY 3. The European Union is moving closer to having an elected President, with the approval of plans to transform its executive arm, the European Commission, into a two-tier meritocratic body.

This timetable, which was agreed upon, is rated as an epoch-making move, which will define the parameters of the expanded E.U. The deal was informally agreed upon between the European Commission and parliamentarians. The 15-member E.U. with a population of 375 million, is in process of admitting 25 more members with a population of over half a billion, by end of current decade.

Last night, the President of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, persuaded the 19 Commissioners or Ministers, to back a plan which would make the Commission more like a national government. The Commission will also have the authority to promote or sack "junior'' commissioners, who are responsible for implementation of the policies laid out by the E.U. According to Mr Prodi, smaller member states may also have one commissioner each. He argued that a Commission of 25 or more members could work if a powerful president had the right to organise the team with a strong inner executive taking key political decisions. Some of the 19 present Commissioners representing 15 member states have argued that such a body could be "too unwieldy'' but in the end, they agreed to back the plan.

The E.U. is in the process of drafting a new Union Treaty. This is being done by the European Convention led by the former French president, Valary Giscard d'Estaing, who has also submitted plans for election of the president. This has caused resentment among the smaller member states but according to observers, a consensus has now been reached.

Policy makers are also trying to ensure that a firm figure on the number of Commissioners is agreed upon, in order to ensure that smaller countries are not "over represented'' in proportion to their population and contribution to the Union's budget. There is also a proposal for a permanent bureau to run the "European Council". Only last month, the struggle for power and influence in an expanded E.U. seemed divisive in the background of the on-going rumpus among both smaller and larger member states.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

Stories in this Section

U.S., Syria discuss 'road map'

Stability: U.S. plans deployment of global force in Iraq

U.S. troops in no hurry to leave Iraq: Rumsfeld

Plot to attack U.S. Consulate in Karachi unearthed

China hails initiative

Jamali sends formal invitation

Hizb hails PM's proposal

Tape shows a confused Saddam

E.U. pact on common security

E.U. to revamp executive wing

'SARS` Virus mutating rapidly'

Pak. must reciprocate: Russia

Accident may spur China's Navy modernisation

India to get Russian frigates soon

Scientists propose quake alert system