European Referendum

[Iestyn]

<font color='#000080'>I'd have thought you'd approve of the commission Bren, members being apointed by the democratically elected governments of the precious sovereign states and all. So it derives its democratic legitimacy from the sovereign states, surely the best possible way for someone who wants little more than a trade agreement. Personally I'm all for a more powerfull parliament, but that makes more sense from a pro-European than a sceptic. Or am I missing something?

[Mr T.]

I don't know mate, are you? I'm sure there was a point in there trying valiantly to get out.

Seriously, though, being merely 'appointed' doesn't cut it in any way, shape or form in what should and needs to be a modern and transparent democratic mechanism - the way it stands today, the two concepts are mutually exclusive.

The EU Commission is formed in the same way as the US President's cabinet, in that it's merely a bunch of business pals and old Frat' House buddies who 'saw each other right on the way up' - they do not put themselves up for election, nor, as a result, can they be removed.

The Former Sov-Bloc's Polit Bureau, the apparatchiks of Franco's regime and Galtieri's Argentinian Junta were 'appointed' - and they were hardly noted for being a paragon of openess and accountability, were they?