Previous post Thoughts on EU referendum part 1
Thoughts EU referendum Part 2
Given the narrow focus of the reforms still highly skeptical about the process.
Europe faces many challenges during very difficult period, world is reshaping with lack of global leadership. Economic situation within Europe is weak, facing migration problem, geopolitics problems from eastern border to middle east. European area is largely at peace but faces winds which could cause serious damage. Backdrop within United kingdom many are still yet to recover from 2007-08 recession with some measures only just turning positive. House prices still increasing, wages are still lower, employment is less secure. Large part of British voters are sceptical voting for whoever they feel can get one with fixing problems. Loud minority has blamed many of issues facing Britain towards Europe and immigration. Narrow focus of the debate is the result of British voters ignorance towards European union structure. Instead of answering the important questions we have narrow focus on immigration, regulation. Feeding off the failure to discuss issues facing Britain for decades.
Most Britons are largely unaware how many things work the same case with Europe works/institutions at home.
Ignorance towards Europe
Willing to admit that have degree of ignorance towards Europe mainly how the structure now works. European union how used to think it worked the following institutions doing the following roles.
- European parliament – Members of parliament puts forward regulation votes on it passes towards the commission.
- European commission – Given regulation begins to work on finer details before passing it towards national governments to include.
- European council – European leaders discuss direction should go Europe along with ideas facing European union have no real say.
Until today was unaware of most of the institutions or the roles they offer.
How the EU works
Little bit of research you can find how the European union works. Following information is from these links, link just condensed it.
European commission – 28 EU commissioners, one for every state focus on each policy area. Commission President leads the commissioners, Commission job is to draft EU laws and act as “guardian of the treaties”
Council of ministers – Represents governments of the member states, ministers meet regularly according to their policy area. Detailed negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament help EU laws become part of the national legislation. Examine draft laws from the commission and make recommendations. Final text is often compromise after weeks or years of work.
Voting within Council under system called qualified majority voting (QMV). UK has 29 votes each with Germany, France, Italy. Unanimity is required on various subjects no way of forcing things on others.
European parliament – Only directly elected EU institution overseers of European union. MEPs now have “co-decision” powers in nearly all policy areas. Helping to shape EU laws on equal basis with the Council. Parliament still has to vote on any legalization, signs off on EU budget signs off on commissions decisions.
European External Action Service – EU “one voice” internationally, helping to push common EU foreign policy.
European court of justice – Court which makes sure all nations follow EU law and settles disputes.
UK government structure
Little curious decided to look at how UK government structure goes. Source from Gov.uk
- Prime minister head of the UK government – Oversees the Civil Service and government agencies, appoints members of the government. Ministers are members of the House of Commons and House of Lords. Responsible for the departments. Departments and their agencies are responsible for putting government policy into practise.
- The Civil Service does the practical and administrative work of government. Coordinated and managed by the Prime Minister, in their role as Minister for the Civil Service.
- The Cabinet – Senior members of government. Every week during Parliament, members of the Cabinet/ministers/secretaries of state. Discuss most important issues for the Government.
- Devolved government – Devolved administrations are responsible for many domestic policy issues, and their Parliaments/Assemblies have law-making powers for those areas.
- Local government – Councils often county councils and district, borough or city councils. Councils make and carry out decisions on local services.
- Parliament – Role look at what government is doing , debate issues and pass new laws.
Comparing European union and United kingdom
Okay it hard to make compared directly but going to try due to being curious. Oversimplification I know but given one or two arguments against the EU decided it worth thinking about.
European commission shares some cross over Civil service within United kingdom. Elected officials work with unelected officials keeping Government machine running. Various departments linked together working with civil service to complete the same goals. Both are the central of Government with unelected officials with elected working together. Central point of European Union handling many of the same tasks as the civil service does.
Council of ministers = Cabinet/house of lords/civil service?
Made up of 28 permanent ministers, national governments select a representative often somebody with experience within Civil service. Meeting regularly according to their policy area. Detailed negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament help EU laws become part of the national legislation. Examine draft laws from the commission and make recommendations. Final text is often compromise after weeks or years of work.
Like United Kingdom has it own Departments which focus on various topics.
Council of ministers is like the Cabinet apart from not made up of elected officials. More like administration committee/political committee.
European parliament – House of Commons?
MEPs now have “co-decision” powers in nearly all policy areas. Equal power to the Council, parliament can block legalization/decisions.
European External Action Service close to the foreign office but each nation has it own foreign office. More like action group getting things done which everybody agrees on goal wise.
Conclusion – European union stops national governments from doing whatever it wants and that good thing. Can stop Britain becoming a tax haven with rock bottom taxes or protecting sugar farmers. Very much like the current system within the UK designed to stop the Government doing whatever it wants but stronger.
Don’t want johnny foreigner making my rules complaint
Often a common complaint but UK does have major say at various stages. Has various veto power, seats on various committees, bodies and anything else. Very large voting block when comes to MEPs, council of ministers. When you ask what is wrong with current system most can’t answer and just repeat.
This common complaint pretty irrational when you compared to the United kingdom system which devolve decisions making from citizens towards officials. Therefore people who dislike johnny foreigner would like to see breakup of United kingdom with governments being setup in every town. Complaint could be applied without much effort towards current united kingdom structure.
Eurosceptic vs europhile?
Skeptical of both the United Kingdom Government, European project. On balance would be pragmatic Europhile that wants serious reform of the European Union and Eurozone. Would like pragmatic reform splitting European Union andEurozone. Beginning to deal with migration issues and economic issues facing the Eurozone. Concern over the transparency of many decisions. Even some minor changes with transparency would be useful and helpful. However understand that want within political landscape for far-reaching reforms is unlikely. Failed economic policy has caused far more citzeens to be skeptical.
European union allows nations to work together for common goal blocks governments from doing whatever it wants. Price is degree of lost national sovereignty for influence and power. European union is very much conservatism at heart.
Some of the biggest moment within history has come as the result of political unions. America created global institutions which allowed it shape the world it own direction. Europe holds the same opportunity to the same thing. We can set the rules with others who agree with us or follow rules set by somebody else. Rather set the rules with others who agree with us and share the same goals over follow.
Within the best interests for the United kingdom to stay within European union. Loss of sovereignty much like devolving decision-making towards elected MPs. Required to make Government work many don’t want to hear that but it true. System needs more transparency, much like westminster hidden away is bad. Okay to have some skeptical towards the Union or Government. Idea behind European Union is deep-rooted conservatism in my eyes. Concern the vote ends up being about vague idea behind Union, David Cameron reforms, vote of no confidence and economic troubles. Over the potential outcomes from both sides of the argument.
European union an opportunity not something to fear, was born out of shared goals.
Writing this out has made my place clear we must stay within Union and reform it.
Concern
Referendum ends up being vote on David Cameron’s conservative party running of the United Kingdom. WIth people protest voting against the advice of David Cameron. Fear that general ignorance lack of knowledge feeds into this whole campaign. Wrong conclusion drawn when comes causality. Britain has often rejected radical extreme viewpoints very conservative which why the term centre ground exists.