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European Commission should be democracy watchdog for EU, chief says European Commission should be democracy watchdog for EU, chief says
(7 days later)
The European Commission should be given new punitive powers to police democratic rights in the 28 countries of the EU, the commission chief has said.The European Commission should be given new punitive powers to police democratic rights in the 28 countries of the EU, the commission chief has said.
In a speech that argued that Europe was emerging in much stronger shape from the currency and sovereign debt crisis of the past three years, José Manuel Barroso told the European parliament in Strasbourg that he would soon unveil proposals turning the commission into a democracy watchdog empowered to penalise rights abuses.In a speech that argued that Europe was emerging in much stronger shape from the currency and sovereign debt crisis of the past three years, José Manuel Barroso told the European parliament in Strasbourg that he would soon unveil proposals turning the commission into a democracy watchdog empowered to penalise rights abuses.
The proposal is certain to run into opposition from national governments, although it is supported by Germany.The proposal is certain to run into opposition from national governments, although it is supported by Germany.
"Experience has confirmed the usefulness of the commission role as an independent and objective referee. We should consolidate this experience through a more general framework. It should be based on the principle of equality between member states, activated only in situations where there is a serious, systemic risk to the rule of law, and triggered by pre-defined benchmarks," Barroso said. "It is a debate that is key to our idea of Europe.""Experience has confirmed the usefulness of the commission role as an independent and objective referee. We should consolidate this experience through a more general framework. It should be based on the principle of equality between member states, activated only in situations where there is a serious, systemic risk to the rule of law, and triggered by pre-defined benchmarks," Barroso said. "It is a debate that is key to our idea of Europe."
The idea that Brussels be empowered to police democracy in the various countries and punish misdemeanours by, for example, taking away national governments' voting rights in EU councils – what Barroso dubbed the "nuclear option" – has been reinforced by developments in Hungary and Romania over the past year where the governments have clashed with Brussels and the Council of Europe human rights watchdog (not an EU body) over perceived abuses of democratic rights.The idea that Brussels be empowered to police democracy in the various countries and punish misdemeanours by, for example, taking away national governments' voting rights in EU councils – what Barroso dubbed the "nuclear option" – has been reinforced by developments in Hungary and Romania over the past year where the governments have clashed with Brussels and the Council of Europe human rights watchdog (not an EU body) over perceived abuses of democratic rights.
Germany's foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, has also called for "new mechanisms" in the EU to deal with the problem and welcomed Barroso's remarks.Germany's foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, has also called for "new mechanisms" in the EU to deal with the problem and welcomed Barroso's remarks.
"We need a political mechanism within the existing treaties to counter possible bad developments in certain member states effectively and in good time. It is positive that the commission has taken up our initiative," Westerwelle said."We need a political mechanism within the existing treaties to counter possible bad developments in certain member states effectively and in good time. It is positive that the commission has taken up our initiative," Westerwelle said.
A Portuguese MEP, reporting on democracy developments in Hungary under its prime minister, Viktor Orbán, recently called for a special committee to be formed to monitor and scrutinise policy moves in Budapest. Barroso's proposal would not single out any specific countries but would apply to all.A Portuguese MEP, reporting on democracy developments in Hungary under its prime minister, Viktor Orbán, recently called for a special committee to be formed to monitor and scrutinise policy moves in Budapest. Barroso's proposal would not single out any specific countries but would apply to all.
"This does not mean that national sovereignty or democracy are constrained. But we do need a robust European mechanism to influence the equation when basic common principles are at stake," said Barroso. "There are certain non-negotiable values that the EU and its member states must and shall always defend.""This does not mean that national sovereignty or democracy are constrained. But we do need a robust European mechanism to influence the equation when basic common principles are at stake," said Barroso. "There are certain non-negotiable values that the EU and its member states must and shall always defend."
Going into the last year of his decade as president of the commission, Barroso also rounded on Britain's Conservative party, saying that it risked making itself unelectable by opting for euro-scepticism and that it was haemorrhaging support to the UK Independence Party.Going into the last year of his decade as president of the commission, Barroso also rounded on Britain's Conservative party, saying that it risked making itself unelectable by opting for euro-scepticism and that it was haemorrhaging support to the UK Independence Party.
In a clash following the setpiece speech known as "the state of the European Union", Barroso turned on the Tory leader in the chamber, Martin Callanan.In a clash following the setpiece speech known as "the state of the European Union", Barroso turned on the Tory leader in the chamber, Martin Callanan.
In a robust exchange, unusual for the former Portuguese prime minister, Barroso told Callanan that the Tories were marginalising themselves in Europe.In a robust exchange, unusual for the former Portuguese prime minister, Barroso told Callanan that the Tories were marginalising themselves in Europe.
"Increasingly your party is looking like Ukip," Barroso told Callanan. "Ukip may finish first in Britain," he added, referring to the European elections next May and declaring that it would be impossible for a British Conservative to replace him as head of the commission when the post is filled in November next year. He accused the Tories of turning into a Ukip clone and predicted that voters would opt for the real thing and not the copy."Increasingly your party is looking like Ukip," Barroso told Callanan. "Ukip may finish first in Britain," he added, referring to the European elections next May and declaring that it would be impossible for a British Conservative to replace him as head of the commission when the post is filled in November next year. He accused the Tories of turning into a Ukip clone and predicted that voters would opt for the real thing and not the copy.
The leader of the Conservative MEPs ridiculed Barroso's criticism. "Thank you to Mr Barroso for his unsolicited electoral advice, which is a bit rich coming from an unelected bureaucrat."The leader of the Conservative MEPs ridiculed Barroso's criticism. "Thank you to Mr Barroso for his unsolicited electoral advice, which is a bit rich coming from an unelected bureaucrat."
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