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Status of EU parliament provides basis for discussions
09.07.2009, 11:16
On the presidential debate on Wednesday, July 8, which began with the announcement of Mr Graham Watson's withdrawal from the presidential candidature and therefore leaving Polish candidate Buzek's only challenger to be the candidate of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left, Swedish MEP Eva-Britt Svensson., Hans-Geert Poettinger stated that the European Parliament is on a level power footing with member states in the EU's complex institutional triangle after years of being a mere afterthought for EU governments. Moreover, he remarked that the parliament should be "ambitious" to increase MEPs' powers towards member states.
Furthermore, Jerzy Buzek, a centre-right Pole, who is likely to be voted in as his successor next week, said that "streamlining the way parliament works is urgent" pointing to tightening up the way committees (where most of the legislative work is done) function and following through on questions posed by MEPs. Recalling the low turnout in the latest parliamentary elections, as the mean of changing it in the future, he called upon the MEPs to dedicate themselves for doing real and concrete things for the citizens, such as finding a sure way out of the current economic crisis.
As a curiosity, Mr Buzek was the only Polish prime minister to serve the full term of the office. Asked about the first task plan after taking over the Presidential seat in the EP, Mr Buzek stated that it would be a visit to Ireland where he would have a mission on explaining in detail the meaning and the content of the Lisbon treaty to the Irish citizens.
Overall, he stated that there should be "as few first reading agreements as possible," noting that this does not allow enough "proper dialogue" on the issues. However, second reading agreements considerably prolong the length of time laws take to get through the Brussels system.
Nevertheless, Reinhard Bütikofer, a newly elected MEP from Germany, agreed to the above mentioned statements by Mr. Buzek. Furthermore, Mr. Bütikofer outlined his desire for more internal controversy in order for the parliament to capture public attention and in turn gaining awareness, at a different event organized by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung on July 8. Moreover, Mr. Bütikofer claimed a lack of strategy concerning the European parliament in general.
Back to the Polish MEP, taking part in a presidential debate, he additionally suggested that parliament should "meet with the European Commission president every month" so it can "influence" its work. Moreover, he promised not to ignore the eurosceptics, who will have a stronger voice in this legislature. "Eurosceptics are very important to us because they pick up our failings," he noted.
Buzek is expected to win by a landslide next week as he will have the support of the three biggest groups, the EPP, the SD and ALDE, plus the Greens and most of the MEPs in the two Eurosceptic groups, the European Conservatives and Reformists group and Europe of Freedom and Democracy.