Proposed EU Reforms

[Free Bird]

These are the two biggest problems I have with the EU as it stands. I can tell it was made with good intentions, and a peaceful, more cooperative Europe is, of course, a good thing, but these bits still strike me as extremely undemocratic. Debate things like immigration, fisheries, and so on all you'd like, but these, to me, are core issues that would have to be addressed first and foremost. In essence, I think the EU legislative system, leaving the Council, which basically works fine, alone, needs to resemble the US system more.

Thoughts?

[Pick Up the Phone]

Just to better understand the question: What do you mean by "the European Commission should be democratically elected"? Unless I'm mistaken, it already is. The President of the Commission is for instance chosen by the European Council (where the democratically elected Heads of Government represent the member states) and then confirmed by the European Parliament (where the democratically elected MEPs represent the European voters).

I don't see how this is structurally different from (or less democratic than) other parliamentary systems (e.g. Germany, UK...) in which the Head of Government is elected by parliament. If anything, it's even more democratic as the candidate is proposed by the member states and not by a party.

[GlobeSoc]

No and yes

[Free Bird]

Just to better understand the question: What do you mean by "the European Commission should be democratically elected"? Unless I'm mistaken, it already is. The President of the Commission is for instance chosen by the European Council (where the democratically elected Heads of Government represent the member states) and then confirmed by the European Parliament (where the democratically elected MEPs represent the European voters).

I don't see how this is structurally different from (or less democratic than) other parliamentary systems (e.g. Germany, UK...) in which the Head of Government is elected by parliament. If anything, it's even more democratic as the candidate is proposed by the member states and not by a party.

I meant the Commission would then be elected directly by the people much as MEPs are; no degrees of separation. It would be kind of similar to the 17th Amendment in that respect. Appointed officeholders should hold legislative power, even if they are confirmed by the people's representatives. It's the same reason the Lords can't draft legislation themselves.

[Antonio the Sixth]

No and yes

^

The EU should be a parliamentary democracy. It's that simple.

[Former President tack50]

Yes on parliament being able to propose its own laws. It is such an easy and straighforward reform that would give the EU a lot more democratic credibility that I am surprised it has not happened.

Also surprisingly, yes on the directly elected commission, but it is a very hard question.

My reasoning is:

a) It would give the EU a lot of democratic credibility, even if at a big cost.

b) After the fact that the Spitzencandidat process was killed, I have lost faith that the EU can function as a parliamentary democracy, so a presidential style one is probably the lesser evil at this point.

Of course, a directly elected comission comes into a lot of problems. The biggest one being the electoral system. I can't see a straight popular vote being used. Maybe the EU could use some sort of Electoral College, but I think we all know how well that works

Another option would be each country choosing its own commissioner via popular vote, but I have no idea how it would work to pick the president of the comission.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

tbh the biggest issue is the governing pf the Eurozone. I can't begin to understand the complexities of currencies/central banks etc. but I know enough that the current set-up is insane, undemocratic and is suffocating growth.

[brucejoel99]

In regards to the first proposal, no thank you. Direct presidential elections (let alone a direct election of the Commission as a whole) would mean more pressure on candidates to pander to emotions, meaning the EU would end up with s*itshow popularity contests. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather have somebody who's elected by the already democratically-accountable Council (since they're already the national-level heads of government) & confirmed by the democratically-elected Parliament; at least they're the ones who'd actually have to work with him/her on a daily basis. Nobody needs more promises of godlike healthcare, rainbows, unicorns, & pies in the sky.

In regards to the second proposal, yes, the EP should definitely have legislative initiative rights.