6 Samh 2012, 16:16
The Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Union Affairs today heard the influential Constitutional Affairs Committee of the European Parliament argue that the forthcoming elections in 2014 provided a significant opportunity to enhance democratic legitimacy of the EU institutions.
6 November 2012
Chair of the Committee, Carlo Cassini MEP, pointing to the disconnect between the European Union citizens and its institutions, spoke of his Committee’s push for a uniform electoral law across Member States in time for the 2014 European elections. Mr Cassini pointed to the opportunity to increase the legitimacy of European political parties, for instance, with a greater say on nominating individual Commissioners and the Commission President.
The meeting was part of a series undertaken by Constitutional Affairs Committee, which deals with institutional matters such as the European Union treaties and the Parliament's rules of procedure, to engage with parliamentarians across Member States. Mr Cassini mentioned that this meeting was particularly timely in context of the upcoming Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union, which commences in January.
Vice-Chairman of the EU Affairs Committee Paschal Donohoe TD says: “We heard Mr Cassini argue that to overcome the current economic crisis, the EU institutions needed to be integrated to more effectively govern in a multi-tiered Europe.
“Reflecting on the referendum campaign on the Fiscal Treaty in April, however, it is clear that there is a serious decline in public confidence in the European institutions and many citizens are sceptical of handing over more national powers to European Union institutions.
“A number of Committee Members pointed to the danger that the deeper integration required for the Euro to succeed may not have the required public support. There was broad agreement between both Committees that any move towards deeper integration should have the support of the citizens we serve.”
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ENDS
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Committee Membership
Deputies
Dominic Hannigan, TD (Chairman)
Paschal Donohoe, TD (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, TD
Timmy Dooley, TD
Bernard J Durkan, TD
John Halligan, TD
Colm Keaveney, TD
Seán Kyne, TD
Joe O’Reilly, TD
Senators
Colm Burke,
Fidelma Healy Eames,
James Heffernan,
Terry Leyden,
Kathryn Reilly