The European Commission has started infringement proceedings against the UK for not nominating a new EU Commissioner - as instructed to do by EU leaders - even if the UK only remains in the bloc till end of Jan /1
The Johnson government had said it was unable under UK law to nominate a new Commissioner because the UK was in the lead-up to general elex but European Commission pointed out that -as EU member, EU law trumps domestic law. The Commission is the ‘guardian of EU laws’ /2
The Commission says UK must nominate a UK Commissioner so that the new Commission under Ursula von der Leyen, (rather than Jean Claude Juncker whose Commission is outgoing after 5 years)- can start work. Ms von der Leyen should have taken office on 1 Nov BUT /4
The delay to her new Commission starting work is not down to the UK. There have been a number of other hiccups, delays and awkwardnesses with other countries’ new commissioners eg France /5
Also as per the Lisbon Treaty
not every EU member need have its own Commissioner. The number was supposed to have been reduced to two thirds .. Jean Claude Juncker recently said ‘Theres not enough work for 28 Commissioners to do’ /6
not every EU member need have its own Commissioner. The number was supposed to have been reduced to two thirds .. Jean Claude Juncker recently said ‘Theres not enough work for 28 Commissioners to do’ /6
BUT detail destail..: the Lisbon treaty ‘slimmed down Commission’ promise was shelved after the Irish referendum on the treaty in 2008 after which EU leaders promised to change the treaty again to guarantee one commissioner per member state .. /END
