"The idea was to create a strategy of influence, which means we can [...] write papers with other countries." Then why don't you? Why the total opposition to #Spitzenkandidat and not reform it? Why the solo position on #NorthMacedonia? Or the solo tribune before #EUelections?
"[Macron] established the @RenewEurope group in the European Parliament; positioned close allies at the helm of the ECB and European Council." But where is #France in the Directorate-Generals? Or as "DirCab"? Where is all the middle management that Germany has groomed patiently?
“Evidently, creating leadership also means creating friction” But it certainly doesn't need to. #Leadership isn't always "pushing people around and being loud". Leaders can work in consultation, influence and foster group work.
“When the president speaks loudly, his objective isn’t to ruffle feathers.” But it always does. How about remembering #TheodoreRoosevelt? "Speak softly and carry a big stick." Speaking loudly with no stick isn't leadership.
"Asked what Macron would choose to tackle if he could just push through one reform next year, @CBeaune answers “migration.”" For that and many other topics, it is essential to do away with #consensus and #unanimity. I do not recall @EmmanuelMacron supporting this change. Does he?
"The EU’s inability to find a solution [...] is an example of its “habit of inertia and indecision” on urgent issues." No, it's that every Member State looks at its own electorate before thinking of European citizens. This is the way the @EUCouncil works and it needs reform.
“Europe has to get used to wielding power itself” Yes, but then Member States must give that power to democratic EU institutions, and not expect to keep it in 28 separate hands. #TreatyChange must shift relevant national power to the EU level.
I realise this thread may seem overly critical; it is not meant to be. But this article reaffirms the stance that we observe: instead of bringing people together and agreeing to go past consensus decisions, @EmmanuelMacron wants to forge ahead and implement his Sorbonne speech.
There is a lot to support in the Sorbonne speech and a lot I personally agree with. But the method matters, the way we do things matters. And if a large country is always playing alone, its good ideas will be rejected. Not based on content, but out of spite.
Governance works when a legitimate gov leads action and the people's representatives discuss & agree. The Commission isn't yet that gov and no single country can act as such. We need a stronger @EU_Commission, a stronger @Europarl_EN, and for the @EUCouncil to take a step back.
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Over the past several years, @EDC_eudemocracy has made many, many requests to the European Parliament to access decisions by its Bureau on the funding of #europeanparties. These included decisions for funding (for the coming year) and final accounts (which wrap up the process).
Invariably, these documents were provided with heavy redactions over the parts covering the EP's reasoning for its decisions: we could see the outcome (amounts), but not how decisions were made. Until yesterday, the latest full document related to funding for 2015 -- 8 years ago.
To be clear, the point of this thread is *not* to argue that TNLs will make our common election less European, simply that they will not remedy the election's core deficiency (that national parties are in control) and that, therefore, they are not the right way forward. 3/25
Of course, "the @EU_Commission shall be completely independent" and "the members of the Commission shall neither seek nor take instructions from any Government". (Art. 17.3 TEU #LisbonTreaty). So there should be no need for #1country1commissioner rule. #IamEuropean 🇪🇺
Furthermore, "As from 1/11/2014, the @EU_Commission shall consist of a number of members [equal to] two thirds of the number of Member States" (Art. 17.5 TEU #LisbonTreaty)..... "unless the @EUCouncil [...] decides to alter this number". Which it did right away. #IamEuropean 🇪🇺
When we talk about simplifying administrative processes (#smartstate), we don't mean "big" things, just a collection of small things that contribute to making people's lives needlessly more complicated, especially abroad. Here's a silly example with a birth registration. 👇 1/7
A child is born in #Austria and registered with local authorities. Local authorities issue, for free, an original Austrian birth certificate in German and are thoughtful enough to include, for free, an original international birth certificate in multiple languages. 2/7
However, #French authorities will not accept the international birth certificate because it says "extract"; instead, they want a full version, even just in German. This requires us to book an appointment with local authorities and, this time, pay for a new original. 3/7