MEPs took yet another step towards arbitrary rule this afternoon,
adopting new rules designed explicitly to prevent Euro-sceptics from
forming a Group.
The European Parliament operates a cor****atist system: in order to
move amendments, propose debates or qualify for campaign finance, MEPs
are required to join trans-national Groups. To incor****ate such a
Group, you need at least 20 Euro-MPs from five states. This means
that, alongside the big Groups - the Christian Democrats, Liberals,
Socialists, Communists and Greens - there is also a little bloc of
Euro-sceptics called Independence and Democracy.
The new rules, drawn up by the Labour MEP (and touchy blogger) Richard
Corbett, would raise the thresholds to 25 MEPs and seven states,
making it harder for dissidents to register. What are they so scared
of, these Euro-fanatics? After all, we sceptics represent no more than
50 or 60 MEPs out of 785. Why not treat us as an Official Opposition,
thereby demonstrating their fair-mindedness and bestowing a measure of
legitimacy on their institution? Because they can't bring themselves
to do it. They hate us too much. Or, more specifically, they project
on to us the contempt they feel for their electorates, but dare not
express. Unable to be openly aggressive about the "No" majorities in
their constituencies, they take out their frustration on the minority
of MEPs who speak for that majority.
So determined were they to adopt the Corbett Re****t that they broke
their own rules to bring it before the plenary session. The re****t had
been rejected in Committee, which should have rendered it null. But,
disgracefully, and in breach of all the regulations, the Euro-
fanatical committee chairman disregarded that vote and brought an
amended version forward. Not that anyone will care: I have blogged
repeatedly about the readiness with which the European Parliament
tears up its own rulebook, and been met by a shrug of such
indifference as to be positively Gallic. Bof! The EU is despotic. Et
alors?
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/daniel_hannan/blog/2008/07/09/european_parliament_bars_eurosceptic_groups
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