There is much about the European Union of which we should be proud. At the beginning of this year the euro was successfully introduced, without any of the nightmare scenarios that had been predicted taking place. Enlargement is on track, with ten new countries coming into the EU in 2004. But we face a problem. The EU is not one entity but a complex relationship between different institutions: the parliament, the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the Court of Justice. Presently we work within a system which was set up to cope with six countries, not fifteen going on 25. The new Convention on the Future of Europe is looking into how to make the European Union more relevant to ordinary citizens and how it can work more effectively. Reform is essential if we are to re-engage with people who feel the EU has lost its way.
Recently, a journalist told me the problem about covering a European story is that its decisions are not decisive enough . When should he cover a story, he asked? At the first reading; when the common position has been agreed; at the second reading; at the rubber-stamping stage; or when the directive is finally in national law? I told him it was his choice but that he should just cover the story. There are many opportunities just as when legislation goes through regional or national parliaments.
With these kinds of attitudes, it is not surprising that, among member states, UK citizens have the worst understanding of what is going on in the EU. If all the stories are of the curved cucumber, straight bananas or banned bagpipes variety, it is no wonder that UK citizens are baffled by European decision-making.
One step in the right direction has been the introduction of Europe Direct a European Commission call centre for citizens which is accessible through a single freephone number. This allows people to have direct access to the Commission and helps bring a more direct approach to its dealings with ordinary citizens problems. The question, though, is whether you knew it existed before you read about it here.
The role of MEPs is very important. Within the European parliament there is a Campaign for Parliamentary Reform, of which I am a founding member. With over 100 MEPs involved, we are committed to having one site for the parliament and that has to be Brussels. The European parliament is the only one in the world not to have the power to choose where it sits the decision to spend millions of euros travelling to Strasbourg once a month is not that of MEPs but of the Council of Ministers. The need for a wholesale reform of the travel expense situation is vital to show that we are being more transparent.
As Rory O Donnell, of the Irish Times, wrote, There is no doubt that the EU is a funny sort of democracy. But a democracy it is. Quality information, from MEPs and the media, more coverage of what is actually going on and an informed debate on the Future of Europe Convention would go some way to help make MEPs and the European parliament more relevant. The problems are not insurmountable and must be addressed before the next European elections in 2004. ” Europe Direct, 00800 6789 1011, europa.eu.int/europedirect