POLITICAL VIEWPOINT
The elections for the European Parliament take place next month.
mP michael fallon explains why they matter and why he’ll be turning out to vote
he 4th June sees elections for the European
“opinions” on draft legislation but it was Europe’s
In effect, the
T
Parliament. These come round every five
ministers, meeting in the Council, who had the final say;
European
years. But do they matter?
they could simply ignore the Parliament. So a British
We’ve sent representatives to the
Minister could still veto a draft directive proposed by the Parliament now
European Parliament ever since we joined
Commission that we didn’t like.
passes laws that
Europe in January 1973. For the first six
Two things have changed all that. First, the European
years, we sent a delegation of MPs and Lords, reflecting
Parliament has grabbed more power: it has the power of
the House of
the party political balance at Westminster. In 1979 this
co-decision in many areas with the Council. So Ministers
Commons has
changed to direct elections, right across Europe.
have to negotiate with its committees, and take on board
So Kent elected two MEPs, one for west Kent and
their amendments. Second, because we’ve signed the
to implement.
another for the east. That was sensible: it preserved
Amsterdam and Nice treaties, much more legislation is Whether
the constituency link, and made MEPs responsible for
coming out of Brussels, affecting daily life here across
it’s banking
particular areas. Each MEP covered seven or eight
the board.
Westminster constituencies and was careful to liaise with
This means that large sections of Bills put before the
regulation or
their MPs.
House of Commons are there to implement previously
food safety, our
In 1999 this changed again. Proper constituencies
agreed directives previously agreed in Brussels. We can’t
national interest
were abolished, and candidates were simply elected
amend these in much detail, so they get transposed
according to party results across vast regions. The south-
into our law straight from the compromises negotiated is at stake –
east, stretching from Dover to Oxford, has ten MEPs. In
between Ministers and the European Parliament.
that’s why I’ll be
2004 the result was four Conservatives, two each for the
So in effect the European Parliament now passes laws
Lib Dems and UKIP, and one each for Labour and the
that the House of Commons has to implement. Whether
turning out to
Greens.
it’s banking regulation or food safety, it’s our national
vote
But the turnout was just 37 per cent. Two-thirds of us
interest that’s at stake, and we need tough MEPs who
didn’t vote. Why should we this time round ?
will protect it. That’s why I’m turning out to vote on
The answer is that, like it or not, the European
Thursday 4th June. I hope that you will too.
Parliament is growing in importance. In its early days
the Parliament was essentially consultative. It passed
www.michaelfallonmp.org.uk
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onlinevine.co.uk May 2009 vine 21
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