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September is here and already autumn is almost
upon us. The Parliament is back and the holidays seem a distant
memory. The committee meetings have been held, the coordinators
appointed and reports and their allocations are about to start in
earnest. So what are the main concerns of MEPs? What has worked in
the new Parliament and what hasn't?
Before one report has been written, the stress
of getting staffing and offices organised has been a
nightmare. The Parliament's authorities have not made the
transition of the old Parliament into the new easy. In fairness
with the introduction of the members and assistant statute it was
always going to have teething troubles but no one anticipated it to
be so problematic. I feel for the staff working in the finance
department whose job has not been easy.
With Parliament back, the appointment of the
Commission President is probably the most important event in the
Parliament in the near future. It would appear that it is a done
deal, that there is no other candidate and Commission President
Barrosso will serve another term. However many in the Parliament
are disappointed that Parliament has been given no real choice.
President Barroso has had five years, has appeared very cosy with
the Council and has not performed as effectively especially in
terms of the challenges that we face in the economic crisis and on
social policy. With a weakened Commission we are all
weakened.
The next big event will be the Irish Referendum
on the 2nd October. With the reassurances given to the Irish people
on neutrality and other issues, it would appear that with just
under five weeks to go, and the Irish economy in difficulty, a yes
vote is more rather than less likely. I think on the referendum,
the decision rests with the Irish people. The sooner we know the
result the better in order for the European Parliament to plan
whether there is a new set of rules to work under- the Lisbon
Treaty or whether we work under the Nice Treaty. For people looking
in from outside it may look academic but in terms of influence it
is vitally important to know.
One thing is for sure that whatever the outcome
of the Irish referendum, the creation of the new Commission and the
forthcoming Commission hearing process will keep MEPs exceedingly
busy until the end of the year. The new Parliament is back. How
effective it will be is for others to judge.
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Editorial - September 2009
