Book contents
- Frontmatter
- List of Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of boxes
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Development of the European Parliament
- Chapter 2 Democracy, transaction costs and political parties
- Chapter 3 Ideological not territorial politics
- Chapter 4 Participation
- Chapter 5 Trends in party cohesion
- Chapter 6 Agenda-setting and cohesion
- Chapter 7 Who controls the MEPs?
- Chapter 8 Competition and coalition formation
- Chapter 9 Dimensions of politics
- Chapter 10 Investiture and censure of the Santer Commission
- Chapter 11 The Takeover Directive
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009
- Frontmatter
- List of Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of boxes
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 Development of the European Parliament
- Chapter 2 Democracy, transaction costs and political parties
- Chapter 3 Ideological not territorial politics
- Chapter 4 Participation
- Chapter 5 Trends in party cohesion
- Chapter 6 Agenda-setting and cohesion
- Chapter 7 Who controls the MEPs?
- Chapter 8 Competition and coalition formation
- Chapter 9 Dimensions of politics
- Chapter 10 Investiture and censure of the Santer Commission
- Chapter 11 The Takeover Directive
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
‘I have come to the conclusion that if a vote were to take place today, the outcome would not be positive for the European institutions or for the European project. In these circumstances I have decided not to submit a new Commission for your approval today. I need more time to look at this issue, to consult with the Council and to consult further with you, so that we can have strong support for the new Commission. … These last few days have demonstrated that the European Union is a strong political construction and that this Parliament, elected by popular vote across all our member states, has a vital role to play in the governance of Europe.’
José Manuel Durão Barroso, Commission President designate‘Today this House on the river Rhine has grown in stature. Its will was tested, its will has prevailed. … Mr Barroso, you suggested yesterday that it was anti-European to vote against your Commission. … [but] today, Euroscepticism loses because the voice of democracy in Europe has risen by an octave and has made itself heard in every national capital and beyond.’
Graham Watson, Leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (the liberal party in the European Parliament)On 27 October 2004 the European Parliament refused to elect the new Commission, the European Union (EU) executive. There was no vote, as 10 minutes before the vote the Commission President designate, José Manuel Durão Barroso, announced that he was withdrawing his team of Commissioners.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Democratic Politics in the European Parliament , pp. 1 - 11Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007