How the European Union Works Power, Prosperity, and Peace
Where are we going? How you are represented in the Parliament? How do we make laws? Key areas of achievement Single market Trade Peace Comparing Westminster and Brussels
How are you represented? Elections every 5 years Only UK-wide election by PR Last election in 2014: Two UKIP Two Conservatives One Labour One Green
MEPs Members of the European Parliament 6 3 8 7 4 6 3 6 The UK has 73 MEPs in 12 regions 5 7 8 10 Elections every 5 years Seats in proportion to votes for a party
Political Groups of 751 MEPs Greens-EFA (50) Greens European Free Alliance S&D (191) Socialists & Democrats ALDE (68) Alliance of Liberals & Democrats EPP (220) European People s Party ECR (70) Conservatives & Reformists EFDD (48) Freedom & Direct Democracy GUE-NGL (52) United Left/Nordic Green Left Non-Inscrits (52)
Political Groups of 751 MEPs Greens are 50 out of 751: we need friends! UK has only 2 in the largest group Many UK representatives are disconnected, hostile and ill-informed
How we make law
European Commission Each of the 28 EU countries appoints a Commissioner for a 5- year term Each Commissioner is assigned responsibility for specific policy areas by the President The Commission is responsible for the dayto-day running of the EU
Council of the EU 28 national ministers one per state If topic is agriculture, then a Minister of Agriculture attends The Presidency of the Council rotates every six months among the governments of EU member states The country holding the Presidency sets the agenda and ensures that meetings run smoothly Barnier negotiated on behalf of Council Tusk is President of the Council
Can the Parliament initiate legislation? Conflict minerals regulation Whistleblower directive Numerous tax proposals Should have direct powers
The Good: Sustainable Finance Using the power of money to fund the sustainability transition Major priority postfinancial crisis EU as regulator and financial supervisor Currently negotiating on Disclosures and Benchmarks
The Bad: Tax Corporations persuading countries to race to the bottom Strong proposals such as CCCTB and CbCR Some action from Vestager over competition Lack of QMV means small countries like Ireland and Luxembourg can block progress
The Ugly: Migration Dublin regulation originally said countries could return migrants to first safe country UK has exemption Commission and Parliament proposed quotas but Council resisted Nationalist politicians like Hungary trading on xenophobia Cut deals with countries like Libya and Turkey
Single market Project of British Conservatives Harmonises regulatory standards for produces Eases trade across EU Has been colonised by Greens and socialists Standards of food safety, renewable energy, etc.
Trade EU one of the world s powerful blocs, alongside US Trade for all is a mantra not a reality Protection on environment, indigenous protection, not legally binding
Peace EU is first and foremost a peace project Founding fathers fought in the war Democracy in eastern and southern Europe Winner of Nobel Peace Prize, 2012
Need for Reform Complete single currency with cash transfers Tackle lobbying End blockages in Council Right-wing majority! Urgent reform of UK constitution Revulsion against austerity Change happens all the time!
Find out more My website: www.mollymep.org.uk Greens-EFA website: https://www.greensefa.eu/en/ Sign up to my fortnightly newsletter Sign up to my Brexit newsletter