Monday

2nd Oct 2023

National politicians undermining EU parliament, say Liberals

  • European Liberals says the EP's profile is purposefully downplayed by national politicians (Photo: EUobserver)

Liberals in the European parliament criticised national politicians on Tuesday (14 April), saying they regularly try to hide the important legislative role the EU-level chamber plays.

German liberal MEP Jorgo Chatzimarkakis said EU citizens were for the large part unaware that the vast majority of national legislation originates in Brussels – saying the percentage was 85 per cent in Germany, and even higher in eastern Europe.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

He said this ignorance was a result of domestic deputies not telling their constituents how much work is performed by their EU-level counterparts.

"People don't know this because national politicians don't want them to know. They don't want to show up their own minor role," said Mr Chatzimarkakis by way of explaining the low voter turnout in European elections.

"How much money do you want us to spend in order to get a message across that is always destroyed by our own national politicians in our own parties."

The European media also came in for criticism for their apparently poor coverage of European parliamentary affairs with Mr Chatzimarkakis saying: "normal editors have clichéd ideas about what the readers want."

Party president Annemie Neyts-Uyttebroeck went further still in her criticism of coverage of the chamber.

"If the European media paid as little attention to football as they do to the European Parliament, then no one would understand the rules," she said.

Campaign kick-off

The comments were made at a press conference on the eve of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party (EDLR) campaign launch ahead of this June's European elections.

The party has based its manifesto – adopted in Stockholm last October - around the four areas of civil liberties, the European single market, the environment and energy policy, and enlargement and foreign security.

The ELDR expects to return between 72 and 75 MEPs, winning over 30 million votes and maintaining its number three position in the parliament in its alliance with the European Democratic Party, known collectively as the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

"I believe we will continue to hold the balance of power," Ms Neyts-Uyttebroeck told EUObserver, adding that she felt that the centre-right European Peoples' Party would retain the top spot in terms of MEP numbers, despite a move by the British Conservative Party to leave the grouping.

"The loss of the Conservatives will be a loss in numbers, but it may actually be a relief to many members," she said in reference to the frequently tumultuous relationship between the British party and the pan-European umbrella group.

Ms Neyts-Uyttebroeck also predicted that the Socialists, who currently hold the number two slot in the European parliament, would fail to capitalise on the current economic crisis due to outflanking by leftist parties in Europe further to their left, which she expects will do well in the June elections.

The general feelings however amongst Liberal party members is that the party is well placed to capitalise on the current environment due to their traditional support for free markets that are properly regulated.

"What we want of the state is a prudent role," said Mr Chatzimarkakis, arguing that governments must only "get involved" with companies when there is a systemic reason for doing so, and only then in accordance with clear guidelines.

Such moves could include car sector bail-outs being tied directly to the development of green technology.

Additionally, Bulgarian MEP Bilyana Ilieva Raeva said eurozone membership was key to helping central and eastern member states recover from the current downturn.

"There is a strange wish from the ECB not to start the [last step of the accession] process," she told this website.

Opinion

Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war

While Belarus has not sent its own troops to fight Russia's war in Ukraine, the Minsk dictatorship has been heavily involved. As a result, Belarus must be punished for its involvement — what can the world do to sanction Belarus?

Poland's culture of fear after three years of abortion 'ban'

Poland in 2020 imposed a near-total ban on abortion, triggering mass protests — and today the demands for access to safe abortion continue. On International Safe Abortion Day, dozens gathered in Brussels calling for solidarity among member states.

Opinion

Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war

While Belarus has not sent its own troops to fight Russia's war in Ukraine, the Minsk dictatorship has been heavily involved. As a result, Belarus must be punished for its involvement — what can the world do to sanction Belarus?

Latest News

  1. EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact
  2. Three steps EU can take to halt Azerbaijan's mafia-style bullying
  3. Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war
  4. Added-value for Russia diamond ban, as G7 and EU prepare sanctions
  5. EU states to agree on asylum crisis bill, say EU officials
  6. Poland's culture of fear after three years of abortion 'ban'
  7. Time for a reset: EU regional funding needs overhauling
  8. Germany tightens police checks on Czech and Polish border

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  2. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  3. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  4. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us