EU Referendum

Our readers will possibly recall the story of the fragrant Commissar, Margot Wallström deciding to do a spot of moonlighting from her highly paid job. In March the new leader of the Social Democrats, Mona Sahlin welcomed Margot back into Swedish politics. The fluffy fragrant one was going to be part of a committee that would decide on the party’s foreign and EU policies before the next European elections in 2009 and the next Swedish elections in 2010. (Not that elections matter in the European Union as the legislation just goes on and on according to a multiannual plan.)

Hmmm, we said at the time, how is this possible? Are the Commissars not legally bound to be independent? The UKIP MEP for London, Gerard Batten, put down some written questions in the Toy Parliament. This was Written Question 1717/07:

Subject: Commissioner Margot Wallström and national politics

When members of the Commission take office they swear to ‘perform their duties in complete independence in the general interests of the Communities’, and ‘to refrain from any action incompatible with their duties’.

According to 'The Local', Sweden’s news in English, the new leader of the Social Democrats, Mona Sahlin, announced that EU Commissioner Margot Wallström is to sit on a working group committee to develop the party’s foreign and EU policies.

Mrs Wallström is reported to have said, 'Yes it is (true), but I cannot take on a formal position and sit on a board. But everyone in the Commission is politically active and I think that only enriches our work. I will continue my work with full impartiality'.

1. Is this report accurate? Is Mrs Wallström taking up a position, even part-time, on, or advising, a committee of the Swedish Social Democratic Party?

2. If so, how is this compatible with the undertaking given by Commissioners when they take office?

3. Are any other Commissioners 'active in politics' as alleged by Mrs Wallström? If so, who are they, and what is the nature of their involvement?

4. If the Commission answers positively to question 3, what measures does the Commission intend to take to ensure that the Commissioners comply with their undertaking to act only in the interests of the European Union during their time of office? Or, does working within national politics to promote the European Union comply with that undertaking?

Although he asked the question two months ago, the response came only today. To say that it is evasive is to understate matters somewhat. Mr Batten tells me that this is the fate of all his questions. The answers he gets, when he finally receives them give nothing at all. In fact, he sees little point to asking questions in the Toy Parliament unless some particular issue needs to be brought out.

I am encouraging him to go on asking questions. Then we can publicize questions and answers on this blog. Anyway, here is the response, for what it is worth.

Apart from Article 213(2) of the EC Treaty, which provides for the general obligations of independence incumbent on Members of the Commission for the protection of the general interest of the Community, the Code of Conduct for Commission Members contains a number of specific provisions relating to their political activities and their involvement in election campaigns .

Commissioners may be active members of political parties or trade unions, provided that this does not compromise their availability for service in the Commission.

As the Commission has said so often, Members are political men and women. In the performance of their duties they are required to work for the general interest of the Communities and are not allowed to take any instructions, but they are free to attend political meetings provided, of course, that this is not detrimental to their availability at all times as Members of the Commission.

Well, well, well. Let us have a look at Article 213(2) of the EC Treaty, the latter being the fons et origo of all EC/EU legislation.

The Members of the Commission shall, in the general interest of the Community, be completely independent in the performance of their duties.

In the performance of these duties, they shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government or from any other body. They shall refrain from any action incompatible with their duties. Each Member State undertakes to respect this principle and not to seek to influence the Members of the Commission in the performance of their tasks.

The Members of the Commission may not, during their term of office, engage in any other occupation, whether gainful or not. When entering upon their duties they shall give a solemn undertaking that, both during and after their term of office, they will respect the obligations arising therefrom and in particular their duty to behave with integrity and discretion as regards the acceptance, after they have ceased to hold office, of certain appointments or benefits. In the event of any breach of these obligations, the Court of Justice may, on application by the Council or the Commission, rule that the Member concerned be, according to the circumstances, either compulsorily retired in accordance with Article 216 or deprived of his right to a pension or other benefits in its stead.

Ahem, what is that at the beginning of the third paragraph?

The Members of the Commission may not, during their term of office, engage in any other occupation, whether gainful or not.

Would that occupation include writing national policies for one’s party back home? “When I use a word,” – said Humpty Dumpty, - “it means what I want it to mean.”

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Labels: commission, EU parliament, Margot Wallström, UKIP

While little enough attention was paid to the Fluffy and Fragrant Commissar, Margot Wallström deciding to do a bit of moonlighting in Swedish politics, the latest posting on her blog has raised a few eyebrows.

The most notable pair of eyebrows belong to Joseph Daul MEP, Chairman of the EPP-ED Group (yes, yes, that is the one our own Conservative MEPs belong to). Of course, it is unlikely that M Daul was issuing a statement and lodging a complaint with Commission President Barroso out of pure faith in the importance of impartiality for Commissioners. He is, presumably, a Sarkozy supporter.

The odd thing is that, by her standards, the Fragrant Margot has not done anything too bad. In her latest posting she goes a bit mushy about Ségolène Royal (and a few other things).

First she tells us that she cheered for the political candidate belonging to her political family, which is almost acceptable, though as a European Commissioner she is not supposed to have a political family.

Then, launching into French, the fragrant Margot produces a paragraph of ra-ra-ing for the first female to get through to the second round of the French Presidential elections. She scrupulously notes that there have been several women politicians in Europe who had reached high position. (One wonders whether she would have cheered for Margaret Thatcher. Perhaps not. Female solidarity can go only so far.)

This, in itself, is not political interference but the matter is made worse by her posting a picture of la Royal on the blog, which comes close to endorsement. Whatever political family one belongs to and however anxious one is to see women advance in politics, Commissars are not supposed to get involved in national politics in any of the member states. On the other hand, there is nothing terribly new about them doing just that.

Is Nicolas Sarkozy likely to have any sleepless nights because his rival is being semi-endorsed by the most derided of all European Commissioners?

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Labels: Margot Wallström

And yes, it does involve the Fragrant Commissar, of whom we have not written much in recent months, largely because the wretched woman and her blog are so utterly boring.

It seems, however, that the ineffable Margot is thinking of a spot of moonlighting as a Swedish politician. As a Commissar sorry, European Commissioner she is supposed to serve the European Union and leave matters of national politics behind. Indeed, each and every member of the Commission promises to act entirely in the European Union’s interests, notwithstanding previous political and present national allegiances.

But what’s this? According to “The Local”, Sweden’s news in English, the new leader of the Social Democrats, Mona Sahlin, speaking for a whole hour on Sunday morning has announced, among other matters,

that she would create a working group to develop the party's foreign and EU policies before the European election in 2009 and the next Swedish election in 2010. EU commissioner Margot Wallström and former foreign minister Jan Eliasson would be on the committee.

She then welcomed Margot Wallstöm back into Swedish politics. Unfortunately, the Fragrant Commissar is not back in Swedish politics. She is still a Commissar and, as such, should not be getting involved in national party politics.

When asked about this, the Fragrant Commissar replied [translation provided by one of our readers and we are very grateful]:

Yes, it is [says Wallström]. But I cannot take on a formal position and sit on a board. But everyone in the Commission is politically active and I think that only enriches our work. This is not a full time task, Margot Wallström points out, and in a response to a question she answers that of course she will inform the Commission about her new task.

I will continue to perform my work as Commissioner with full impartiality she ensured the questioner.

Well, well, so everyone in the Commission is politically active? That would be active in national party politics, I take it. This is not what we are told when questions are asked about the clash between the role of the Commissioner and the oath of the Privy Councillor.

Some things will seem very familiar to la Wallström is going. Mona Sahlin spoke of the lost election of 2005.

She went on to promise a renewal of the party's organisation and leadership:

"We will listen. We will find new ways to communicate," she told the audience.

There is one thing that Ms Sahlin might not be too anxious to communicate and that is the Swedish trade unions going over the heads of the elected Swedish government to the European Commission and the ECJ to prevent the implementation of unemployment benefit reform that had been part of the platform on which it was elected.

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Labels: Margot Wallström, Sweden

Given the disastrous recent history of the European Airbus project, you would think the company needs all the help it can get from the EU commission. But it is not getting much support from the fragrant Margot Wallström, vice president in charge of EU propaganda.

She tells us:

The Commission adopted yesterday a very important decision: to include the aviation sector in the European Emissions Trading system. This means that the EU will continue to lead on climate change issues – while at the same time acting in a multi-lateral context like the ICAO.

I am sure that this will not only boost the credibility of our policy on climate change, but will also help European airlines to develop a competitive advantage through investing in modern technology/methods like with the example of the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which will use 20 percent less fuel per passenger than similarly sized airplanes.

The plane is specifically designed for the environment with lower emissions and quieter takeoffs and landings. To date, 29 airlines have logged 393 orders worth more than $55 billion making the Dreamliner the most successful commercial airplane launch in history.

Rather helpfully, the Fragrant One has included a link to the Wikipedia entry on the Dreamliner. Boeing could not have wished for a better testimonial.

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Labels: Airbus, Boeing, Margot Wallström