Talk:Article 8: The Commission
From Wikitution
12) A new description, recognising a shift in political power away from the commission and towards the European Council.
13) A new formula. At present the commission has 20 members, including the president, two from each bigger member state and one from each smaller member state. Governments agree that reform is needed here before another enlargement of the Union. “Capping” the commission at a fixed size, regardless of the number of member states, is one option.
14) A new mechanism, designed to encourage member states to “compete” for commission places and so to offer better candidates.
(Original footnotes from "A constitution for the European Union": Oct 26th 2000 The Economist print edition ©2000 The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.)
further changes:
- upgraded role of Commission from mere secretariat to day-to-day policy-making body, leaving the strategic role to the Union Council - introduced backing of political majority in parliament to give more political colour to the commission itself: it forces commission policies to be less technocratic and more in line with the wishes of the people. - takes away role of member states in appointing members of the commissions. Commissioners should be drawn from the Legislature which closes the "unelected" loophole and forces ambitious European politicians to stand for election (or government appointment in the Senate) first.
