The real problem with the EU is whose in control.

[Himaginn]

EDIT:

Dear Anthony,
38 Degrees members have helped plunge TTIP’s future into chaos. Our MEPs were meant to have a series of votes on the deal today. But when it looked like they might vote in favour of scrapping some of the worst parts of the deal, the president of the European Parliament cancelled the vote. [1] This is huge!

Where did this come from? link please!
It could easily have been something you made up, or somebody's comment on youtube.

 

[ajstoneservices]

My personal email. Join 38 Degrees and get it from the horses mouth.


EDIT: I should say that was from an email dated

To
**********

06/10/15 at 6:25 PM

 

[Himaginn]

My personal email. Join 38 Degrees and get it from the horses mouth.


EDIT: I should say that was from an email dated

To
**********

06/10/15 at 6:25 PM

Ahh, so it was your friend's opinion, or someone who was trying to persuade you into some action, in other words, it was the opinion of some unnamed political activist?
So we have your friend's opinion as to the validity of the sentiment expressed. Well that's just great.
An unidentifiable, unfalsifiable origin.

 

[Himaginn]

Inappropriate Language removed

You expect us to accept your word, without any valid reference to your source?
It didn't take you long to sink into abusive insults.
I did a bit of checking on your claim, or that of your informant:

Parliament has adopted its recommendations to the commission on the transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP), with 436 votes in favour, 241 against and 32 abstentions.

The vote had originally been scheduled for June's plenary session, but was postponed at the last minute by parliament president Martin Schulz.

The official reason given was that there were too many amendments to get through, but behind the scenes many believed that tensions within parliament's Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group were mostly to blame.

https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/news/ttip-eu-parliament-vote-paves-way-new-isds
So, it was the Alliance of the S&D, not 38 Degrees that were responsible for the delay, which was only a delay.

But this thread is not about 38 Degrees!

 

[ajstoneservices]

It's clear JD is covering back....................at the docks?

 

[Himaginn]

Thanks to AJS, there's further proof that a) PBC's claim is fallacious and b) EU Parliament does insist on modifications and gets them:

Now, (EU) parliament has called for a mechanism which would be "subject to democratic principles and scrutiny"
"MEPs have also recommended high levels of protection for EU consumer data and health and safety standards, and have asked that public services be excluded from the deal. They have also suggested there should be special treatment for sensitive agricultural and industrial products.

Additionally, deputies have stressed that in areas where EU and US rules diverge too much, there can be "no agreement" - cloning, authorising chemicals and GMOs, for example."
"Today we have done just that. We told the commission that we won't simply accept any trade agreement they put in front of us", added the S&D deputy.

https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/articles/news/ttip-eu-parliament-vote-paves-way-new-isds

 

[ajstoneservices]

It's google you should be thanking not me.

 

[PBC_1966]

But can the European Parliament agree on amendments and then pass the legislation with those amendments, or can it only suggest amendments and refer it back to the European Commission, then wait for the latter to come back with a new version of the proposed legislation?

 

[PBC_1966]

Never mind, I just realized that I missed a quote from a message on the previous page:

Parliament has a power of political initiative

It can ask the Commission to present legislative proposals for laws to the Council.

So M.E.P.'s can ask the Commission to present new legislative proposals. But if the Commission does not do so, then the European Parliament has no power to pass legislation anyway. So as I said, it's all at the mercy of the unlelected European Commission.

 

[Himaginn]

Never mind, I just realized that I missed a quote from a message on the previous page:

Parliament has a power of political initiative

It can ask the Commission to present legislative proposals for laws to the Council.

So M.E.P.'s can ask the Commission to present new legislative proposals. But if the Commission does not do so, then the European Parliament has no power to pass legislation anyway. So as I said, it's all at the mercy of the unlelected European Commission.

You missed this bit:

It plays a genuine role in creating new laws,

It comes immediately after where you decided to end what you quoted from the original.

This is a hierarchical view of EU:

• European Parliament

• European Council

• Council of the European Union

• European Commission

http://europa.eu/whoiswho/public/index.cfm?fuseaction=idea.hierarchy

 

[PBC_1966]

I think you're missing the point. Can the European Parliament make or amend legislation if the European Commission does not propose it - Yes or no?

 

[Himaginn]

I think you're missing the point. Can the European Parliament make or amend legislation if the European Commission does not propose it - Yes or no?

Yes

since it examines the Commission's annual programme of work and says which laws it would like to see introduced.

Read the link and stop asking me questions about whether it says this or that.

 

[PBC_1966]

Looking at the Commission's list of proposals and indicating which laws it would like to see introduced is not the same thing as being able to propose, debate, formulate, and pass laws itself.

 

[Himaginn]

Looking at the Commission's list of proposals and indicating which laws it would like to see introduced is not the same thing as being able to propose, debate, formulate, and pass laws itself.

IT PLAYS A GENUINE ROLE IN CREATING NEW LAWS!
How clear is that? Or do you not believe them?

Additionally, as PeterChichester pointed out H of P are not so 'democratic' as you like to think.

 

[PBC_1966]

In 2012, the European Commission commenced infraction proceedings against the UK claiming that its application of the reduced rate for the installation of energy saving materials was not in accordance with EU law.

Thank you. Exactly the point: The claim that member countries are free to set their own VAT rates is simply false. They have leeway - for the present - to set rates only within the bounds set by the EU directives.

That's about as much freedom as telling a person that he's free to go anywhere he likes in the United Kingdom - Just so long as he doesn't go north of Watford or south of Surbiton.