What policy is ordered by people in EU countries?
What does a chart of political moods in the EU countries look like these days? How these moods can affect EU relations with neighboring countries and on the union’s enlargement? Some answers are found in the elections to the European Parliament.
The elections were held in the EU countries, June 11-13. The voter turnout was low, slightly more than 44%, and even lower in the new members: less than 30%. Experts believe this calls in question the European Parliament’s legitimacy as a legislative body. The founding fathers of the European Congress, back in the 1970s, meant to establish an influential structure vested with tangible powers in the lawgiving process. The first elections took place twenty-five years ago. Over the years confidence in EP has reached a critically low level. One of their current specifics is that the ruling parties of the leading EU countries (France, Germany, and Great Britain) have received considerably less support. This seems the response of the population to the domestic political situation in the said countries. In Germany and France, it is the protest against the mounting unemployment rate and economic decline, whereas in the UK it is disillusionment with Tony Blair’s policy aimed at supporting US operations in Iraq. In Germany (with the largest number of EP deputies: 99), Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s Social Democrats collected less than 22% of votes, the worst turnout since World War II. In France, Jacques Chirak’s party received a mere 16.9%, being placed second after the opposition Socialists (the latter turned out far ahead with 30%). In Poland, the largest country receiving EU membership May 1, the pro-European Civil Platform won, collecting 28% of votes and getting 17 seats, although the League of Polish Families, known for European skepticism, won 16% and 10 seats.
Preliminary turnout estimates indicate that mostly rightist forces won the EP elections, receiving 269 of 732 seats. The European Socialist Party received 199 seats; the Liberal Democrats, 66; the Green, 39, and the united Communist leftists, 37. What functions does the European Parliament discharge? Whereas before 1987 it was mostly consulting in the lawmaking process, now it can take part in the decision-making, with regard to a number of issues. Under the standing orders, a bill is passed only with the joint consent of the EU Council and European Parliament, and the latter can prevent its ratification. In addition (which is especially important for Ukraine), the European Parliament has a tangible budgetary authority, forming the budget with the EU Council. EP now has bigger powers in appointing posts. Since 1994, EP has participated in the appointment of European Commission members (this fall, the issue will be decided by the new EP members).
It is possible that, with the coming of a number of European skeptics, EP will become more polarized and thus less effective in making coordinated decisions, which is not likely to serve the Ukrainian interests. After admitting 10 countries, EU’s biggest problem is breaking in the rookies, entailing additional economic and political problems. In addition to financial aid to the new members, so they can overcome negative membership consequences, the EU leadership must reckon with their political ambitions, as in the case with the EU Constitution.
The European Union is experiencing a period of changes that are quite diversified, as evidenced by the latest elections to the European Parliament (its previous membership showed a generally favorable attitude toward Ukraine). Thus, it is hard to say now what stand the European MPs will take when voting on budget items envisaging appropriations under the Brussels-adopted Wider Europe Program. From now on the European political community is likely to concentrate on solving its own problems and pay attention to neighboring countries inasmuch as they make noteworthy efforts.
