EU Credibility Challenged in Parliamentary Elections

Migrant Filipinos who have considered Europe to be an important economic destination would be anxious to see how present and future policies of the European Union’s expansion and further integration will affect them.

By D. L. Mondelo 
Chief Political Correspondent for Europe
Bulatlat.com

AMSTERDAM – There was a low 45 percent voter turnout when the expanded European Union (EU) held elections last June 10-13 to pick more than 700 members of the European Parliament (EP). The turnout was slightly higher than the last elections for the EP, reports said.

However, if there was one important indication shown by the turnout and the results of these recent elections for the EP, it is that many Europeans remain skeptical about the future of the EU.

The EP elections were held in 25 member-states, which included the 10 new countries that joined the expanded EU beginning May this year. Only 28 percent of the voting population in these 10 new member-states voted during the elections. All citizens including legal residents were called upon to participate in the elections.

The June elections increased the EP membership to 732.

Some political analysts believe the results of the EP elections have put the entire EU itself at a critical juncture.

“Euro-skeptics”

The increase in the seats of political parties representing the “Euro-skeptics” and “populist” parties indicates, they said, that many in the EU do not yet fully agree with many of its policies, specifically, those relating to the expansion and further integration of the EU under the aegis of the “United States of Europe.”

These political blocs represent a considerable number of the European public who remain opposed to the policies of further integration of the EU (such as the use of the Euro) and the framing of a common constitution for all member-states of the EU.

The drive to further consolidate and expand the EU has only sharpened the political division of the EU into two virtual camps – France and Germany on the one hand, and Britain supported by Poland, on the other. France and Germany, aside from being two of the strongest economies in the EU, have also been the strongest advocates of full federalism and the integration of the politics and economy of the EU. On the other hand, Britain would only concede minimal surrender of national sovereignty to the EU, including matters concerning taxation, defense and foreign affairs. In addition, Britain would like to maintain closer political and economic ties with the United States.

The next sessions of the EP would become more “colorful” as the “Euro-skeptics” are expected to challenge many of the EU’s federalist thrusts.

Many, especially the increasing number of migrants and refugees, would be closely watching future debates in the EP, particularly those that would define the attitude and policies of the EU toward its migrant communities.

Migrant Filipinos, too, who have considered Europe to be an important economic destination, would be anxious to see how present and future policies on expansion and further integration will affect them.

Common constitution

High on the agenda of the EU is the framing of a common constitution for the whole of Europe and the filling up of the position of the presidency of the EU that will be vacated soon by EU president Romano Prodi of Italy. The presidency of the EU is determined on “rotation” by the member states.

The EP continues to be dominated by the European Popular Party, representing the conservative bloc, followed by the European Party of Socialists, representing the social democrats. After them are the Group of Liberal Democrats and the Reform Party of the liberal democrats and the “center-right” forces.

Other major political parties in the EP include: The Greens/European Free Alliance, European United Left/Nordic Green Left, Group for Europe of Democracies and Diversities, and the Union for Europe of the Nations.

Member countries of the EU include: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, France, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the UK. The 10 new member states of the EU beginning May 1 are: Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Romania and Bulgaria are expected to join EU in 2007. Turkey’s application for membership is still being considered based on the “criteria” set by the EU, among them standards governing respect for human rights.

Switzerland is not a member of the EU and continues to maintain its neutral status, while Norway belongs only to the “European Free Trade Alliance. Bulatlat.com

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