One might be as europhile as I am (and just a little remark: I still
would not call myself “EUrophile” with a capital U, but rather
“EUroptimistic” or simply “europhile”), but I can understand to a
certain extend many of those who have doubts about the European
project called “European Union”.
And so, given that this week we are witnessing the last session of
this European Parliament in this period, let me express high
appreciation for Daniel Hannan who, in his probably last speech in front of this parliament, has
again shown that you can be eurosceptic, critical, and even tastefully
polemic, but that this can be done in the most intelligent,
articulate, and honest way.
His call for a “visible opposition against the EU” in the next
European Parliament is thus not to be understood in a negative manner,
but in the best tradition of a democratic institutions in which the
pro and the contra are the main elements of free and
democratic discourse of ideas and ideals.
And he is absolutely correct pointing out that it is better to allow
and to support open and democratic opposition - even against the
project as such - within the institution than waiting for radicals and
xenophobic opponents outside the parliament to be the sole voices of
discontent heard all over Europe.
So here’s Daniel’s speech, as always short and concise, and with
remarkably warm words for outgoing EP president Hans-Gert
Pöttering:
Thank you, Daniel, for your work and your directness - and I
suppose you will be around…!
(2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)
Loading ...
I agree. The rules of the EP should be applied as equally and as strictly as possible. It’s only in the EP’s best interests to do so, since it needs to ensure its credibility as a democratic institution.
(Though as long as the EP has a limited influence on constitutional affairs, it won’t be a very effective or satisfying arena to debate such issues).
Hmm, I suppose that something is wrong with the script as we don’t see the speech…
It works on my blog: http://julienfrisch.blogspot.com/2009/05/guest-post-on-thnk-about-it-3-visible.html
I’ll ask the organisers to try to fix it (I am not blogging here myself, just sending the text).
Video fixed!
(Please note that there are also some comments on my blog regarding this article.)
Nigel Farage from the Independents held a speech shortly before Hannan. Ten times more aggressive, but admittedly also a little bit more entertaining.
http://vod.europarl.europa.eu/nasvod01/vod0305/2009/wm/VODUnit_20090506_13202400_13232300.wmv
Daniel Hannan’s turn of phrase is admirable and he has a point about a few things of general value, if the European Parliament and the other EU institutions want to gain respect:
1) Applying the internal rules (of procedure) even-handedly. Admittedly, rejectionists used filibustering tactics, but the EP should have waited until the rules were changed to ensure that the proceedings advance.
2) The EP should open up its internal decision-making (Bureau and Conference of Presidents) visibly to the public, including all meeting documents. Hiding audit reports on MEPs’ expenses and voting them outside public access to documents illustrate that the EP has a long way to go.
3) The difference between the rule of law and arbitrariness is to apply rules equally. In a rules based society, changing the rules to target one individual, such as Le Pen, is not done. It smacks of petty arbitrariness.
The difference between Hannan and Farage is clearly visible, with the first showing respect to colleagues, intelligent rhetoric, and calm argumentation while the second shouts and polemicises for the sake of polemicising. I prefer intelligent opposition to open dullness.
The big difference is that Hannon is in the Conservative Party which is supposed to be the respectable opposition to the EU (”in Europe but not ruled by Europe, reform, winning the argument on Europe “)whereas Farage is not acceptable to EUrophiles ,because he just wants out (so he lumped with all EUrosceptics as “swivel eyed loons “).