Christies Child wrote:Just wondered how others on here feel about an unelected EU Official dictating terms of our Brexit negotiations before they even start.
I voted to stay but I can understand how many are totally against the EU unelected commission who appear to dictate how the EU countries have to operate.
For two reasons that is utter nonsense.
The first is that the "unelected European Commission" is effectively Europe's civil service. In the UK the civil service isn't elected and is seen as independent. In Europe the commissioners are appointed by elected governments so at least there is some democratic accountability. In the EU legislation is proposed by the elected leaders of national governments, passed to commissioners to turn into legislation, which is then scrutinized and passed or not by the European Parliament. Additionally, on certain issues, national governments can veto that decision. If anything the EU is more democratic than the UK with its unelected head of state and second chamber (and Prime Minister!).
Secondly, the EU has every right to dictate the terms. Let's say I joined the Jubilee Working Men's Club and I'd paid in my subs for years but constantly moaned about access to the snooker tables, complained because someone from Bare got elected as Chairman and lied constantly to his wife at home about bent darts and non-fizzy tonic. So when I then leave the rules say sod off, you can't have your subs back and you have to pay treble to store your snooker cue, well tough. You wanted to leave. Argue with the 27 members of the committee and see how you get on,
Before long we'll be the homeless bloke scrounging a pint outside Weatherspoons and whose Scottish wife has left him and now with a younger model down the Jubilee.