Commissioner: Treaty could damage legitimacy of EU

THE provision in the Lisbon Treaty to have commissioners from just two-thirds of member states could affect the democratic legitimacy of the European Union, according to commission vice-president Margot Wallstrom.

Under the terms of the treaty, member states will lose their commissioner for five years in every 15 in an effort to make the body more streamlined.

But Ms Wallstrom, who is very much in favour of the treaty, said a system has to be found to ensure countries are not left out in any way when they do not have a commissioner.