EU democratic balance shifts

Peter Doyle (The Irish Examiner, July 22) likened the appointment of the European Commission to the way President Bush selects his cabinet and other high ranking officers in the US administration.

However, the power of the president is limited in this regard. His nominees for key administration departments and offices are subject to review and approval by the US Senate, a body elected by the citizens in the 50 US states on a six-year rotation.

When the Council was created as the backbone of the EEC, all the functions and decisions of government rested with the prime ministers, their cabinets, national parliaments, central banks, and civil servants.

Over the years many of these functions have shifted to Brussels and the EU, where laws are now enacted that affect the lives of our citizens. The democratic equation is no longer balanced.

The imbalance which concentrates decision-making in the Council, and the bodies which are authorised by it, should be rectified.

Mr Doyle did not refute the main point of my previous letter (Irish Examiner, July 18). For five long years Ireland could be excluded from the European Commission, if the Nice Treaty is ratified. As an Irish citizen, I do not think this arrangement is wise.

John-Paul O’Driscoll,

403 Harvest Loop,

Prattville,

Alabama,