Kolumni The Parliament Magazinessa: The changes to the Statute of the European Ombudsman an important step on the way to the EU transparency 25.7.2008
When drafting the amendment proposals for the Statute of the European Ombudsman I was quite a surprised how hard it is to increase transparency in the European Institutions. An opposition towards the amendments was really tough especially from the Parliament’s largest Group, the EPP, at the Committee stage.
The highly controversial issue was particularly access to documents. The EPP strongly objected to “free access” to all documents. I am very happy that at the end a compromise was found. This guarantees unlimited access for the Ombudsman to all documents provided that he respects rules that are strictly similar to those in force within the institutions or bodies that supply those documents. lue lisää
Kolumni Suomenmaassa: Juustoskandaali haisee pahalta 18.7.2008
Ranskan entinen presidentti Charles de Gaulle tuskaili aikoinaan pilke silmäkulmassa, miten vaikeaa, ellei suorastaan mahdotonta, oli hallita maata, jossa tuotetaan satoja juustolajeja. Ja täytyy myöntää, että kyllä hienon ranskalaisen juustokaupan tuoksukin on tyrmäävä.
En tiedä, mitä Italian pääministeri Silvio Berlusconi on tokaissut sen jälkeen, kun hän kuuli parhaillaan erityisesti Italiaa koettelevasta juustoskandaalista. Joka tapauksessa ruokakulttuurillaan mielellään ylpeilevän Italian ruokamaine on kärsinyt pahan kolauksen. lue lisää
Kolumni Helsinki Timesissa: Retaining Commissioner from all the Member States is a key component of any new deal 11.7.2008
“Citizens are calling for a clear, open, effective, democratically controlled Community approach, and therefore, the Union needs to become more democratic, more transparent and more efficient”, was noted in Laeken declaration to launch the EU constitutional reform process in 2001.
There is no need to underline that the Lisbon Treaty is in practice the exact opposite of what was deemed necessary seven years ago: we are faced with complex unreadable texts, negotiated in secrecy, far from public scrutiny. In this respect it wasn’t a big surprise that the Irish voted against of the Treaty on the 12th of June. lue lisää
