Happy Holidays!

Dear friends, I wish you happy holidays and a prosperous New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Dear friends,

I would like to extend my warmest holiday greetings and best wishes to all of you! Thank you for your support and interesting discussions! 2010 really was an interesting year and the next one is just around the corner, so let’s celebrate!

Cheers,

Vihar

 

 

I’m on Twitter!

After some consideration I decided to join Twitter. Check out my profile here.

Let’s Help Haiti Today!

There was a terrible earthquake in Haiti, killing tens of thousands. Many are still trapped in the debris, and a lot of wounded people need urgent medical care. Almost all hospitals and public buildings have been demolished.

I would like to ask everyone if able to spare a few bucks and to support the ongoing rescue operation in Haiti. The immediate priorities include search and rescue, medical services and supplies, clean water and sanitation, emergency shelter, food, logistics and telecommunications.

A non-exhaustive list of NGOs working on the ground:

• Doctors without borders – donate here;
• Oxfam – donate here;
• Care – donate here.

I thank you in advance on behalf of all those who will be saved with your help!

Division on 2020 Economic Objectives

The Spanish presidency has expressed its opinion that the 2020 economic guidelines for the European Union should be backed by some sort of sanctions. Germany was quick to criticize the idea, and the Spanish government has somewhat retreated.

But even the FT Deutschland acknowledges that the structural imbalances in the EU are already benefiting Export Germany.

Happy Holidays!

I would like to extend my warmest holiday greetings to all readers of the European Union Law blog!

I wish you a very successful and happy New Year!

White Paper on Multilevel Governance

The White Paper on Multilevel Governance by the Committee of the Regions has been published.

According to the report multilevel governance means coordinated action by the European Union, the Member States and local and regional authorities, based on partnership and aimed at drawing up and implementing EU policies.

The report recommends the development of appropriate tools to support participatory democracy in the regions. It recommends that territorial impact analysis should become standard practice in legislative and non-legislative proposals.

Council Has Officially Nominated Barroso for Second Mandate

The Council of the European Union has officially nominated Jose Manuel Barroso as the person the Council intends to appoint as President of the Commission for the period from 1 November 2009 to 31 October 2014.

This is an important step in the procedure, probably intended to curb objections of some MEPs to Mr. Barroso’s candidacy.

Happy Europe Day!

Today I am happy to congratulate all readers of the blog with the Europe Day.

I would also like to remind some important messages in the Schuman Declaration:

“Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. (…)

The pooling of coal and steel production should immediately provide for the setting up of common foundations for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe (…)

By pooling basic production and by instituting a new High Authority, whose decisions will bind France, Germany and other member countries, this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of a European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace.”

The Bulgarian Democratic Deficit – 2

The Bulgarian Parliament has declined a proposal for the creation of a temporary investigation committee for the cases of police violence in Bulgaria. The parliamentary groups of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) voted against the proposal.

According to the socialist MP Tatyana Doncheva “lawyers in the Parliament should consider the division of powers”.

Since I’m a legal professional, though outside of the National Assembly, I would like to remind Mrs. Doncheva that Bulgaria is a republic with a parliamentary form of government (art. 1, para. 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria). The Parliament has two main powers – the legislative authority and exercise of parliamentary control (art. 62, para. 1 of the Constitution). Due to this fact members of the National Assembly have the right to address questions and interpellations to the Council of Ministers and to individual ministers, who are obligated to respond (art. 90, para. 1 of the Constitution).

Considering the division of powers I reach the conclusion that for part of the MPs it is not necessary to establish a temporary investigation committee for the cases of police violence in Bulgaria. The reasons for that may be two – either there is no police violence, or all cases are clear.

There IS police violence in Bulgaria, Mrs. Doncheva, as I became witness to. Hence the conclusion that you know well all such cases, or, worse, don’t disapprove them.

Yes, there is a democratic deficit in Bulgaria (check the Google translation of my post in Bulgarian about the dispersed protests on 14 January 2009).