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Well, it took a little longer than expected to get here. Being of a green disposition I opted for the overnight train from Strasbourg to Copenhagen, but heavy snow meant that it was more of a overnight-and-through-the-day train. Never mind - I'm here now, and we'll soon know if the trip was worth the effort.
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Worried about the economic costs of isolation and armed with legal guarantees and an Irish member of the European Commission for all time, Irish voters gave a resounding Yes to the Lisbon treaty on October 2.
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The last Strasbourg session of this European Parliament ended on May 7. Hectic negotiation between Parliament and the Council of Ministers saw a number of important laws enacted, many at first reading. One or two draft laws did not make it – notably, an important telecoms package which stalled as MEPs insisted on a prior judicial procedure to block internet access, and, secondly, the revision of the controversial working time directive.
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Half the members of the European parliament are new to the job. The reasons for such a big turnover need study, but the weakness of party politics at the European level is certainly one of them. Immature political parties cannot offer the prospect of a political career to MEPs. National politics offer greater temptation to those of less than certain European vocation.
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