DIANE ABBOTT explodes the anti-migrant myths perpetrated by cynical politicians and an irresponsible mass media
Latest editorial
Everything works in favour of capitalism
In the first article of a series on how the European Union operates, JOHN BOYD looks at the role of the European Commission
ANSELM ELDERGILL examines the government’s proposals to further limit the right of citizens to trial by jury
As we mark the anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, JOHN WIGHT reflects on the enormity of the US decision to drop the atom bombs
For 80 years, survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings have pleaded “never again,” for anyone. But are we listening, asks Linda Pentz Gunter
Labour councillor PAUL DONOVAN wonders why the right-wing party gets so much more media attention than it seems to merit
SOLOMON HUGHES asks whether Labour ‘engaging with decision-makers’ with scandalous records of fleecing the public is really in our interests
The European Commission of 28 is the government of the EU. The president of the commission is agreed by the European Council and endorsed by the European Parliament.
The council then appoints the other 27 commissioners, one from each member state. All commissioners are supposed to be independent, vote in secret by simple majority and are only accountable to themselves. They serve five-year terms and cannot be removed except as a whole by the European Parliament — this only happened once in 1999 following charges of fraud levelled at the commission.
Each commissioner has a portfolio supported by one or more of the 33 Directorates General and services (comprising civil servants similar to national ministries). The trade commissioner is conducting the highly secret TTIP EU-US negotiations. The British commissioner is Lord Hill responsible for financial matters whom David Cameron wanted as commission president to promote City of London interests.
More from this author
