European Parliament: All talk and no action?

In the past year, we have witnessed countless demonstrations all across Europe. Millions of people have taken to the streets to protest against the austerity measures that most European governments have been forced to take to deal with the current economic crisis. Tax rises, salary freezes, pension decreases, retirement ages rising, these were actions taken all across Europe. No one can escape the news of people losing their houses, their jobs… Now Christmas is approaching and so is the New Year and things are looking glum.

What does the European crisis mean within the European Institutions?

Reading and watching the actions of our European leaders on a daily basis, whether it is within the Council, the Commission or the European Parliament has taught me that despite their strong talk, they are not ready for real action.

The European Parliament, which I do believe is the most democratic institution in the European Union, is the best example of this. In the past year, I have witnessed some pretty despicable talks and backdoor agreements from our Members of the European Parliament and from the staff that work within the building.

The next few blog posts will show some of the actions taken throughout the year that have not been in the European citizens’ interest.

The Financial Transaction Tax or FTT

Politicians often have their own agenda, far from the welfare of their electorate. Last year the European Socialist and Democrats’ party (S&D) within the European Parliament and its leader Martin Schulz tried to push through a resolution supporting a tax on financial transactions (FTT). Most S&D MEPs took pictures next to a big FTT sign, saying that the European citizens should no longer have to pay for the mistakes of the financial sector. This was supposed to be one of the solutions of the S&D group to recuperate some of the money invested by governments into different financial institutions during the bailouts. This was technically a good idea, but not shared by the European People’s Party (EPP) nor the liberals (ALDE).  

Unfortunately, when it came down to putting it to the vote during the December 2010 Plenary session in Strasbourg, the leader of the same party that was pushing it forward, did not give it his support.

At that time the EP and the Council where left in a deadlock regarding the 2011 budget. While trying to resolve the issues at hand, the Green party decided to put the FTT to the vote. This was an opportunity for the S&D party to stand up and voice its support. Instead, Martin Schulz, leader of the S&D party instructed its Members to vote against it. Why so?

At the time Martin Schulz was starting his campaign for becoming the President of the European Parliament as of 2012 and his need to have the support of the EPP could have influenced his position on the issue.  Faced with the resistance of the EPP, Schulz allowed his personal career objectives to get in the way of an issue that had broad support within his own political party.

During the debate within the Group meeting of the S&D group, one could see the real state of our democracy, a leader crushing in a true Stalinist manner any opposition to his decision, stating that voting for the FTT would be seen as voting against him and the interest of the group. MEPs were left in a serious deadlock. Most of them, especially the French, had been campaigning throughout the year to introduce it to their constituents and now they had to vote against it and find a way to explain to the electorate their new course of action. Needless to say this sparked great tension within the group.

During the vote, the S&D group joined the EPP and ALDE and voted against the FTT, thus sending the signal all across Europe that financial institutions should not be forced to pay for their actions and that in no way they were accountable for the crisis.

How can European citizens believe in their leaders or what they say? As someone who is part of the machinery, I find it impossible to understand what position or what party I should believe in.