Should the European Parliament be given greater powers in the European Union (EU)?

Question

Should the European Parliament be given greater powers in the European Union (EU)?

Answer 1

Europe must have a common legislature but it will be very difficult since countries want their own laws.

Answer 2

well its left to the europeans its for them to decide

Answer 3

Well, you have to understand that at the moment, the EU is only an economic union.  However, they do have certain requirements conserning membership (i.e. the country has to be a democracy).

Also, you have to note that the EU is made up of sovereign states that form an economic union.  Thus, granting parliament more powers would be taking authority away from member states, and effect would create a federation (much like the US). At the present time, that is not what most European states or citizens want.

Answer 4

Hi

Just to address a few afore mentioned things. 1. England is not the "only country" that follows the rules, in fact they have made so many exceptions for themselves that many other europeans are quite frustrated. 2. The EU may have started as a economic union but today it has become a far more political institution. (i.e european legal system, european human rights etc)

Now to your question ;-) Yes the parliament needs more power because at the moment the way things are decided are highly undemocratic and ineffective (for a new law to be past all 27 government or state representatives need to give their ok and you can imagine that this does not really work)

Then we need a stronger parliament to lessen the power of the single states as all the government reps are always facing some kind of election thus blocking certain reforms and important changes.

So yes, the parliament needs more power.  

Answer 5

Well, it looks like only the British follow the rules anyway, so it could be good to give the parliament more power to enforce the rules, but at the same time its likely to cause problems because it would be ignorant of the needs of the smaller countries and any small group of people.