pseudoDemocracy
EU | 13.12.2004 20:49 | Social Struggles | Technology
If the EU Council adopted the legislative proposal of May 18th, it would do so without democratic legitimacy. The idea of a debateless and voteless adoption of an "A item" is only to speed up and simplify the process if a qualified majority is in place. In this particular case, there isn't.
As of November 1st, new voting weights apply in the EU under the Act of Accession. The collective number of votes of all countries that affirmatively supported the legislative proposal on May 18th amounts to 216, falling short of the required 232. It would set a more than regrettable precedent for European democracy if the EU Council adopted a Common Position on an insufficient basis.
This scheduling on the part of the Council of Ministers - and the Christmas surprise it bodes - is provoking indignation among opponents of software patents. Thus Laura Creighton, vice-president of the Foundation for a Free Information Infrastructure (FFII) and herself a software entrepreneur has vociferously criticized the "last minute" maneuvering. Only the "most committed opponent to the democratic process" could, in her opinion, believe that racing the paper through with an A-item approval the week before Christmas in a meeting of ministers whose remits do not extend to the topic in question was the proper response to the "widespread consensus” rejecting the Council's position. Hence Ms. Creighton's bitter comment on the move planned by these representatives of governments: "The bad smell coming from Brussels has nothing to do with the fish."
Further information:
![](/img/extlink.gif)
![](/img/extlink.gif)
![](/img/extlink.gif)
![](/img/extlink.gif)
![](/img/extlink.gif)
EU