We are all aware of the way in which our European politicians wheel and deal with each other without consulting their electorates, but the damage is being done at all levels. The poor voters are tossed the odd morsel to appease them, if they are lucky. The Lisbon Treaty provides a classic Eurocontrolfreakery example.
All legislative proposals come from the Commission, but some of them are decided upon by both the European Parliament (MEPs) and the Council (Eurocrats). Both have to agree, and no legislation in the designated policy areas is passed without the agreement of the Parliament. This is called “codecision”.
This is fine, until you discover that on a second reading the Parliament can only throw out the Council’s proposals with an absolute majority, and not a simple majority. What with many MEPs not attending votes, and many only turning up to claim their daily allowance, it is almost impossible to overturn the Eurocrat’s legislation.
The Lisbon Treaty extends codecision to transport, energy, communications, transparency (!), and vocational training. This may seem an improvement, until you remember under the codecision rules the Eurocrats are ceding nothing.

Alasdair Macleod