German Green Party backs CSU approach in law to protect German Parliament

[CookieMonster]

Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports that the German Green Party is supporting the CSU position in requiring a tough law to protect the German Parliament in the EU decision making process, as required by the German Constitutional Court. Green parliamentary spokesperson on EU matters, Rainder Steenblock, said that the parties are "close to one another". The Greens in particular back the CSU demand that Bundestag statements should be generally binding on the German government, except in the case of "key foreign and integration policy reasons".

Steenblock also underlined that a strengthening of the German Parliament's powers over EU politics has always been important for the Greens. However, in contrast to the CSU who demand to enshrine the binding nature of parliamentary statements in the German constitutional law, Steenblock pointed out: "we don't think an amendment of the constitutional law is necessary".

Europapolitik - Grüne unterstützen Europakurs der CSU - Politik - sueddeutsche.de

[kerrynorth]

Its looking more and more unlikely that they will be able to agree legislation prior to the election. If this becomes an election issue it will be interesting.

[CookieMonster]

I'm not following German party politics closely enough to know what if anything is being done to deflect from it becoming an election issue. I've certainly met sizable and organised political groups opposed to Lisbon. I don't know how effective they could be but time will tell.

[Pig Destroyer]

I'm not following German party politics closely enough to know what if anything is being done to deflect from it becoming an election issue.

I don't think much effort is required - the parties are keeping Lisbon off the agenda themselves. All major parties in Germany are pro-EU and while the Left Party opposes the Lisbon Treaty they have done absolutely nothing in terms of trying to stir up public debate or make it into an election issue. I'm not aware of any major pressure groups or the like who are trying to make an issue of Lisbon either. Even the major court ruling a few weeks ago was gone and forgotten a few days later in terms of media coverage and political comment.
Dealing with the economic crises, unemployment, taxation etc. are the dominant issues, as well as the misuse of ministerial cars

[Freeborn John]

Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports that the German Green Party is supporting the CSU position in requiring a tough law to protect the German Parliament in the EU decision making process, as required by the German Constitutional Court. Green parliamentary spokesperson on EU matters, Rainder Steenblock, said that the parties are "close to one another". The Greens in particular back the CSU demand that Bundestag statements should be generally binding on the German government, except in the case of "key foreign and integration policy reasons".

Steenblock also underlined that a strengthening of the German Parliament's powers over EU politics has always been important for the Greens. However, in contrast to the CSU who demand to enshrine the binding nature of parliamentary statements in the German constitutional law, Steenblock pointed out: "we don't think an amendment of the constitutional law is necessary".

Europapolitik - Grüne unterstützen Europakurs der CSU - Politik - sueddeutsche.de

The German Chancellor commands the majority in the German parliament which will rubber-stamp whatever the German Chancellor wants to do in the EU Council, e.g. invoke 'flexibility' or 'passerelle' clauses. These proposed 'tough' changes to German law will be no more a check on the celtralisation of power in Brussels than the parliamentary ratifications of the Lisbon treaty. In all cases the outcome can be guaranteed in advance by the nature of parliamentary democracy.

[Al.]

One step closer to German Basic Law compliance in Ireland. Germany's national character is to dominate, remember...

[Pig Destroyer]

One step closer to German Basic Law compliance in Ireland. Germany's national character is to dominate, remember...

And what is Germany's "national character" in your opinion?

[Al.]

Just told you. Like it or not, Maggie was right.

The Karlsruhe ruling's already gone through. If Ireland votes yes, it has to frame its constitutional amendment related to that treaty according to the German constitution, before Germany itself ratifies that treaty. (Imagine that, eh?) Anything coming out of Brussels after that goes through the German parliament, so said parliament gets to shape the future of all other member states.

[cantenaccio]

This is a federal republic,Lisbon means sweet f all.Also the CSU are Bavaria's answer to gombeenism,don't read too much into it.

[Pig Destroyer]

just told you. Like it or not, maggie was right.

The karlsruhe ruling's already gone through. If ireland votes yes, it has to frame its constitutional amendment related to that treaty according to the german constitution, before germany itself ratifies that treaty. (imagine that, eh?) anything coming out of brussels after that goes through the german parliament, so said parliament gets to shape the future of all other member states.

national character studies is a defunct anthropological focus that made broad and often flawed generalizations when studying cultural behavior as a means of justifying the concept of modal personality traits. That is, recognizing and applying behavioral patterns unanimously to citizens within a culture as a result of those citizens being born and or raised there. In short, stereotyping.

you fail.