Explanatory Statement

From the desk of Elaib Harvey on Fri, 2007-10-19 17:24

1. It is now quite some time since the European Union ceased to be merely a common economic area and began to adopt shared values as well. It is progressing towards its aim of establishing a political community pursuing the illuminist ideal of the sublime dignity of man and it is gradually instituting political power-sharing amongst its Member States, cooperation amongst institutions and a legal system which is both cosmopolitan and people-centred.

What is genuinely fascinating about the European Union is this journey towards the individual and towards a legal system applicable to all peoples and all generations.

No really that is indeed an Explanatory Statement for a piece of legislation going through the European Parliament next week.

The Report "on the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany and of the French Republic with a view to adopting a Council Framework Decision on the recognition and supervision of suspended sentences, alternative sanctions and conditional sentences", written by Portuguese,

Dear Ms Assuncao Esteves,

In the
explanatory statement to your your report "on the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany and of the French Republic with a view to adopting a Council Framework Decision on the recognition and supervision of suspended sentences, alternative sanctions and conditional sentences", you say

"the illuminist ideal of the sublime dignity of man"

I have no idea what you are talking about. I am sorry if I am being slow or stupid here, but could you please explain?

"establishing a political community pursuing the illuminist ideal of the sublime dignity of man",

I don't understand, no really I don't understand.
Apart from the fact that this will give the green ink "They are all lizards" branch of Eurosceptics a field day, this is nonsensical idiocy.

There again the report itself is a little bit concerning. What was that about never wanting to see harmonisation of criminal law?

Explanatory statment to the explanatory statment

Submitted by Elaib on Mon, 2007-10-22 18:18.

Sorry if the post isn't clear, but I think to an extent that that is my point. This piece of legislation which is being voted upon this week in Strasbourg has that phrase in it, that is, it commends the EU for "pursuing the illuminist ideal of the sublime dignity of man". I have worked in and around the Euroepan Parliament for almost a decade now, and I haven't the first idea what she is talking about.

By the way, in each piece of legislation there is, after the meat of the text, amendments and so on, an explanatory statement from the rapporteur (author) to justify the legislation. That paragraph above is the first paragraph in this piece of legislation's Explanatory Statement.

Oddly enough the MEP in question has yet to get back to me to explain what on earth it is she is talking about.

Elaib Harvey

@BRUSSELS JOURNAL

Submitted by Norman Conquest 304 on Sat, 2007-10-20 17:33.

This posting has an interesting message to deliver to TBJ readers. Could we kindly ask TBJ to edit the article and erase these four comments once it's done?

Elaib Harvey has made very good points in relation to the EU institutions before. Unfortunately, this time, we feel his work has been somewhat botched up for some reason.   

@NC304

Submitted by Atlanticist911 on Sat, 2007-10-20 14:29.

I completely agree with you.I just think that my link looks prettier,that's all.

 

;))

@Atlanticist

Submitted by Norman Conquest 304 on Sat, 2007-10-20 13:54.

Thank you very much. However, the link you've provided is no clearer. Could the author add some contextual information to this posting, please? It raises more questions than provides answers. Or I must be completely out of it.