I am not sure if this thread is going to work but what I thought I would do is to begin to understand the EU and what it does or doesn't do. I will take it is small chunks as I think trying to do it all at once will be too much for me to make a half reasonable job of it. Thought I would add to it everyday until we have a picture of the EU.
What I hope is that us GN's will be a bit more informed and make a more sensible decision rather than relying on what others are telling us. I am sure I am not alone in being not sure that I know enough to make anywhere near an informed choice at the moment.
Please do feel free to say if I am wrong in anything. Of course I may be teaching my Grannies to suck eggs in which case I humbly beg your forgiveness.
Beginning with the Institutions of the EU
European Parliament
Where our MEP's sit and who are formed roughly into groups like Greens,Lib/dems, Conservatives, Socialists, and presumably Euro-sceptics.
This acts together with the European Council as a legislature and like our parliament has various committees.
shares with the Council the budgetry powers and decides the general budget of the EU.
Budget pays for
agriculture
assistance to poorer areas
trans-europe networks
research
overseas development and aid
Exerts democratic control of EU institutions including European Commission
Based in Strasbourg, secretariat is in Luxumberg and meets in Brussels.
Next I will work out the European Council and what it does. A lot of what I am looking at is on the net. I haven't got anything in my books I threw most of them away?!
