Just who governs our country?

Reproduced from European Voice, a letter from Richard Corbett, late MEP and now 'bum-boy' for Herman Rompuy*:

"I was curious to read your special report on the “Hungarian Presidency of the EU” (16 December 2010-5 January 2011). There is, of course, no such thing!

Hungary merely chairs one of the EU institutions, not the EU as a whole. You (and others) may wish to elevate the Council (and its president) above all the others, but I dare say that the presidents of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament may have other views. 

The rotating presidency of the Council was always an over-rated function. It is short-term, without executive powers, and inherits a pre-set agenda. Since the Lisbon treaty, its prime minister no longer chairs the European Council, its foreign minister no longer speaks for the EU on the world stage, nor even chairs the foreign-affairs configuration of the Council. 

Special supplements about new member states are welcome, but do not imply that they are suddenly in charge!

Richard Corbett

Brussels"

For the avoidance of doubt the European Council of Heads of State has no executive powers and is 'short-term' with a preset agenda.

So now we know - and have it on record - who actually governs us!

* Just realised that rhymes! Does that earn me a merit mark?