Mirror image: pathocracy uber alles
Olli Rehn, the European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs, is to get expanded powers to oversee the eurozone's economy and the euro, Commission President José Manuel Barroso announced today.
Barroso said that Rehn to will be appointed vice-president within the Commission in charge of the euro and will be given a wider remit to more effectively monitor national fiscal policies.
Barroso announced the plans just hours after the end of a European Council and summit of eurozone leaders that led to agreement on a package of measures to tackle the eurozone's debt crisis.
The Commission president said the change to Rehn's position was to reflect the endorsement of his plans by EU leaders at their talks on Wednesday (26 October). A statement issued by leaders of eurozone countries issued this morning welcomed the intention of the Commission "to strengthen ... the role of the competent commissioner for closer monitoring and additional enforcement".
Better fiscal monitoring
Barroso said that Rehn would be entrusted with "additional working instruments" so he could better monitor national fiscal policies. "This is the best way to guarantee independence, objectivity and efficiency in the exercise of the Commission's responsibility of coordination, surveillance and enforcement in the area of economic governance of the union and of the euro area in particular," Barroso said.
Commission officials said that Rehn would be given powers to oversee stricter economic governance rules to make sure member states do not break deficit and debt rules.
As part of his plans, responsibility for Eurostat, the EU's statistical office, would be shifted from Rehn's remit to Algirdas Šemeta, the European commissioner for taxation and customs union, audit and anti-fraud. This is to streamline Rehn's workload and allow him to focus more on eurozone issues, Commission officials said.
Barroso said both commissioners will discuss their new responsibilities with MEPs in November.
MEPs welcomed Barroso's move. But Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group, urged Barroso to go further. He suggested Rehn should also chair a special committee of commissioners within the Commission to handle all issues related to the euro and that he should chair Eurogroup meetings of eurozone finance ministers.
extremely careful with giving extended and special powers...
There is a priceless Star Wars clip on what could happen when politicians get special and extended powers [Link]...Nah, that is just science fiction ;)....