Verheugen's criticism of EU officials

Günter Verheugen, the German vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Enterprise and Industry, attacked the Brussels bureaucracy with unusual severity in an interview with Alexander Hagelüken yesterday. This immediately drew a vehement response from critics and supporters alike. Hagelüken thinks "the commissioner is taking a big risk with his initiative. He has said things aloud that politicians only whisper about. He obviously believes that without some form of shock therapy, Brussels will fail to achieve its goal of boosting citizens' enthusiasm for Europe by passing simpler and more appropriate laws. His harsh words have roused the anger of thousands of EU officials. … His attack has automatically provoked accusations that he's simply frustrated or overwhelmed by his responsibilities. This was therefore a brave move. Europe needs more provocative debates and less false harmony."

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