An exercise in democracy

The hearings of the EU commissioners have become an important means of exerting pressure on the Commission, business paper Il Sole 24 Ore writes: "With these hearings the Parliament has managed to secure for itself a say in the composition of the Commission - something that is not explicitly foreseen in the Community's rules. But it is important that there are no blows below the belt during these sessions, and that they concentrate on content and the competence of the commissioners, particularly given that the second Commission led by José Manuel Barroso will be the first European Commission to be approved according to the rules of the Lisbon Treaty. This is a precious opportunity to show that in this difficult economic phase Europe - with its shy presence on the world stage - is at least able to carry off a stylish and salutary exercise in democracy."

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