Name: The Tyrannical EU Commission - Euromyth No.4
Uploaded: 2019-04-05T18:00:00.000+02:00
Duration: 80 s
Description: For many European citizens and some heads of state the EU Commission is an overbearing bloated bureaucracy that has too much unaccountable power. But the reality is much more nuanced.

La Commission est un tyran

The Tyrannical EU Commission

Die Kommission ist ein Tyrann

La Comisión es una tirana

Komisja Europejska jest tyranem

La Commisione europea è tiranna

For many European citizens and some heads of state the EU Commission is an overbearing bloated bureaucracy that has too much unaccountable power. But the reality is much more nuanced.

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True or False: Challenging Euromyths

ARTE at the European Elections

Europe 2019

<p>For many European citizens and some heads of state the EU Commission is an overbearing bloated bureaucracy that has too much unaccountable power. But the reality is much more nuanced.</p>

Euromyth No.4

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Since 2015 hundreds or thousands of migrants have arrived on Europe’s shores from sub-Saharan Africa, Syria and Afghanistan. Many have criticised the EU’s lack of response to the crisis. But an EU system controlling migration and asylum seekers is in place, and is working.  

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Europe is Swamped with Migrants

Some see Angela Merkel as a dominant figure in Europe with Germany imposing its will over other EU member states. If it is true that many Germans hold key roles in EU institutions, Germany has just one vote in the Council, the same as any other member state.

Euromyth No. 2

Some see Angela Merkel as a dominant figure in Europe with Germany imposing its will over other EU member states.

Germany Controls Europe

Many European citizens and heads of state accuse the European Union of imposing too many directives and regulations, especially in social affairs. In reality it is national governments that hold most power in this domain.

Euromyth No.3

Too Much Regulation

Laws made at EU level override laws at a national level. But the power of member states in shaping these laws are considerable.

Euromyth No. 5

EU Law Trumps National Law

MEPS have decent pay and pensions but do not get a salary for life.

Euromyth No. 6

MEPs Get a Salary for Life

When the euro finally arrived in January 2002, many in the Eurozone felt that prices rose sharply. In reality price inflation  was minimal.

Euromyth No. 7

The Euro Made Everything Expensive

Since the Euro was introduced, economic inequality between member states has risen. Some EU citizens believe that the single currency and the Stability and Growth Pact are entirely responsible. As ever, the reality is more nuanced.

Euromyth No. 8

Since the Euro was introduced, economic inequality between member states has risen with many blaming this on the single currency. 

The Euro Only Benefits Rich Countries

A common misconception in Europe: Our representatives in the European Parliament are too old to understand younger generations and to launch ambitious political projects. In reality MEPs are hardly bedridden!

Euromyth No. 9

MEPS are Too Old

So this euromyth is arguably true: Working as an MP is a good career move. Transport and office expenses allocated to MEPs are generous and although payments are capped there is no transparency on how the money is spent.

Euromyth No. 10

MEPs Have Lots of Privileges

Many think that the European Union is not doing enough about green issues. But the EU is beginning to implement concrete measures to counter-act climate change.

Euromyth No 11

Many think that the European Union is not doing enough about green issues.

Europe is Letting Our Planet Die

This is no myth! All across the EU populist parties are on the rise with the far-right making significant gains by exploiting the migrant crisis. It’s up to European citizens in European elections to decide what kind of Europe they want.

Euromyth No 12

A Populist Future

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The situation on the border between Poland and Belarus continues to deteriorate

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Tens of thousands of people demonstrated on October 10th in Poland to reaffirm their attachment to the European Union, seventeen years after their country's accession. Spearheading the push towards Brussels is former President of the European Council Donald Tusk, who called for protests after a decision by the Polish Constitutional Court, which challenges the primacy of European law. The pro-Europeans fear that their country is in danger of leaving the EU.

Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Poland to reaffirm their attachment to the European Union

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Constitutional judges are set to decide whether or not Poland will bend to European law, as all Member States are required to do, or follow its own national laws first and foremost instead. The legal equivalent of a Polexit would be a blow to many human rights activists in the country. The ruling would place Poland in opposition to many key European values, such as press freedom, and refugee rights.

Constitutional judges are set to decide whether or not Poland will bend to European law

Could Poland be Heading for a Polexit?

Three quarters of Kosovans are under 35, a great advantage for an otherwise disadvantaged country. Hana Qerimi has founded a school that teaches children to be programmers, preparing them for the world of today and tomorrow.

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Every Programmer is Needed

Interview with the Greens/European Free Alliance’s lead candidate, Bas Eickhout. In partnership with POLITICO.

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Ionut is one of the 20% of Romanians working in another European country. He chose Britain where he works long hours as a lorry-driver far from his family back home in Romania.

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Ionut is one of the 20% of Romanians working in another European country.

A Romanian Lorry-Driver in Britain

Language is a major obstacle in overcoming cultural barriers in Kosovo. Most Albanians don’t speak Serbian and Serbs don’t speak Albanian. Bojan Stamenkovic speaks both languages fluently and he is breaking down barriers with his language classes.

Kosovo Youngsters (3/12)

Overcoming Language Barriers

Spring 1999 was the beginning of freedom for Albanian communities in Kosovo and a sad period for Serbian communities. In Pristina we meet Egzon Mustafa, a rock musician playing in a band which brings together the communities.

Kosovo Youngsters (5/12)

Music Instead of Stress

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Tortured, murdered, or kidnapped, migrants held in Libya go through hell

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When Massimo Vacchetta discovered little Ninna, he immediately adopted her and saved her from certain death

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Thousands of Asian workers toil in plantations in Portugal, in hopes of getting Portuguese nationality

Re: Asian Workers in Portugal

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Patrick Messina and the Orchestre National de France conducted by Bernard Haitink perform two gems of Austrian music, Mozart's Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra and Bruckner's Symphony No. 9, at the Auditorium de Radio France.

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Euromyth No.4

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Europe is Swamped with Migrants

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