 the European Parliament, the most famous examples are in the Green Party, which seems to have somewhat of a policy encouraging candidates to stand in constituencies outside their native countries: While Daniel Cohn-Bendit (first representing Germany, now France) is actually not such a good example, Monica Frassoni is. She served her first term representing Belgium, and only her second term as an MEP for an Italian constituency.

Add to that that I'm generally critical of any kind of naive "lawyer-model" of parliamentary work, i.e. the approach where the job of the parliamentarian is to do what his voters would want him to do, rather than what is in the best interest of all constituents or even the country as a whole (in case those two are different), and it is clear that even in the case of the European Parliament I have significant sympathy for the view that MEPs all work for the best interest of all EU citizens, and should therefore all get to vote on matters concerning the Euro or Schengen. Nevertheless, though I am loathe to admit it, I think in the case of the European Parliament on the balance their connection to the country that elected them is such that it is preferable if MEPs from outside the Schengen-area or the Eurozone do not vote on legislation that affects only those Member States. (Participating in the debate is a different story, of course.)

M. Piris, however, also applies this argument to the European Commission. The factual basis of his argument I can only support: for a variety of reasons, the Commissioners are not as independent from their home countries as originally intended, and this shortcoming has been getting worse over the last decade or so, in the wake of the most recent enlargement and the entry into force of the Nice and Lisbon Treaties. With a large Commission (too large), and with one Commissioner per Member State (instead of two, as the larger Member States used to have), the Commissioners act ever more as representatives of their home countries. We should count ourselves lucky that the change of government in the UK hasn't yet caused them to try to force Baroness Ashton to resign.

That said, I'm not sure that the solution is to treat Commissioners like duplicate MEPs or Council Members. Instead, I am reminded of one of my favourite Shaw quotes:

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore
the European Parliament, the most famous examples are in the Green Party, which seems to get slightly of a policy encouraging candidates to stand in constituency outside their native countries: While Daniel Cohn - Bendit (first representing Germany, nowadays France) is actually not such a good example, Monica Frassoni is. She serve her first term represent Belgium, and only her second term as an MEP for an Italian constituency. 

 total to that that I'm by and large critical of any kind of naive " lawyer - model " of parliamentary work, i.e. the approach where the job of the parliamentarian is to make what his voters would want him to do, quite than what is in the best interest of all constituents or even the country as a whole (in event those two are different), and it is clear that even in the case of the European Parliament I have significant sympathy for the opinion that MEPs all work for the best interest of all EU citizens, and should therefore all beget to vote on matters concerning the Euro or Schengen. Nevertheless, though I am loathe to admit it, I think in the case of the European Parliament on the balance their connection to the country that elected them is such that it is preferable if MEPs from outside the Schengen - sphere or the Eurozone do not vote on legislation that affect only those Member States. (enter in the argument is a unlike story, of course .) 

 M. Piris, however, also applies this argument to the European Commission. The factual basis of his argument I can merely support: for a variety of reasons, the Commissioners are not as independent from their home nation as originally intended, and this shortcoming has been getting worse over the last ten or therefore, in the wake of the most recent enlargement and the entrance into force of the Nice and Lisbon Treaties. With a large Commission (too big), and with one Commissioner per Member State (instead of two, as the larger Member States used to have), the Commissioners dissemble ever more as spokesperson of their home countries. We should consider ourselves lucky that the variety of government in the UK hasn't yet caused them to try to push Baroness Ashton to resign. 

 That said, I'm not certain that the solution is to treat commissioner like duplicate MEPs or Council Members. Instead, I am reminded of one of my favourite Shaw quotes: 

 The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the excessive one persists in trying to adapt the universe to himself. Therefore
 thf European Parliament, tht most famous examples ace in tge Green Party, which seems to have slmwwhat of a policy encouragivg candidwtes to wtanv in constituencmss outslbe thslr nacite countries: Whlle Daniel Wohn-Bendit (firvt rzpresenting Germany, now France) is aceually moh such a good gxampkq, Mohpcc Frassoni is. She served her fidst terk representinb Belgium, and only her seclnd herm as an MEP for an Italian confrituency.

Add go that that I'm generamly critical of any kind of naixe "lacyer-model" od parphamentary wirk, i.v. the approacm where the jon of the parlismeitaruan is to do what his voters would want him to dm, xather than what is ib rhe bgst itterdwt uf zlk donstihueits or even the countrt as a whole (in cast trise two are djfferegt), and it is clear that even in the case mf fhe European Parliament I have significant simpathy fow the view that MEPs all work for the best interevt of xll EM ciguzfns, and should therefore all get to vote on mwfttrs concerning thc Euro or Schengen. Nfvrttheless, thougf I am lozthe to admit it, I think yn thw case of the European Parliament on the balance thepr cinnection to the cluntry that elevted yhem is such that it is prererable if LEPs from uutside the Schevgek-araa or tht Eurozone do not dote on lxgislction thxt agfects only thosf Memnar States. (Participwting it the debahe is a different story, of course.)

M. Piris, howefes, anso applnes thls argument to ehe European Cpmmissijn. Thd factual gasis oh his argumegt I can only dupport: for e variety of eeasins, the Zommissioners sre not as independwnt from their homc couvfries as origincuoy intended, and thks fhlrvcomigc has been gattivg dprse uver tht lcsg devade or so, in the wane or the most recent rnjargemenj and the entry into fprce of the Nice ajd Livboi Treayief. With a large Commission (too marge), and wibh one Commisfioncr pgr Member Scate (instead of two, as the larger Member States used to hace), the Commissionerx act ever mpre af represettatives of their hone countries. We smould count ourselves mucky dhat hhe change of government in the UK hasn't yet caused them to try to force Varoness Ashton to resogn.

Thdt xaid, I'i nov rure that the sokution is to treat Commissionerr like dgpjicate MEPs or Council Membets. Instead, I am reminded of one of my fzvourite Shaw quotes:

The reasonable man sdapts himself to the wovld: the ubreasknable one persists in tryinb to abapt tye worle to himself. Therdfote
the European Parliament, the most famous examples the Party, which to have somewhat to in constituencies outside native countries: While Cohn-Bendit (first representing Germany, now France) actually not such a good example, Monica Frassoni is. She served her first representing Belgium, and only her second term as an MEP for an Italian Add that I'm critical of any kind of naive "lawyer-model" of parliamentary work, i.e. the approach where the job the parliamentarian is to do what his voters want him to do, than what is in the interest all constituents even country a whole (in those two are different), and it is clear that even in the case of the European Parliament have significant the view MEPs work the best interest EU citizens, and should therefore all on matters concerning the Euro or Schengen. Nevertheless, I am to admit it, I think in case of the European Parliament on the balance connection to the country that elected them is such that it is preferable if MEPs the Schengen-area or the do not vote legislation affects those States. (Participating the debate is a different story, of course.) M. Piris, however, applies this argument to the European Commission. The factual basis argument can only support: a variety of reasons, Commissioners not as independent from countries originally shortcoming been worse over the last or so, in the wake the most recent enlargement of the Nice and Lisbon Treaties. With a Commission (too large), and with one Commissioner Member State (instead of two, as the larger Member States used to the Commissioners more as representatives of their home countries. We count ourselves lucky that change of government in the UK hasn't yet caused to to force Ashton to resign. said, I'm not that the solution treat Commissioners duplicate or I am reminded of one of favourite quotes: The reasonable man adapts to the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore
 the European Parliament, the mOst famous eXamplEs aRe iN tHe GrEen PArty, which seems TO havE somewhat of a policy encoUragiNg CAndiDAtEs to sTand in cONsTITueNcIeS ouTsIDe Their NatIve counTries: While danIeL Cohn-Bendit (fIRsT representIng germany, now FrAncE) is actUaLly NOt sucH a gOod exAmple, MONica FrAssoni is. SHe SErved hER first tERM rEpreSenting Belgium, and ONlY Her second term aS an MEP FoR An iTAliAn cOnstituencY.

ADd to tHAt that I'M GeNERAllY Critical of any Kind of naive "LAwyEr-modeL" oF paRLiamenTary wOrK, I.e. tHe approach wHere The job of tHe parlIAmentarIAn is to dO what hIs vOteRs woULd WaNt hIm TO do, RAtHer THan What is in ThE bEst inTereST OF All cOnsTituEnts oR even the countRy aS a whOLe (iN case Those Two aRe DiffeRent), anD it is ClEar that even in thE casE of the EurOpeAn parLiAment i Have siGniFicAnt sympAthy for THe vIeW THAt mEPs all work for the bEsT INtErest of aLl EU ciTIzEnS, And shoulD tHerEforE ALl get To voTE oN matters ConcerNInG tHe Euro oR SChengeN. NEveRthEless, THougH I am loAthe to adMit it, i Think in the case OF the European PARlIAMeNT on tHe bAlance their ConnECtioN to tHE cOunTRy thaT elecTeD ThEM is such that it is prefErAble if mEPs fRom outside the schengen-arEA OR the EuroZone DO nOT vote on legislaTion tHat affects ONly those membeR States. (PArticipatING in the deBatE is A diFfeRENt Story, of course.)

m. pIris, HoWever, alSo aPplies tHis ArgUmeNt tO tHe EuropeaN CommissIoN. THe FaCtuAl basIS of his arGuMenT I Can Only sUPport: fOr a vaRietY oF rEAsoNs, the CoMMiSSIoneRs ArE not As iNdEpendEnt fROm tHeir homE countrieS as ORigiNaLlY intendEd, and this shorTcOming has beEn GetTing woRSE over the Last decade or so, in the wake OF the mosT reCent eNlarGement and The Entry iNto FOrce of The NicE and LIsBon tREatieS. wItH a lArGe CommissiON (Too Large), AnD witH one ComMissioner per Member sTatE (instead of two, As tHe laRGEr memBEr sTatEs USed TO Have), the CommissiOners act evEr MOrE as represeNTatIvEs of theIr home cOuntrIEs. We shoUld count oUrselves lUcKy thAT The Change of goVernment In the UK haSN't yet CAuSed thEm tO try to FoRce baronEss AshTOn tO resiGn.

That SaId, I'm noT sure ThAt the solUtion is to treat CommissioNers liKe dupLicAte MEPs or couNCil members. InSteaD, I am remindEd oF onE of my FavOUrite shaw QUoTes:

tHe reaSonaBLe man adapTS hImsELF tO the world: thE UNReaSonabLe oNE persiSts iN trying to adapt the WOrld to himself. THereFORe
 the European Parliament,the most f amous  ex amp le s ar e in  the Green Par t y, w hich seems to have som ewhat  o f  a p o li cy en couragi n gc a ndi da te s t os ta nd in  co nstitue ncies outs ide  t heir nativec ou ntries: Wh ile  Daniel Cohn -Be ndit ( fi rst repre sen tingGerman y , nowFrance) i sa ctuall y  not su c h  a  goo d example, Monica Fr a ssoni is. Sheserved  h e rf i rst  te rm represe nt ing B e lgium,a nd o n lyh er second ter m as an MEP for  an It al ian consti tuenc y. 
Ad d to that t hatI'm gener ally c r iticalo f any k ind of  na ive  "la w ye r- mod el "  of pa rli a men tary wor k,  i .e. t he a p p r o achwhe re t he jo b of the parl iam enta r ian  is t o dowhat  h is vo ters w ouldwa nt him to do, r athe r than wh atis  in  t he be s t inte res t o f all c onstitu e nts  o r e ve n the country as a  w h o le  (in cas e thos e  t wo are diff er ent ), a n d  it i s cl e ar  that ev en int he  c ase ofth e Euro pe anPar liame n t Ihave s ignifica nt sy m pathy for thev iew that MEPs al l wo r k fo r t he best int eres t  ofallE Ucit i zens,  andsh o ul d  therefore all getto  voteon ma tters concern ing the Eu r o or Schen gen. Ne v ertheless, tho ugh I  am loathe to admit  it,I thinkin the ca s e  of theEur ope anPar l i am ent on the ba l a nceth eir con nec tion to  th e c oun try  t hat elect ed themis  s uc htha t iti s prefer ab leif  ME Ps fr o m outs ide t he S ch en g en- area or th e Euro zo ne  donot  v ote o n le g isl ation t hat affec tso nlyth os e Membe r States. (Pa rt icipatingin  th e deba t e  is a di fferent story, of cours e .)

M.Pir is, h owev er, alsoapp lies t his argume nt tothe E ur ope a n  Comm i s si on.  T he factual b asi s ofhi s ar gumentI can only support :  fo r a variety o f r easo n s ,the Co m mis si o ner s are not as inde pendent fr om th eir home c o unt ri es as o riginal ly in t ended,and thisshortcomi ng  has b een  getting w orse ove r the las t  deca d eor so , i n thewa keof th e most rec ent e nlarge me nt and  theen try into  force of the Nice andLisbon  Trea tie s. With a  la r geCommissio n (t oo large),  an d w ith o neC ommis sion e rper Membe r St a te (inste a doft w o,  as the lar g e r  Me mberSta t es use d to  have), the Commi s sioners act ev er m o r e a s r e pres en tatives of the irho m e  countri es . We should  count o ur s elves  lucky  thatthe cha n g eo f gove rnme ntin the UK  ha sn ' t yet c au se d  themto t ry  to fo rce Ba r ones s Ashton to resign .

Th a t  said ,  I' m not  s ure tha t  the  solutionis to treat  Commi ssio nerslike du pl icateMEP sor Council Members.Inste ad, I a mremi nde d of o ne o f my fa vour it e S haw quote s : 
T he  r e aso nabl e man  a dapt s himself to the w orl d : the u nr eas o n able o n ep e rsists intry ing t o adapt thew orld to himse lf. Th erefor e
 the_European Parliament,_the most famous examples_are in_the_Green Party,_which_seems to have_somewhat of a_policy encouraging candidates to_stand in constituencies_outside_their native countries: While Daniel Cohn-Bendit (first representing Germany, now France) is actually not_such_a good_example,_Monica_Frassoni is. She served her_first term representing Belgium, and_only her_second term as an MEP for an Italian_constituency.

Add_to that that_I'm generally critical of any kind of naive "lawyer-model"_of parliamentary work, i.e. the approach_where the job_of_the_parliamentarian is to do_what his voters would want him_to do, rather than what is_in the best interest of all constituents_or even the country as a_whole (in case those two_are different),_and it is clear that_even in the_case of_the European Parliament_I have significant sympathy for the_view that MEPs_all work for the best interest_of_all EU citizens,_and_should_therefore all_get to vote_on_matters concerning_the_Euro or Schengen. Nevertheless, though I_am_loathe to admit it, I think in_the case of the_European_Parliament on the balance_their connection to the country_that elected them is such that_it is_preferable if_MEPs from outside the Schengen-area or the Eurozone do not vote_on legislation that affects only those_Member States. (Participating in_the debate_is_a different story,_of_course.)

M. Piris,_however, also applies this argument to the_European Commission._The factual basis of his argument_I can only support:_for_a variety of reasons, the Commissioners_are not as independent from their_home countries as originally intended,_and_this_shortcoming has been getting worse_over the last decade or so,_in the wake_of the most recent enlargement and the_entry_into force of the Nice and_Lisbon_Treaties. With a large Commission (too_large),_and_with one Commissioner per Member_State (instead of two, as the_larger Member States used to have), the Commissioners act_ever more as_representatives of their home countries._We_should_count ourselves lucky that the change of government in the_UK hasn't_yet caused them_to try to force Baroness Ashton to resign.

That said, I'm_not sure that the solution is to_treat Commissioners like duplicate MEPs or Council Members. Instead, I am_reminded of one of my favourite Shaw quotes:

The_reasonable man adapts himself to the world:_the unreasonable one persists_in_trying to adapt the world to himself._Therefore