Boosters say that the parliament will grow into its new powers, attracting higher-calibre MEPs and keeping more of them for a full term (many MEPs now resign their mandates at the first sniff of national office at home, and some never take up their seats at all). One Eurocrat predicts an improvement in committees that are now packed with special interests. The agriculture committee consists largely of farmers and their friends; once it controls the billions spent under the common agricultural policy, goes the theory, it will attract a more balanced membership.

Yet promises that the parliament will grow into its role have been made before. The professionalism of the place has consistently lagged behind its powers. MEPs talk a lot about being the only directly elected element of the EU, accountable to nearly 500m constituents. In truth, MEPs mainly “represent themselves”, claims a senior diplomat, “not the people”.

In a chicken-and-egg problem that has lasted decades, the low profile of MEPs means they operate with little scrutiny, which allows them to act according to their own instincts. Last year British Labour MEPs voted with their Socialist colleagues to strip Britain of an opt-out from an EU directive that limits working hours. In doing so, they were going against the policy of both the British (Labour) government and majority public opinion in Britain. Most British voters have no idea that they did this, however. Depending on your politics, this sort of thing either makes MEPs unsung champions of the European spirit, or makes a mockery of their claims to democratic accountability.

... contd.