EU needs fewer commissioners, Netherlands says

The European Commission should be slimmed down, with only a handful of commissioners handling the bloc's main portfolios, according to a plan put forward by the Dutch foreign minister, Frans Timmermans, on the 18 November 2013.

Small member states, who fear that cutting the size of the commission would lead to the bloc's largest countries getting a monopoly on EU decision-making, are unlikely to support the plan, however.

The proposal followed earlier Dutch proposals suggesting the creation of a European Governance Manifesto, a strengthening of the role of national parliaments and a subsidiarity review.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Dutch review attacks 'creeping' EU powers http://www.europeansources.info/record/dutch-review-attacks-creeping-eu-powers/

Blog: Open Europe, 15.11.13: The Dutch are emerging as Europe's thought leaders on reform http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/the-dutch-are-emerging-as-europes.html

ESO: Background information: 'Green card', 'Late card': Dutch parliament ups the ante in EU democracy debate http://www.europeansources.info/record/blog-green-card-late-card-dutch-parliament-ups-the-ante-in-eu-democracy-debate/

DutchNews.nl, 19.11.13: Praise and criticism for Dutch plan to cut size of EU commission http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2013/11/praise_and_criticism_for_dutch.php

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