Multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic, over 400 million voters Europeans from 28 member states are poised to elect a new Parliament and European Commission President. Given its lead position on climate and energy issues, and under pressure to accept more American fracked fossil gas, their decision will have global ramifications. L. Michael Buchsbaum takes a look. Between May 23 and 26, roughly 427 million Europeans across 28 nations will be eligible to vote upon the makeup of the European Parliament (EP), the most democratically rooted of the three branches of the European Union’s government. Held once every five years, by proportional representation, the 751 Parliamentarians ostensibly comprise the European voice in Brussels (although Parliament also meets in Strasbourg, France). Once installed, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will pass laws proposed by the European Commission, subject to approval by national governments in the EU Council. But overall EU environment and climate policy is really a compromise negotiated between the EP and the Council of the European Union, which represents the governments of EU countries. The council, … Continue reading EU’s environmental direction at the stake in the upcoming elections