Finse minister wenst afschaffing algemene Europese verkiezingen, en verkiezing leden EP door nationale parlementen (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The Finnish foreign minister, Erkki Tuomioja, has found himself locked in a war of words with an influential member of the European Parliament after having made disparaging comments about the EU institution.

In a recent interview with Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, Mr Tuomioja said the European Parliament is irresponsible and that is why it should be elected by national parliaments.

"It is a shame that the European Parliament is not any more chosen from members of national parliaments, thus it would be more representative and feel more its responsibility", the minister said.

"If there is no responsibility, one can behave without it. In the European Parliament there is no government-opposition combination, which rules the work of national parliaments".

Qualifying his comments, he said that because the European parliament does not have so much power, it feels free to make all sorts of resolutions in areas where it will have no effect.

But Mr Tuomioja has been taken to task by German centre-right MEP Elmar Brok, the head of the parliament's foreign affairs committee.

Replying directly to his comments, Mr Brok said he was "astonished" that the Finnish foreign minister does not know how the parliament works.

"I am happy to invite Mr Tuomioja for study days to Brussels and explain to him our work now and how it was before, when we were not elected by the European citizens.

But it is clear there is no turning back to the 60's and 70's."

While the two may now be exchanging insults via interviews or statements, they may well have a chance to exchange a few more words face to face sooner than they had planned.

Finland is due to take over the EU's presidency in the second half of next year. Part of Mr Tuomioja's duties will be to come before MEPs - and very likely the foreign affairs committee - to explain Helsinki's actions at the EU helm.

Directly elected since 1979

The European Parliament was made up of members of the national parliaments until 1979, when it had its first direct elections.

Since then, the assembly's powers have grown with each new EU treaty. The European Constitution, now moribund, was set to make a large step in increasing the parliament's powers - almost doubling the number of areas where it could co-legislate with member states.

At the moment, there are still substantial areas such as in justice and home affairs, agriculture and industrial policy where MEPs are only asked for their opinion and no more.

The greatest axe the European Parliament can wield, however, concerns the budget. MEPs may vote down the bloc's budget - a tool that can be used for political leverage in other areas.