I think this story about diplomatic corps is not really new and also not totally untrue. Usually only states or international organisations that have - let’s call them - embedded diplomats can send out diplomats to different countries. The EU does not have a legal personality, therefore I think it’s been a problem sending out diplomats so far, but that could be possible with the Lisbon Treaty. As far as I know the EU already has sent out people to e.g. Washington, I’m not sure what it’s called now though, but there are already people who are similar to diplomats.

But I do not find it outrageous at all, even if people call it a “secret”, which makes you feel like it’s outrageous. Diplomats are in general a good thing during peace talks and to discuss treaties in the name of the organisation etc. The UNO has diplomats, too.

It definitely is difficult trying to keep up with what’s going on in the European Union. Two years ago I had the chance to sit in a session of the European Parliament, and it was like at an auction. Someone in the front throws numbers and letters and people raise hands or don’t. Sometimes they vote on two regulations within a minute. It’s not even funny.

In these questions the EU institutions responsible should be much quicker to respond to real concerns of citizens, for instance by reacting to debates, doubts and outright lies, as the case may be.

Generally, I think that one of the advantages of improved parliamentary scrutiny is that many potential problems can be addressed in real time, before disasters occur, and that citizens are able to follow and to debate the issues before the decisions are taken.

Naturally, we can only strive towards perfection, but it is better to deal with mishaps fairly quickly, before the historians have produced their volumes, perhaps in time for our children.