Writing about: Europe diary: Feudal power

Mark Mardell has an excellent description of the interaction of the various organs of the EU – the full thing is well worth a read if you have a moment.

I spent about 17 years covering British politics, so it’s not surprising that people often ask me how the politics of Brussels and Westminster compare.

It is too early to make a proper judgement as I have spent a lot of time just getting my head around the system, and how the institutions relate to each other. My starting premise was their unique nature. But on reflection I’ve changed my mind.

I think now you can understand the EU’s institutions by imagining a feudal power of the early Middle Ages. The European Commission is the King and his court, the Council of Ministers is the House of Lords and the European Parliament is the House of Commons.