Karl Greenfield's letter (September 20) perpetuates two clear falsehoods: that we 'may not elect or dismiss those who run the EU', and that EU governments 'have no power other than to follow the directives of the EU.'

The Council of Europe is the EU's senior body and consists of prime ministers and national ministers voted into power by general elections. The European Parliament is the next level and contains MEPs directly elected by national elections.

The European Commission contains what amount to civil servants who are all appointed via the democratically elected national governments, as is our own Civil Service.

There is one big difference.  Nationally, governments propose and civil servants dispose (ie implement), whereas in the EU the civil servants propose, Council and Parliament modify and approve, and (mainly) national civil servants dispose.

Thus, if the EU proposes and passes some legislation it is because our government's   appointees (ministers etc) and our elected representatives (together with those of the other EU members) have made it so. 

If you don't like the results tackle your own government and MEP.  Unfortunately, British general elections rarely if ever are based on manifestos which refer to EU policies, but any conscientious voter ought to be able to take such policies into consideration.

The only sensible objection to the EU is that it is not possible for 27 different countries to benefit from common government policies.  In my book this represents a 'Little Englander' standpoint.

– Ian King, Westbury on Severn.