I NOTE that the European Union is described as the  Euro Twister by Malcolm Charnock (Review, April 8) because it is “corrupt, dictatorial, unelected, unaccountable.”

I should like to ask Mr Charnock to give details of the sources of information on which he bases these conclusions.

To say that the EU is corrupt without quoting any examples is meaningless.

The EU, as in  any organisation, has well-published rules, laws and constitution.

Individuals may well not work within this framework and, therefore, may well be corrupt.

This can occur in any organisation and  does not mean that the whole of the EU is corrupt. I challenge Mr Charnock to quote an example of any large organisation where such individuals do not exist.

With regard to the concept of the EU being  dictatorial, all legislation passed within the EU is still subject to ratification by each sovereign member state which can modify the said legislation to their needs.

This is hardly the way that a dictatorship works.

Indeed, following on from this, the EU Parliament is elected by the citizens within each member sovereign state and is accountable to that electorate.

In fact, all elections have to be by proportional representation and, therefore, may be more reflective of the wishes of  each electorate. 

The EU Commission is made up of representatives appointed by each sovereign member state and is accountable to them. 

The EU Commission only  proposes and advises on legislation; it has no executive authority.

It is still the elected  EU  Parliament that has the executive authority and, therefore, the  final say.

Therefore, the description of the EU as unelected and unac-

countable has no foundation whatsoever.

Mr Charnock also seems to think that we have been twisted out of our parliamentary sovereignty. How can this be?

The very fact that we shall soon be having a referendum on our continued membership of the EU is proof that we still retain sovereignty.

Our elected parliament  took us into membership and, if the vote from the people wishes, it can take us out again.

We do not need permission from the EU either to remain or leave – these options are our choice.

If this is not sovereignty, then what is?

I don’t mind people voicing their opinions about the EU even if, like Mr Charnock, they do not wish to continue our membership – this is what democracy  is all about,  but please get the facts straight.

– N K Wright, Soudley.