Letter: Europe wins

Sir: Why such glee over the resignation of the 20 EU commissioners? If John Major had not vetoed the appointment of a competent President, Jean-Luc Dehaene, this situation might not have arisen; we ought to blame our own nationalistic short-sightedness.

The real focus of demands for democratic accountability should be the Council of Ministers, which operates behind closed doors and without any scrutiny. Do the British really want a strong and effective Commission, or does the idea terrify them? The uncomfortable fact for the Eurosceptic right is that this debacle will in the long term strengthen the Commission.

ANDREW McILROY

Brussels