Eurocrat

Eurocrat is a neologism used with rather vague meaning by mainly eurosceptic press to refer either to the Civil Servants of the European Union or its political representation as a Member of the European Commission or European Parliament.

And more and more it is used just for anything and anybody having whatever relation with decision processes at EU level together with "Brussels"[1] - another vague neologism.

It is to be noted that the Members of the European Commission or the European Parliament are not EU Civil Servants and so the word "Eurocrat" reinforces the confusion.

Origins

Originally the term was coined by Richard Mayne, a journalist and personal assistant to the first Commission president, Walter Hallstein,[2] to refer to EU Civil Servants.

Later the term has expanded also to the elected bodies like the European Commission and its members.[3]

References

  1. ^ Short guide to lazy EU journalism November 18, 2011 (Kosmopolito)
  2. ^ Tindall, Gillian (22 December 2009). "Richard Mayne obituary". The Guardian (London): p. 30. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2009/dec/21/richard-mayne-obituary. Retrieved 22 December 2009. 
  3. ^ Bruno, Clement (12 October 2011). "Les eurocrates sont-ils trop payés ?". RTBF - Questions à La Une (Brussels). http://www.rtbf.be/tv/actualite/detail_questions-a-la-une-les-eurocrates-sont-ils-trop-payes-bande-annonce?id=6895943. Retrieved 20 November 2011.  - TV investigative show