In what purports to be a big, back-slapping, wound-healing, Euro-unity love-in the heads of the current EU states and the ‘Vilnius 10’ are meeting in Athens.
The ostensible purpose of the conference is the execution of an Accession Treaty that will enlarge the Union from 15 states to 25. Unofficially it is also the first opportunity for pro and anti-war states to settle their differences and seek a common voice.
Fat chance!!
French President Jacques Chirac, who outraged east Europeans in February by slamming their support for the U.S.-led war on Iraq, warned the new EU members on Wednesday to do more to find common European stands.
By ‘common European stands’ what he actually means is that they must agree to having their foreign policy (and much else) decided for them in Paris. In effect, the other European states must become petit France.
“The European Union is about more than just a large market, common policies, a single currency and free movement,” he said pointedly. “It is more importantly about a collective ambition, shared disciplines, firm solidarity and naturally looking to the European family.”
The French cannot hide their ambition to mold the EU in their image and turn it into a power-bloc that will challenge the USA. They’ve got their work cut out for them.
President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland, which reacted strongly to Chirac’s tirade in February, obliquely referred to the spat in his speech by saying in passing: “We want Europe to be based on wise transatlantic ties.”
I hope that the paladins in Washington realise just what an opportunity they have here to screw the French royally. There are festering divisions here that are just begging to be exploited.
Nor has this gone unnoticed by the British press. Speaking on television last night I heard the Sky News correspondent describe the entire conference as ‘rubbish’. In a welcome departure from strict anodyne reportage, he decided to tell it like it is and admit that this alleged show on ‘unity’ was nothing more than a potemkin effort designed to kid everyone that a country called ‘Europe’ lies just over the horizon.
Whatever else it may or may not have achieved, the Iraq war has driven a coach and horses through the fond ambitions of the enarques. The only real question is how long they will be able to maintain the pretense that tomorrow belongs to them.
“It is more importantly about a collective ambition…” (Chirac)
My stomach twist and turn when the word “collective” is used. The Soviet Union swallowed every country they could – whether they (the countries) liked it or not and cruely imposed all the communist ideas on them. France might try to take the leading role in EU, maybe together with another nation (Germany?), swallow up eastern EUrope countries and impose French politics on all of them and us who are already in this mess.
“The other European states must become petit France.” Who’s having an imperialist attitude here?
Hint: France
This might be something that is farfetched and unlikely but I finally understand the importance of having the righ to have guns.
I’m not going to sit and wait for that to happen, “not in my name!” 😉
The weakening of the former power bases in the UN and EU are two good things to come out of the recent international crisis. Seeing Blair stand up to the French and Germans, even though I don’t agree with what he was standing for, is heartening. French and German agriculture is the at the root of the EU’s protectionist trade positions, and if Britain can stand up so strongly, perhaps we can weaken this or at least get more tax breaks.
Hey, where’s the EU logo with the sickle & hammer? You guys are slipping!
Seroiusly, I fear that the post from a few days ago was correct. Yes, we all know the EU is a bad idea. But that does’t mean it’s not going to happen. Sigh.
I, too, hope the Bush folks fully understand both the dangers and opportunities within the current European state of affairs. Unfortunately, I’m not so sure they do.
Re: Johan
I believe that this is a French bureaucrat joke “It’s more important to do things together than to do the right thing.”
A blogger in the US posted that the Senate passed TAFTA.
Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement. We’re going to offer it to Britain. We should also extend it to those who wish for stronger ties w/America.
And France isn’t just about ag control, freedomandwhisky posted this last October:
“It looks as though EU plans could result in the Scottish fishing industry being wiped out at a cost of 20,000 jobs. In an earlier report in Tuesday’s Daily Mail, I read that EU proposals for deep-sea fishing off our North-West coast would give France 80% of the quota, another 18% split between Ireland and Spain leaving 2% for Scottish fishermen. And Scottish taxpayers would have to fund the policing of this arrangement which covers areas that are entirely within UK territorial waters. Will our politicians do anything about this? Of course not.
Mark my words. It’s only a matter of time before the EU lays claim to North Sea oil.”
The EU planners have shown masterful understanding of salami tactics. As long as you impose red tape very gradually, adding the burden in very small steps, no-one can successfully agree at which point to get together to stop you. Rather like the mass of tiny threads with which the Lilliputians could tie down the much larger Gulliver.
At least that’s how it’s gone so far.
Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement. We’re going to offer it to Britain. We should also extend it to those who wish for stronger ties w/America.
Agreed. While Chiraq fiddles, let’s snatch the UK, Poland, as many of the developing East Europe countries as we can from the EU. It would be better for them, better for the US, and better for the world. If only Bush & Co. would be so bold.
Not bold, Byron, sneaky. In this we must be like ze froggies.
Russia imported French-style absolute monarchy back in the 17th century under Peter the Great. When it inevitably led to despotic tyranny, the Russians imported the French Revolution to “liberate” themselves.
Eastern Europe has suffered quite enough from French political ideals. They really ought to consider looking at the Anglo-Saxon constitutional model.
You are correct Johan. The right to bear arms was really never meant as right of self defense from another individual but as a hedge on the government becoming all powerful. Hint the one with the guns makes the rules. Just ask the Iraqis.
Aznar:
“”We don’t have any material interests in Iraq…France has material interests in Iraq. Russia has material interests in Iraq. China has material interests in Iraq. We don’t have any,” Aznar told Telecinco television in drawing a distinction between governments on opposing sides within the U.N. Security Council.”
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” “What is the alternative to security today that the United States offers to the world? … Can you really think about fighting against terrorism without the participation of the United States?” Aznar asked.”
Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz:
“He said: “Let us suppose Portugal, proper or its archipelagos, faced a threat, who would come to our rescue? The European Commission, France, Germany?”
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“If we were attacked, is that what they would offer to defend us? How curious is this: in Bosnia, when we were called to send soldiers urgently to that region, the U.S. had C-17 and C-130 planes, and France leased ferry boats, which during the summer are employed in tourist services to Corsica.”
Koizumi:
“The U.S. is the only ally providing Tokyo with deterrent power against any foreign country that could threaten regional security, such as North Korea, and the Japanese people should never forget it.”
When, o when, will Blair make an irrevocable break with the French on this? It looks to me like he has not quite given up on integrating England into Greater Europe.