FOLLOWING THE EUROPEAN UNION

it was only one bunch of flowers, i think, walter.


but the symbolism was profound, i agree

The drop in Balkenende's popularity coincides with his support for the EU "constitution" i.e. antedates the budget discussions.

Barroso calls for 'period of reflection'

30 June 2005

The European Commision President, Jose-Manuel Barroso, has called for a short period of reflection to consider the implications of the rejection of the EU Constitution in France and the Netherlands.

He was speaking at a special meeting of the Forum on Europe in Dublin's Mansion House.

Mr Barroso said that to ignore the referendum results would simply re-enforce the view that Europe was an elite project that paid little regard to the views of its own citizens.

The time had come to listen to their views, he said. He called for a period of reflection to allow the rebuilding of 'the contract between the EU and its citizens'.

Speaking later at a news conference, Mr Barroso said abandoning the EU Constitution project remained a possibility, as did altering it or asking the Dutch and French to vote again.

He also maintained that a deal on the EU budget was possible during the British presidency, although he admitted that would be difficult.

Responding to criticism of his performance in recent controversies, Mr Barroso said that Europe was often a scapegoat for a lack of leadership at national level.

It was not possible, as he put it, for leaders to criticise Europe on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and then ask their people to support it on Sunday.

No Beer! No Lunch!

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A lunch meeting between a leading parliamentarian in Belgium and counterparts from Iran has been canceled because the beer-loving Belgian could not stomach a ban on alcohol.

"Even for the tolerant Herman De Croo, that was a bridge too far," De Croo, a Dutch-speaking Liberal, told De Standaard daily Thursday.

De Croo, president of parliament's lower house, had been due to entertain the speaker and members of the Iranian parliament Friday during their visit to Belgium -- famous for its diversity of beer brands.

But he said lunch had been canceled because the Iranians, who as Muslims do not drink alcohol, wanted their hosts to do the same.

"I did not receive such demands in writing. But ... I was indirectly asked not to serve alcohol," said De Croo.

The visit ran into further trouble after Iran's parliament speaker Gholamali Haddadadel insisted he would not shake hands with the female president of Belgium's Senate.

Anne-Marie Lizin, a Socialist, then canceled their meeting. She said in a statement that Iranians should respect local customs in Belgium, just as Belgians should in Iran.

Source

Blair delays reforms to repair rift with Brussels

By Andrew Grice and Stephen Castle in Brussels
Published: 01 July 2005

Britain will delay bringing forward proposals to solve the EU's budget crisis until the autumn to allow time to heal the wounds left by the Brussels summit two weeks ago.

Tony Blair, who was blamed by several EU countries for the summit's failure, may wait until October to outline plans for how the EU should be funded from 2007-13. He has offered to reduce Britain's £3bn a year rebate in return for cuts in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), possibly through a wholesale review of EU spending by 2008.

Officially, the Government says there would be little chance of progress while the EU machine grinds to a halt for its two-month summer break. Privately, ministers believe they would have a better chance of a budget deal if there is a change of government in Germany, where an election is expected in September.

By the autumn Gerhard Schröder, a close ally of the French President Jacques Chirac, may have been ousted by Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democrat opposition, who has forged a good working relationship with Mr Blair. The delay means a new attempt to thrash out a deal may not take place until a summit in Brussels in December.

Britain, which takes over the EU's rotating presidency for six months from today, promised to "work hard" to resolve the budget crisis as it spelt out its plans in a White Paper yesterday. The document warned that, under proposals by the European Commission to abolish the rebate, Britain would have become the highest net contributor to the EU budget by 2013. It said: "The Government will do its best to secure an agreement and to make sure that it is one that meets the needs of the new member states."

Calling for cuts in CAP spending, Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said: " The rebate is an anomaly, but it is an anomaly on an anomaly. What we are seeking to do is to address that so the case for the rebate then withers away. Meanwhile we will maintain our position."

He told the Commons that handing farm subsidies back to national governments had not been ruled out as a long-term radical solution but warned total freedom could not be handed to nation states without risking seeing subsidies rise.

"What is key is that the amount spent on the CAP is progressively reduced. If there were a renationalisation - and it's not at the moment one of the proposals we make - it would have to be within the context of a European regulatory framework because otherwise you could find the renationalisation led to an increase in the level of subsidies."

The Foreign Secretary said the EU must "adapt to survive and prosper" in a world much changed from when it was founded 50 years ago. In a conciliatory message to Britain's EU partners, he said the Government would seek to conduct the debate on the EU's future in an "open, inclusive way, giving our own views strongly but fully respectful of the views of others".

Although ministers believe a deal is possible, other EU governments are less optimistic. Adam Rotfeld, the Polish Foreign Minister, who tried to broker a compromise between Britain, France and Germany on Tuesday, said yesterday that the prospects of a deal during the next six months were shrinking.

"From what I saw at the meeting in Warsaw, I would have to lie to say that these countries [France and Germany] want dialogue," he said. " Britain showed readiness to talk but for France and Germany it is too early after what happened at the Brussels summit. It makes a deal much more difficult."

Brian Cowen, the Irish Finance Minister, said Mr Blair was unlikely to get a budget deal because he was determined to overhaul the farm subsidies that make up some 40 per cent of the EU budget.

"We can restore a more constructive atmosphere. Mr Blair has all the political skills necessary to achieve that," he said, adding: " That's a precursor to what will be detailed negotiations which might take place during this presidency, possibly more likely under the Austrians [who take over from Britain in January]".

Ireland, like some other EU members, not only has to pay towards the British rebate, but it will also have to help fund concessions demanded by other net contributors, including the Netherlands. That, according to senior diplomats, means big obstacles remain in the path of any deal.

Liam Fox, the shadow Foreign Secretary, denounced the Government's White Paper as "all talk, and all posturing".

He said the British presidency offered a chance to support real reform of the EU such as re-structuring the institutions and changing the distribution of powers, including bringing powers back from Brussels to the people of Europe.

"Real reform would mean radical overhaul of the CAP and an end to the assumption that the budget can only ever move in an upward direction. Real reform requires substance," he said.

For the Liberal Dem-ocrats, Nick Clegg said it was essential that the tone in which the Government talked about reform did not appear to be hectoring or condescending.

1998: arrogance, incompetence - and spin

When Tony Blair takes over the presidency of the EU today, it will be his second time. It is a fair bet he will want to forget his previous term in 1998, one associated with arrogance, incompetence, and - of course - spin.

Elected by landslide in 1997, New Labour assumed it could teach the EU a thing or two. But even before the presidency began the UK had caused a diplomatic incident with, of all things, its choice of logo. Pictures drawn by children represented each member state and Italy was a pizza and a slice of salami. Rome formally complained.

That hiccup was as nothing compared with the indigestion that struck a summit to decide on the head of the European Central Bank. The meeting was ill-prepared because the UK, outside the single currency, was simply not in the loop. Belgium's Jean-Luc Dehaene was so exasperated he led colleagues off to eat in a local restaurant.

Good work was undermined by hype, such as when Alastair Campbell produced a list of 45 presidency achievements. He was accused of claiming credit for work that had been under way for years. His bombastic and confrontational style also went down badly with non-British journalists.

To cap it all, the presidency was run on a shoe-string. Meetings were held in cramped facilities without enough phones. A Cardiff summit was adorned with sponsors' logos. Even journalists' drinks allowances were cut.

Stephen Castle

EU keeps door open for Turkey but predicts 'difficult' talks ahead

Published: 30 June 2005

Turkey's path to EU membership was kept open when Ankara's supporters overcame an internal revolt and fierce opposition from within the European Commission to secure a formal plan for negotiations.

After a debate described as "lengthy, argumentative and also very political", the European Commission stuck to existing moves to start talks on membership on 3 October.

"No" votes in referendums in France and the Netherlands on the European constitution have galvanised opponents of Turkish entry, and several commissioners suggested yesterday that a "privileged partnership" be considered with the EU instead.

The EU enlargement commissioner, Olli Rehn, said there was "no denying" that such an idea had been raised, adding: "I think the privileged partnership will be part of the debate in the years and months to come."

But, after stormy scenes, the majority of the commission backed the membership talks which Mr Rehn said would be "long and difficult". The terms of the "open-ended" negotiations were the "most rigorous" ever set out, he said.

Inside the meeting at least three commissioners, including Austria's Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Luxembourg's Viviane Reding and Slovakia's Jan Figel, sought to change the text.

Despite contributions from a further three sceptics about Turkish accession, they failed to soften the text's commitment to Turkey's eventual membership or lay more stress on the need to consider the EU's ability to absorb new member states.

Yesterday's decision is only a small step forward and needs to be approved by all 25 member states. In national capitals, several senior European politicians, including the German opposition leader, Angela Merkel, and France's rising political star, Nicholas Sarkozy, have come out against full membership for Turkey. All the main political parties in Austria are also opposed.

Nevertheless, most officials believe that membership negotiations will begin on 3 October, because failure to do so would send a negative signal to Ankara which might end its impressive internal reforms.

Turkey would be the first predominantly Muslim country to join the EU and, because of its large population and relative poverty, its absorption would pose unique problems. However supporters say admitting the country would help head off a clash of civilisations, boost the EU's economic potential and increase its defence capability.

Membership talks with Ankara are expected to last a decade but, in the changed climate after the French and Dutch referendums, many believe that Turkey may now never join.

Under the terms set out in the document, permanent measures could be considered, for example to bar Turkish workers from the EU internal market.

The text says talks will be based on Turkey's "own merits and the pace will depend on Turkey's progress in meeting the requirements for membership". The proposal also reiterates the warning that the commission or one third of the EU governments can recommend the talks be suspended "in the case of a serious and persistent breach" of democratic and human rights standards. There would then be a vote under majority voting rules.

In another reference to the possibility of an outcome short of full membership, Mr Rehn said that if Turkey cannot be brought into the bloc, Ankara "must be assured" of a special relationship by "anchoring it in European structures".

Turkey's path to EU membership was kept open when Ankara's supporters overcame an internal revolt and fierce opposition from within the European Commission to secure a formal plan for negotiations.

After a debate described as "lengthy, argumentative and also very political", the European Commission stuck to existing moves to start talks on membership on 3 October.

"No" votes in referendums in France and the Netherlands on the European constitution have galvanised opponents of Turkish entry, and several commissioners suggested yesterday that a "privileged partnership" be considered with the EU instead.

The EU enlargement commissioner, Olli Rehn, said there was "no denying" that such an idea had been raised, adding: "I think the privileged partnership will be part of the debate in the years and months to come."

But, after stormy scenes, the majority of the commission backed the membership talks which Mr Rehn said would be "long and difficult". The terms of the "open-ended" negotiations were the "most rigorous" ever set out, he said.

Inside the meeting at least three commissioners, including Austria's Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Luxembourg's Viviane Reding and Slovakia's Jan Figel, sought to change the text.

Despite contributions from a further three sceptics about Turkish accession, they failed to soften the text's commitment to Turkey's eventual membership or lay more stress on the need to consider the EU's ability to absorb new member states.

Yesterday's decision is only a small step forward and needs to be approved by all 25 member states. In national capitals, several senior European politicians, including the German opposition leader, Angela Merkel, and France's rising political star, Nicholas Sarkozy, have come out against full membership for Turkey. All the main political parties in Austria are also opposed.
Nevertheless, most officials believe that membership negotiations will begin on 3 October, because failure to do so would send a negative signal to Ankara which might end its impressive internal reforms.

Turkey would be the first predominantly Muslim country to join the EU and, because of its large population and relative poverty, its absorption would pose unique problems. However supporters say admitting the country would help head off a clash of civilisations, boost the EU's economic potential and increase its defence capability.

Membership talks with Ankara are expected to last a decade but, in the changed climate after the French and Dutch referendums, many believe that Turkey may now never join.

Under the terms set out in the document, permanent measures could be considered, for example to bar Turkish workers from the EU internal market.

The text says talks will be based on Turkey's "own merits and the pace will depend on Turkey's progress in meeting the requirements for membership". The proposal also reiterates the warning that the commission or one third of the EU governments can recommend the talks be suspended "in the case of a serious and persistent breach" of democratic and human rights standards. There would then be a vote under majority voting rules.

In another reference to the possibility of an outcome short of full membership, Mr Rehn said that if Turkey cannot be brought into the bloc, Ankara "must be assured" of a special relationship by "anchoring it in European structures".

No Beer! No Lunch!

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A lunch meeting between a leading parliamentarian in Belgium and counterparts from Iran has been canceled because the beer-loving Belgian could not stomach a ban on alcohol.

"Even for the tolerant Herman De Croo, that was a bridge too far," De Croo, a Dutch-speaking Liberal, told De Standaard daily Thursday.

Well, it'll be a very long while before the EU considers Iran membership. LOL

Well Schroeder lost his vote of confidence, as he wanted.There's little chance the president will object to dissolution of Parliament, ...

It would go against the many efforts Köhler has made for change in Germany not to approve the request from all of the country's major political parties and refusing to open the path to new elections a year ahead of time. On the other hand, he is also self-confident and independent enough to push through his own position if he thinks it's the right thing to do -- meaning the election guessing game's next round will now begin.

EU to be guarantor of human rights with new agency, says Frattini

Introducing detailed proposals for a European fundamental rights agency, Justice Commissioner Frattini said that "fundamental rights are at the core of the European Union's values".

proposal, published on 30 June, comes just days after Amnesty International called on the incoming UK EU Presidency to put fundamental rights at the heart of the EU agenda with a fundamental rights agency as its cornerstone. In recent months there has been much concern over detention without trial, maltreatment of asylum seekers and invasion of privacy through biometric identity systems.

The independent agency will gather information, issue annual reports and give advice to the EU and member states on proposed legislation. It is designed to complement, not to duplicate the work of the Council of Europe and to co-ordinate the activities of national human rights bodies. The agency will not, however, take up individual cases.

All the EU institutions have already approved the idea, first mooted in December 2003, of extending the remit of the EU monitoring centre on racism and xenophobia to make it a full fundamental rights agency. Quick adoption of the proposal is therefore expected.