Europe condemns Blair as new Sheriff of Nottingham

[cal04]

TONY BLAIR was denounced as a modern-day Sheriff of Nottingham by the European Commission yesterday as he embarked on a seemingly impossible diplomatic tour to persuade the poorest countries in the EU to accept less Brussels funding so that Britain can keep more of its £3 billion annual budget rebate. Mr Blair, who will meet seven Eastern European leaders on a two-day trip to Estonia and Hungary, believes that the only way to break the impasse over the Union’s seven-year budget is for Eastern Europe to sacrifice some of its generous EU development funding.

His tour is part of an urgent diplomatic campaign to prevent a mid-month Union summit collapsing without reaching a budget deal, tarnishing Britain’s six-month presidency. However, the British plans have generated outrage across Eastern Europe, an unprecedented assault from José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and scorn from diplomats. The attacks are particularly embarrassing for Mr Blair because they come from member states usually seen as allies of Britain. After a “very frank” telephone conversation between Mr Blair and Senhor Barroso, the spokesman for the President said: “The President has made it very clear that he does not expect the British presidency to take the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham, taking from the poor to give to the rich. The principle should not be that those most in need make the biggest sacrifice.”

Ferenc Gyurcsány, the Hungarian Prime Minister, served warning of the “most serious possible conflicts between the different parts of Europe” if Europe’s wealthy were not generous to eastern member states. Aleksander Kwasniewski, the Polish President, accused Britain of lack of leadership. He said: “One month before the end of the British presidency we are where we are now despite all the statements of the British presidency.” The Hungarian, Czech, Polish and Slovak leaders issued a joint appeal to Britain not to give up its historic support for Eastern Europe, declaring that they needed an agreement at the summit this month to help to boost growth and jobs. “Without an agreement . . . the ambition of new EU members to catch up would be delayed, and confidence in the capability of the EU to find agreement might be seriously undermined,” they wrote.

The British proposals, to be presented on Monday, include curbing the Brussels budget from 1.06 per cent of EU GDP to 1.03 per cent, representing cuts of about €20 billion (£13 billion) to €25 billion on the draft €871 billion budget. The cuts would come from reducing regional aid to Eastern Europe by about 10 per cent, plus cutbacks in other Union budgets. The funds generated would bolster the British rebate and reduce the contributions from big contributors, particularly the Netherlands and Sweden. Britain has abandoned its campaign to cut the farm subsidies budget, which comprises nearly a half of the EU budget, before the next seven-year budget expires in 2013. Mr Blair has repeatedly said that he would not give up the rebate unless France accepted cuts in farm spending, but President Chirac has ruled that out.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1898457,00.html

[Greeby]

1. Will he call off Christmas?

Sorry, couldn't resist :evilgrin:

[aquart]

2. Who's Robin Hood?

[goforit]

3. Unfriggin believable!!.......How arrogant can this ass be?

[EuroObserver]

4. Oh, almost beyond all limits n/t

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

7. well, you know who buddy is....

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. His problem is that he agreed in 2003 to keep the CAP budget the same

The basic cost of running the CAP will remain unchanged at about £30bn a year - half the EU budget. Subsidies will continue to flow, but now they will be linked to more modern farming methods connected to rural development and the environment.

Slashing farm subsidies was a sensitive issue for many. Only last week the French president, Jacques Chirac, threatened to veto a deal without compromise. Today's accord gives the French a face-saving formula: their farmers can keep most of their subsidies until 2007, while other member states, including the UK, will move to "100% de-coupling" in 2005.

"This is a good outcome which will take forward our strategy to provide a sustainable basis for EU agriculture", said Mrs Beckett.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,7369,985331,00.html

Of course, you might wonder what could have been achieved if Blair hadn't been causing divisions in Europe by illegally invading Iraq. But now, the agreement that Blair signed to keep the agricultural subsidies to the western European countries fixed means he has to suggest cutting the regional funds for the poorer east - or give up the British rebate, which would be very unpopular in Britain (we compare ourselves to France for the EU budget, and seeing us give up money while France gets to keep all theirs would be a big political loss for Blair).

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

6. Excellent post.

Explains the situation very clearly.

[0007]

8. Remember in "Blazing Saddles"

The black sheriff {Black Bart} startles the people of Rock Ridge with a sexual double-entendre as he takes out his speech to accept his position:

Excuse me while I whip this out.

When the townspeople soon realize that he's a "ni-," they threaten to shoot him. To divert the mob, hold them at bay and escape, Bart holds a gun to his own neck, shouting:

Hold it. The next man makes a move, the nigger gets it...Drop it! For I swear, I'll blow this nigger's head all over this town. Oh Lordy-lord, he's desperate. Do what he say. Do what he say.

When he successfully holds the lynch mob at bay and is allowed safe passage out of harm's way, he marvels at his accomplishment and congratulates himself for bluffing them: "Oh baby, you are so talented, and they are so dumb."

This is so Tony Blair....

[plasticsundance]

9. It reveals the dire straights of the global economy

Both the US and UK are being challenged with the rise of developing economies. There is more competition, and this is taking place in the realm where world currencies are volatile.

Although the dollar has much more troubled waters on its horizon, the euro also has its problems. Gold is at 500, because countries like China and Russia do not see much hope in either the dollar or euro. Ironically, the British pound has done okay, but I haven't checked lately.

All this also explains the behavior of the US and UK joining forces in trying to extend a hegemony around the world. Notice where the US is stationing its military around the world, and one can see that they're trying to lock in Russia to control the pipelines.

This is all happening because the US and UK are losing their grip on controlling the global economy. Other countries are starting to play hardball. I do not see France budging on the subsidy issue. it is also worth noting that France and Germany are making and sending more business to Central and Eastern Europe.

In addition, the US and UK realized this economic challenge prior to 911. Makes one think ... huh?