Brown to back down in fight to cut British EU budget contributions
21 March 2007
The FT reports that Gordon Brown has signalled he will end his fight to cut British contributions to the EU budget, following a year-long effort by the Treasury to unstitch the budget deal negotiated by Tony Blair in 2005. The article notes that the Chancellor’s volte-face is a result of “classic EU horse-trading”, with France refusing to sanction Brown’s plans to tackle the unrelated matter of VAT fraud unless he backed down in his demands on the budget. Although the Treasury denied any link between the VAT issue and the British budget contribution, a “senior EU diplomat” is quoted as saying “Brown seems to realise now that you can’t just demand things from Europe”.
FT
Berlin Declaration will have only three signatures, to avoid controversy
The Times reports that the Berlin Declaration, marking the EU’s 50th anniversary, will only carry three signatures – those of Angela Merkel, as President of the EU Council, Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission, and Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European Parliament.
Former Trade Commissioner and current WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy has an article in the FT, arguing that compromise and rebuilding of consensus across Europe will be necessary if the EU is to “punch its weight” in tomorrow’s world. Sir Stephen Wall argues that it is in Britain’s interest “to reach an early agreement on the successor of the constitutional treaty and to see it as a first step in the enunciation of a new vision for Europe.” Meanwhile Le Figaro reports that Turkey is “vexed” at not having been invited to participate in the EU’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a statement saying, “It would have been meaningful, in terms of demonstrating once again the unity of the European family, if Germany had invited candidate countries.”
Times FT - Wall FT - Lamy IHT
Independent praises 50 years of EU
The front page of the Independent looks at “50 reasons to love the EU”, which include, “Small EU bureaucracy,” “It now takes only 2 hrs 35 mins from London to Paris by Eurostar”, and “British restaurants now much more cosmopolitan”. A leader argues, “Seen from the inside, [the EU] might seem short on efficiency, democracy and common purpose, but too often our critical introspection blinds us to its merits.”
Independent
S&P: EU carbon legislation poses “a real risk” to European car-makers
The FT reports that credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s has warned that the EU’s carbon-cutting legislation “poses a real risk to European automakers’ financial performance and creditworthiness.” In a report published yesterday, S&P said that car companies would have to invest heavily in order to comply with the proposed standards and that they would be hurt by consumers’ shift to smaller vehicles.
FT
Belgian visa error allows Mugabe crony to enter EU
According to the Telegraph, a crony of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe placed on an EU visa ban list was able to attend a meeting in Brussels.
Telegraph
France Defence Minister: “EU arms embargo on China can no longer be justified and should be lifted”
Le Monde reports that, “No doubt because it is insisting on developing a ‘global strategic partnership’ with China, France has no qualms about the increases in the Chinese military budget, nor the anti-satellite test Beijing carried out on 9 January. It continues to think that the EU should lift its embargo on the export of arms to China.” According to the paper, on a visit to Beijing Defence Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie reaffirmed this position at the weekend when she met President Hu Jintao, assuring him that if Nicolas Sarkozy is elected President then this position towards China will not change. She is quoted in the Wall Street Journal saying, “The EU arms embargo on China can no longer be justified and should be lifted.” Le Monde reports that when asked by a journalist about the apparent contradiction between denouncing the proliferation of Chinese arms in Africa, and supporting an end to the embargo, Alliot-Marie said there was no contradiction and that any “incoherence” there is is on the part of those countries which have accepted China holding the Olympic Games in 2008, but who refuse to lift the embargo. She said there was no “technical justification” for the EU arms embargo, given that the criteria of France and other European countries for arms exports are stricter than those of the EU.
Meanwhile the Telegraph reports that China’s most senior policeman Zhou Yonkang said in a speech ahead of the Olympics yesterday that tighter controls were needed to stop the Games being disrupted by “hostile forces”. He said, “We must strike hard at hostile forces both in and outside the nation”. In particular his comments were aimed at supporters of “splitism and religious extremism” – a catch all phrase meaning anyone who supports greater autonomy for Tibet, Taiwan or Xinjiang.
Telegraph
Hague: national parliaments must have a greater say in EU decision-making
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague gave a speech at the Centre for European Reform last night. Hague argued that “If the European Union is to recapture its peoples’ affections it is very important that we tackle this problem head on. They must be reassured that European integration is not about a one way street which sees decisions being taken ever further away from voters… Part of the answer must be a greater involvement of national parliaments in EU decision-making and seeing a real enforcement of the principle of subsidiarity.”
No link
Righter: The EU needs to drop “its childishly defensive attitude to the US”
Rosemary Righter argues in the Times that the EU “is America’s pampered godchild,” and that it could not have been realised without “America’s unflinching strategic and financial support for European recovery, and for the idea of European unity.” Righter goes on, “At the age of 50, the EU should at last be able to shed its childishly defensive attitude to the US. So, even, should France. For only by pooling the skills and talents of Europe and America, will the European Union achieve its true international potential.”
Times
MacShane: it’s thanks to “bossy Commission” that we have an “open Europe”
In the Independent, Denis MacShane argues “It is only thanks to a bossy European Commission and a European court that tells us proud national administrators to get lost that we have an open Europe and not one carved up into protectionist little blocks so dear to our own Eurosceptics and isolationists.” He says, “I am enthusiastic about Europe, warts and all. It is a pity that so few politicians are prepared to tell that simple truth and instead let the anti-European myths and lies have so much currency.”
Independent
EU in renewed push to force open single market in gambling
The FT reports that Brussels is to begin a renewed push to force Germany and five other EU members to abolish restrictive laws on gambling and sports betting operators. The Commission argues that gambling operators should be treated like any other service provider subject to single market rules, a position backed by the European Court of Justice. Charlie McCreevy, Internal Market Commissioner, also warned the US that Brussels could launch possible WTO action against Washington over its restrictive gambling laws. The European Betting Association said that the Commission’s actions were justified, as EU member states had not sufficiently opened up their gambling markets.
FT
Quentin Peel has a feature in the FT, arguing that the Finnish elections reflect a wider trend across the Nordic region: “social democracy is in retreat”.
FT
The FT reports that the year-long EU and US boycott on the Palestinian Authority is coming to an end, with resumption of contact with independent members of the new national unity government.
FT
Eve-Ann Prentice has a feature in the Guardian on the rise of the hardline right in Poland, arguing that “neither homosexuals nor former communist chiefs are safe” under the present government in Warsaw.
Guardian
Le Monde reports that a reform bill due to be voted on by the Austrian parliament before the summer will bring the voting age down to 16 and extend the parliamentary term from 4 years to 5.
No link
Disagreements over US plans for EU missile bases
Le Figaro reports that the US’ plans for anti-missile bases in Europe are causing disagreements within the German governing coalition, as well as renewing divisions between “old and new Europe.” The head of the SPD, Kurt Beck, declared at the weekend that “we do not need new missiles in Europe.”
No link
World
Iran: Russia hardens line
According to the FT, Russia has warned Iran that unless it suspends uranium enrichment, it will be increasingly difficult to complete the Russian-built nuclear power plant at Bushehr. According to the Mail, Russia has pulled all its engineers and scientists out of Iran.
FT
The Times reports that an Italian journalist kidnapped by the Taliban was released last night in exchange for five senior Taliban insurgents.
Times
UK
The Mail reports that the new application process for a UK passport will involve a 30 minute interview with home office staff which will go over 200 different pieces of personal information.
Mail
Riddell: Criticisms of Brown’s ruthless style damaging and widespread
In the Times, Peter Riddell looks at Lord Thurnbull’s attack on Gordon Brown, arguing “The former Cabinet Secretary Lord Thurnbull is not alone. His criticisms of Gordon Brown are immensely damaging not only in their own right but because they are shared by many at the top of Whitehall.”
Times
Binyon: Commonwealth an effective world force that needs to be used better
In the Times, Michael Binyon notes that the notion of the Commonwealth as a force for poverty reduction and human rights promotion has “slipped Britain’s mind”. He argues that with its 53 countries - a third of the world’s population - the Commonwealth is a unique forum over which the UK has a unique influence.
Times
