Europe’s leaders are to meet in Lisbon on Thursday and Friday to thrash out the final version of the EU Reform Treaty with Gordon Brown at the head table of Europe for the first time. It will be interesting to see how the other EU leaders take to Mr Brown considering his past dealings in the Economic Council of Ministers (Ecofin). Such meetings have been characterised by lecturing and sulking on the part of the PM with the ‘clunking fist’ in full flow!
We will have to hope that Mr Brown produces a better performance in Lisbon than what we saw at PMQs last Wednesday. A repeat of that angry and lethargic performance will surely not help Brown’s cause in obtaining the UK’s precious ‘red lines’. Yes those ‘red lines’! The ‘red lines’ that according to the Europe Minister, Jim Murphy, means that not only have all the EU nations moved away from the constitutional approach but “the UK has moved away more [from the Constitutional approach] than any other country”. In other words the Reform Treaty that the other 26 states will be signing is different from the EU Constitution and, in turn, the Reform Treaty that the UK will sign is different from the one that the other 26 states will sign. Quite confusing I think you’ll agree!
Therefore if we take at face value the government’s claims on the ‘red lines’ and ignore the European Scrutiny Committee Chairman’s analysis that the ‘red lines’ would “leak like a sieve”, there will be everything to play for in Lisbon.
What can we expect to see in Lisbon? The Commission President, Jose Barroso, said in a joint press conference with Gordon Brown that there is “every reason to believe” that the UK will receive the concessions it is demanding. A stroll in the park for Brown in Lisbon then you might think. Not so, at least on the surface. Expect to read of a brutal clash between Brown and the other more federalist governments in the tabloids in a staged attempt by Brown to appear as if he is standing up for the national interest. Images of St. George come to mind! Brown has even stated that he will veto the Treaty if his demands are not met i.e. the nuclear option.
Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric. This game has been played countless times in the European Council and it works as follows: the other member states allow the UK Prime Minister (whoever it may be) to score a victory against the Europeans foes and then pander to the eurosceptic press. This allows the PM to save face while the EU is showered with more powers and competences behind the scenes. Therefore expect much grandstanding from Brown on Friday but remember to read the small print before you make up your mind on his negotiation effort. I wouldn’t expect a repeat of Fontainebleau if I was you.
by Cem Suleyman
Comments (1)
I have just been on the Global Vision Website which lays all sorts of rumours to rest.
This treaty scares me a lot.
Quite apart from ruining the economy even more (it seems in pretty bad shape already), we stand to lose all our legal rights (habeas corpus etc).
The reason for all this escapes me. Why do the politicians sign away their power and our rights?
I just do not understand how they can be so stupid.
Posted by prziloczek![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.civitas.org.uk/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
|
October 17, 2007 5:01 PM
Posted on October 17, 2007 17:01