Elves and Safety (Bumper Xmas Edition)

pete quentin, 21 December 2007

Brown’s belated signing of the Lisbon Treaty has been documented well enough and there’s not much I could add to the chorus of criticism that surrounds his doing so without granting what everyone wants for Christmas – a referendum. This despite earlier that very same day having declared to the House of Commons that ‘you cannot make decisions and assume that people will simply follow them. Most decisions can only be successful if people are part of the process!’ What was of more interest was the following end-of-year summit in Brussels and another opportunity for those at the heart of the EU to indulge themselves in some hollow posturing…

Those attending the summit had possibly gotten carried away with the results of an international survey announced the day before, suggesting that just as they desire ‘the perception that the EU is a global player is increasing worldwide’ (reported on EUObserver.com) and even better that the US’s star is fading. Unsurprisingly respondents to the survey from within the EU were the most optimistic about the EU’s future as a global actor, with most expecting it to rank in the top three global players by 2020, with responses ranging from 80% in Germany to a pessimistic 38% in France.
What will not have been quite so well received within Brussels was the news that “In almost every country, people plan to rely on their own strength in global competition and want their own countries to play larger roles in spreading peace and stability” (Josef Janning, head of International Relations at the Bertelsmann Stiftung). Thus those at the heart of the EU continually call for an end to constitutional wranglings, so they can continue with the pursuit of their ‘visionary’ global future for the Union.
The summit was no exception, with the unveiling of Sarkozy’s (albeit watered down) ‘reflection group’ and a declaration on the benefits of globalisation. In addition 1,800 policemen, judges and prosecutors are to be provided to assist Pristina in gradually taking over from the international community in administering the two million Kosovars. Yet this is a perfect example of the difficulties surrounding EU sponsored action and the impossibility of ever achieving a truly effective ESDP. The Dutch were quick to raise concerns over the legality of the action (as to be expected from a country which hosts several international courts I suppose) and several other member states shrunk from the notion of supporting a declaration of independence that is not recognised by the UN, or rather as a result of their own domestic concerns (I’m thinking mainly of Cyprus, Greece and Spain here). On top of this is the shameful inaction of European states, who claim to be unable to provide ANY helicopters for the international intervention force tardily deploying for the growing crisis in Chad, leading to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon noting pointedly that “in Europe alone, there are thousands of military helicopters of different types.”
So, Europe’s leaders can shout as loudly as they like about the Union’s bright future as a great global diplomatic and economic power because it will continue to fall on deaf ears until those words can be backed up by actions. New year, new EU, no chance.
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This week Civitas received a letter from Her Majesty’s Royal Mail, explaining the reasons behind their failure to deliver the fruits of our employees’ recent hard work to . It will not surprise you to hear that it was not the Post Office’s fault, but the EU’s!
While the leaders of the EU posture and pose, hailing the impending rise of the European star(s), the reality is somewhat different. The excessive regulation of the union increasingly stifles business and the institutions of our own sovereign state. Having been unindated by complaints from dissatisfied customers waiting to receive their Civitas publications the management decided to make a complaint, which resulted in the inevitable response from the Royal Mail.
The letter, from the Customer Service Advisor at the Royal Mail Contact Centre, stated “new EU legislation has been introduced that regulates driver’s hours and also remives certain exemptions allowed under previous domestic legislation for postal carriers. This new legislation has reduced our flexibility, increased our costs and has led to deterioration in our service through later delivery times. This has resulted in the mail taking longer to reach our Mail Centres and our Delivery Offices as a result.”
So there you have it the EU clogs up UK business, from Postman Patsy himself. This is not the first time we have witnessed such issues. Earlier in the year a consignment of Open Europe press releases was rejected by the post office because the sacks were deemed too heavy to carry under EU legislation (they must be under 12Kg) – ironically the press release was about the impact of excessive EU health and safety legislation! It is all very well for the EU leadership to talk proudly of its ‘achievements’ and boldly of the union’s bright future, but if letters can’t even be delivered on time…
All I will say is – thank goodness Santa Claus’ grotto is in Lapland, Norway and as such he resides in a state in the EFTA rather than the EU and therefore beyond the clutches of its stifling regulation. So children, there’s hope yet that you’ll get what you really want for Christmas! Unless of course that’s a referendum!