Auntie, Your Nose is so Long!!

Only a media organisation as far in New Labour's pockets as the BBC could possibly attempt to put some positive veneer on a totally disgraceful EU Presidency.  The first taster of rectal obsequiousness lies in the title: 'UK's EU Reign Marked By Compromise'.  Is that so, Auntie?  And what 'compromise' actually took place?  To refresh, we must look back at the original negotiating standpoints of, primarily, the United Kingdom and France.  The former said it would not give up anything on the rebate without fundamental reform of the CAP; the French said 'Never in a month of Agincourts, baby'.  The UK gave away part of its rebate to the tune of around £6 billion, and the French gave away............nothing.  That's some compromise!!  Oh, I'm sorry, the French agreed to have a review of CAP subsidies in 2007, but as several prominent members of Chirac's inner-circle have already said they will not change the amount of subsidy before 2013, I think we know what the Bastilles will say to the British two years from now.

Funny sort of compromise that, methinks.  'It left everyone curiously dissatisfied' says Auntie.  Given that Chirac left the budget summit with a smile so broad I thought he had been enlisted to advertise the positive effects of Signal toothpaste, I think I can get away with opining that the French, the Irish, the Spanish and all other European fiscal bloodsuckers were way above what any impartial observer would conclude was a mire of dissatisfaction.

'At some stage it (the UK rebate) had to come to an end and everyone knew it'.  Who's 'everyone'?  Did Mr Jones two doors down from me know it?  Did I know it?   The United Kingdom pays in the second highest contributions to Europe and receives less than virtually any other member state.  The rebate was won on those grounds; grounds which have not changed (the rebate amounted to 2/3 of the difference between UK contributions and what it received in return from the EU budget).  So, in spite of our economic growth since 1984, the raison d'etre for our rebate has not changed.  Under Blair, we simply give away more money to a organisation stuffed with cute scroungers and receive proportionately less in return.  Nice one, Cyril Tone!!

Finally, the journalist in Auntie's pay interviews someone with a positive view on the future of Europe.  He is none other than that impartial figure, John Palmer, director of the European Policy Centre.  Asking Palmer if he thinks the EU has a bright future is the same as asking a sewage farmer whether he thinks human bowels will continue to produce faecal detritus at a rate which guarantees the future of his establishment.  I love Auntie' pretence at impartiality!!

Comments

[Paul Connor]

So how much of ones own tax (in terms of percentage) do we all now give to the E.U.? Can anyone seriously think that the Hapsberg empi.... sorry the European Union will be around long enough to repay our kindness?

[James Hellyer]

The truth is that if Blair had refused to compromise the rebate,it would have grown larger and the pressure for it to go would have increased. What Our Leader seemed to neglect, however, was that this would have given him a larger bargaining chip, for say reform of the CAP.

[Allan@Aberdeen]

Blair wants a high-level job in the EU when he quits as PM so he's paid out the biggest bribe in history. He'll get his job. That's one point of honour about the EU: bungs are always honoured.