24 January 2002 Edition
Britain's super power plan for EU
Everybody knows that the EU is beset with organisational problems, stemming mainly from its huge bureaucracy, endless committees and agencies that harbour power and control of resources as far away from member state governments as is possible. What to do about this is open to question, especially as with an oncoming enlargement, the EU is set to grow substantially.
Enter Britain, well known for its pro-European attitudes. They have the solution for improving the structure of the EU. The New Labour government is considering proposing that Britain, France and Germany, as the three largest EU states, be given permanent powers and responsibilities on the EU Council, with the other member states rotating positions between them.
Also being considered are proposals for a three-state executive, where the three would take decisions without the other EU member states, consulting instead with the full EU council.
There would also be a permanent secretary general to this new super council, who would be yet another unelected EU power broker.
The British proposals follow on secret meetings between the three states last year at EU summits, where Blair, Jospin and Schroder met to discuss and formulate EU defence and international policy on Afghanistan without consulting the other 12 EU states.
The British idea of an inner council would apply to all areas of the EU, including internal affairs of the EU, social policy, agriculture, economics and finance. These are all key sectors for not just member states' governments but for all the citizens of the EU. That such exclusionary and anti-democratic policies are even being considered does not bode well for the outcome of the Laeken Convention on reforming the EU, which is due to start early this year.
Enter Britain, well known for its pro-European attitudes. They have the solution for improving the structure of the EU. The New Labour government is considering proposing that Britain, France and Germany, as the three largest EU states, be given permanent powers and responsibilities on the EU Council, with the other member states rotating positions between them.
Also being considered are proposals for a three-state executive, where the three would take decisions without the other EU member states, consulting instead with the full EU council.
There would also be a permanent secretary general to this new super council, who would be yet another unelected EU power broker.
The British proposals follow on secret meetings between the three states last year at EU summits, where Blair, Jospin and Schroder met to discuss and formulate EU defence and international policy on Afghanistan without consulting the other 12 EU states.
The British idea of an inner council would apply to all areas of the EU, including internal affairs of the EU, social policy, agriculture, economics and finance. These are all key sectors for not just member states' governments but for all the citizens of the EU. That such exclusionary and anti-democratic policies are even being considered does not bode well for the outcome of the Laeken Convention on reforming the EU, which is due to start early this year.