The Weasel Who Would Be King...

...of Europe.

France – the European joker

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - While the sudden collapse of the Constitution talks in Brussels on Saturday (13 December) was very unexpected for most participants; French president Jacques Chirac was perhaps not so surprised.

Most diplomats pointed to France as the crucial reason for the breakdown of the talks.

At breakfast on Friday, Mr Chirac had already hinted that there would be no agreement and that the summit would end mid Saturday, reports Der Standard.

Now, being able to blame the breakdown on Spain and Poland may suit the French president as it gives him more room to shape the future of Europe.

Shape the future of Europe? France as a model? Yikes.

Concern about defence co-operation outside EU

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission expressed on Monday (15 December) concern that defence co-operation among a few member states could be organised outside the institutional framework.

After much discussion over the last month, the EU 25 reached a deal allowing some member states to integrate more on defence issues – so-called structured co-operation – provided they met certain criteria.

This agreement was supposed to be anchored into the new Constitution, but, as talks on the whole text failed over the weekend, Brussels is worried that member states will take it upon themselves to operate outside EU structures as the Nice Treaty does not allow them to move ahead in defence.

"We want to avoid that this sort of co-operation takes place outside the institutional framework", said the Commission spokesperson on Monday.

After the weekend’s failed talks, the idea of a core group of member states integrating at a faster pace than the rest was once again suggested.

These "pioneer" states, as French President Jacques Chirac calls them, could move ahead on a number of issues such as defence, justice and home affairs and economic issues, suggested the French President.

Not bloodly likely...

Defence plans unlikely outside EU The question is whether France and Germany, the two most strongly pushing for a core Europe, could persuade others to follow them in the most controversial of issues: defence.

For Daniel Keohane, of the Centre for European Reform in London, the question is not very realistic.

Germany and France would need the UK on board in order to develop a credible structure but they would have a hard time convincing the British to follow them, he told the EUobserver.

Also, he questioned whether countries would get involved in defence structures that do not have any legal basis.

All this might be worrying if not for Schröder and Chirac's less than stellar governance of their respective countries.

Wonder how long before Le Bat du Clue hits the American Left?

Posted by feste at December 16, 2003 02:37 PM | TrackBack