France is scolded by European Commission
The French elite have been very naughty:
The president of the European Commission yesterday launched a scathing attack on the ruling classes in France for allowing public opinion there to turn against the draft European constitution.
Speaking on the eve of a summit of European Union heads of state and government, a visibly upset Jose Manuel Barroso demanded the political leaders of France "do their job", and "make an effort to explain the constitution" to French voters, who are turning against the treaty.
Mr Barroso said it was not the commission's fault if the debate on the French referendum - due in 10 weeks - had been sidetracked by issues such as the distant prospect of Turkey joining the EU.
"If there is confusion in French public opinion, it is not our fault," Mr Barroso said.
He said he would not allow planned economic reforms to be held hostage by French public opinion, noting acidly that France was not the only country that had to win a referendum on the constitution.
"We are not only having a French referendum, there is going to be a Dutch referendum, a Danish referendum, and next year one in England," said Mr Barroso, a former centre-Right Portuguese prime minister and pro-business reformer.
"I cannot accept the idea that because there is a referendum in one country, the commission cannot continue with our own work programme.
"The French public has its concerns, but at the same time there are other states in the EU."
In the news:
Is France a Friend of Turkey?
France stung by No camp's gains
Brief - France: Turkey is main source of opposition to EU Constitution
An albatross
Around the Blogosphere:
The End of the European Union?
What happens if the European Constitution is rejected?
posted by Adam Lawson @ 1:49 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
One cannot help but be struck by the staggering arrogance of the EU boosters: anyone who opposes further EUization of Europe, including the new constitution, must be uninformed and this is the problem to be solved.
I live in Europe and heard a small story on the news this morning related to this: One year ago today, a 9 year old boy was run over by a truck and killed in my city. This happened because the truck driver could not see him -- the boy was in a 'blind spot' of the truck's mirrors and windows. So some people, including politicians, suggested all trucks operating in the city should be required to have a mirror installed so the driver can see this 'blind spot'; apparently, this problem is known, and this solution is not so difficult. But it could not be done in my city or the country as a whole because it conflicts with EU rules. So in order to get this change you would have to go thru the entire EU legislative process, which is undesirable, to say the least.
I live in the United States but I have heard and read horror stories about the ridiculousness of some EU regulations. I find it amazing that so many European governments had no problems with giving the EU so much power.
Post a Comment
<< Home