Leading article: Still semi-detached from Europe
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Independent Minds
The chickens of Gordon Brown's G20 summit in London came home to roost yesterday in Brussels at an EU summit in which Britain once again appeared embattled and bereft of ideas. In London in April the Prime Minister staked his claim as a leader of the western world in its fight against the recession on a close alliance with the United States and a demand for reflation – which most of Europe rejected.
In Brussels he has appeared a lonely figure attempting to bat away demands for Europe-wide financial regulation that would badly impact on London and a concerted effort by France and Germany to bring new life to the "European Project". Ireland now seems ready to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty. Berlin and Paris appear determined to start moving as fast as possible on the treaty's commitments to a common European foreign policy, a new European post of President and a streamlined decision-making process.
You can understand Mr Brown's problems. More than half of those who voted in Britain's European elections earlier this month put their cross by parties that actively sought getting out of the Union altogether, or, like the Conservatives, proposed a radical renegotiation of our membership. Blame it on the expenses scandal, as Mr Brown does, or on the difficulties of Labour, but to Britain's partners he now leads a country which appears to have become semi-detached from the Continent.
Not that Mr Brown is alone in some of his distrust of EU actions at the moment. Not everyone wants the European Central Bank to act as umpire of the financial system, even for those not in the euro. Most oppose the continuation of the subsidies enshrined in the Common Agricultural Policy, and not a few are resisting the French drive towards a more federal grouping.
But there is a pressing demand, accepted even in London, for a European response to the major issues of recession, global warming and security, and an emerging sense in many capitals that the Union must start to act together, putting the Treaty of Lisbon quarrels behind it. Mr Brown has ideas, especially on aid and economic recovery, but too often he seems wedded to the trans-atlantic alliance and only lukewarm at best about the world the other side of the Channel.
There is no point in a British Prime Minister simply opposing certain items and hanging back on the others. If we are to influence policy, we are going to have to throw ourselves into the debate as a committed member of the Union.
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Comments
But of course the European project is a historical necessity and it is build on strong institutional foundations. France and Germany will never allow the Brits to do severe damage to the project. The British are delusional when they think they have allies in Europe. Just see how Poland has come on board after a couple of millions reached their farmers. There are many who want to join the EU, the UK seems to be only one to want to leave (and even that is not sure as sabotaging the project can only work from the inside).
The facts are simple. The Euro works, Schengen is loved by the population, 40% voter turnout is normal in many elections, the single market delivers results with very little bureaucracy in Brussels. Most anti-EU sentiments are based on lack of information or an aggressive nationalism which has run its historical course. The people in Europe who have something to say are in favour of the EU.
On the other hand there is the UK with no informed debate about Europe and a load of rubbish Euro-myths which are recycled every day by the tabloids. The UK now sports a failed economic model and a very doubtful democratic system without an elected head of state, 2nd chamber or even PM. The next PM is the embodyment of the outdated English class society. English football teams do well, but only because almost all players are foreign. The cricket team gets beaten by the Dutch.
I could go on. Europe will never be complete without the UK, but it will have to move on which means that the Brits (or probably rather the English only) will be left behind if they continue with their obstruction. The EU-UK relationship is troubled, bordering on the tragic. But with 60 Mio people on an island sticking to the past and 450 Mio people trying to build a new continent it is obvious for me who will decide on our future.
Many civil rights groups resort to appeal in Strasbourg, when the British courts have failed them.
If we had respected European and International law we would not have gone into an illegal war in Iraq, and lied to support the Bush regime.
The BAE trial, and US Torture would have been out in the open, not conveniently hidden by a corrupt British government.