EU-DIGEST

Feb 5, 2010

EU: "Rompuying along" - ANGLO-SAXON EURO SCEPTICS THE MAIN SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM

"Three headaches obsess Brussels at this moment ( say Eurosceptics) . First comes the spectre of a euro-area crisis. Senior figures say it is a question of “when not if” external aid is sent to prevent cash-strapped Greece from defaulting on its debts. Second : Under the Lisbon treaty summits are meant to take place in Brussels, hosted by the new permanent president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy. But Spain, which holds the rotating EU presidency until June 30th, insisted on inviting Mr Obama to Madrid. He has now made clear he is not coming. A third headache is the “EU 2020 reform agenda”, a ten-year plan to make Europe dynamic by administrative fiat. The 2020 agenda is to be discussed at an informal summit called by Mr Van Rompuy on February 11th. EU leaders hope to build on the rubble of the 2000 Lisbon agenda, whose stated aim was to make the EU “the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010 capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion and respect for the environment.” It failed.

Lisbon failed because lots of Europeans do not want to live in the most dynamic and competitive economy in the world. They prefer to work fewer hours than Americans or Japanese (about 10% fewer, on average), to take long holidays, and to retire as soon as possible. Among EU leaders it is fashionable to predict that the financial crisis will lead to a revolution in “European economic governance”. Yet that phrase hides a dearth of new ideas", they say.

Note EU-Digest: The Anglo-Saxons Euro-sceptics and their friends in the press just love to bad-mouth the EU, don't they? The most obvious reason Mr. Obama snubbed the EU Summit has probably all to do with Afghanistan, where the Europeans have been reluctant to support the US with additional troops and to help keeping a corrupt local government propped up. If there is a problem today in the EU, the Anglo-Saxon Euro-Sceptics are probably the main cause of it.

For the complete report also see: Charlemagne: Rompuying along | The Economist

Labels: Afghanistan, EU, Euro Sceptics, Lisbon Treaty, US

11:59 PM | Permalink | | links to this post

Sep 24, 2009

AFP: Tories warn they could still torpedo EU treaty

For the complete report from the AFP click on this link

Tories warn they could still torpedo EU treaty

The Conservative Party warned Wednesday they would hold a referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty if they take office next year and the eurosceptic Czech president has not yet ratified it. Conservative leader David Cameron, widely tipped to oust Prime Minister Gordon Brown in ballots due by next July, has written to Vaclav Klaus to clarify his position, which in theory could torpedo the troubled treaty. The fate of the European Union treaty, aimed at streamlining decision-making in the expanded 27-nation bloc, is in the balance ahead of an Irish referendum on October 2, which EU leaders hope will overturn a 'no' vote last year.<

Note EU-Digest: Minority viewpoints on the Lisbon Treaty Agreement like those of the British Conservative party or Mr. Vaclav Klaus must obviously be listened to, but they can not be allowed to derail the majority viewpoint of the EU partner nations.

Labels: EU, Euro Sceptics, Lisbon Treaty

3:25 PM | Permalink | | links to this post

Jun 1, 2009

Haberanal/EU-Digest: Would Turkey be in the ‘winners' club’ or ‘losers' pit’ by 2023? - by Mehmet Öğütçü

For the complete report from the Haberanaliz click on this link

Would Turkey be in the ‘winners' club’ or ‘losers' pit’ by 2023? - by Mehmet Öğütçü

If I could look into my crystal ball to predict who the winners and losers of the global system would be by 2023 (the centenary year marking the founding of the Turkish Republic), do not expect me to give a rosy picture of the future for today’s 27-state European Union (EU). The current recession will no doubt ease by the end of this year, though the deep-seated systemic problems will remain, and companies will begin taking on workers again, signaling the end of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. This setback may herald a new era in the global system fundamentally altering the political and economic balance of power. The post-crisis era also looks certain to shake the established institutions, rules and players redefining a gradually emerging ‘new world order’ that is likely to reduce the influence and power of super-majors such as the US, Japan and the EU to the benefit of BRIC (Brazil, India and China) nations.

Note EU-Digest "This lengthy article by Mr.Mehmet Öğütçü unfortunately shows he has become a supporter of the British Euro sceptics. For those who are not familiar with the British Euro sceptics: they are a misguided group of people who don't believe in the European Union and have the illusion that Britain can go at it alone. They also rather sit on the lap of Uncle Sam (with all the recent economic negative consequences) than support the EU, the hand that feeds them through trade. Mr.Mehmet Öğütçü also seems to be an articulate Turkish nationalist (nothing wrong with that), who has some difficulties in identifying the difference between fiction and reality when it comes to Turkish membership in the EU.

Rest assured Mr. Öğütçü, the majority of EU member states leaders are convinced Turkey will eventually become a member of the EU. Obviously only after it meets all the requirements for membership, and more important, if it still wants to join. But one has to be realistic, Turkey, with its more than 70 million people, complex economic infrastructure and social fabric, can not be compared with the small, poor, corrupt, and functionally disorganized Eastern European nations which were recently admitted to the EU. These small states regardless of their incredible problems are far easier manageable than a "giant" country like Turkey would be if it came into the Union before it put its own house in order. This assessment might seem unfair when looking at the issue from a Turkish perspective, but it certainly is a realistic one."

Labels: EU, Euro Sceptics, Turkey