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Europe
Europe can trust in France, says Raffarin. Really.
2004-01-16
Photo comment: Jean-Pierre Raffarin - "I am not saying that the French have built Europe, but Europe has always attracted French talent"
In a letter published in ten European newspapers, French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has said that Europe can trust in the support of France. "For France, Europe is first and foremost a state of mind, a community of souls whose aim, since the Enlightenment, has been the quest for happiness
not virtue or strength ... just give us a short work week, long vacations and great pensions - it’s the State’s duty!
and justice",
when it’s not inconvenient for members of the elite
says the version in the Financial Times. "[...] We are confidently supporting enlargement of the EU. We hhave accepted tough compromises to ensure its success". On the Constitution, where talks have been stalled since mid-December, Mr Raffarin writes that Europe needs a Constitution "to guarantee its efficiency and durability" but adds that "it need not be finalised in weeks".
"Efficiency" is not the same thing as "effectiveness." And lots of things are durable without being effective — f'rinstance, the Holy Roman Empire.
Once again the issue of a two-speed Europe involving Germany and France is raised. If agreement on the Constitution does not come about "the countries that aspire to this constitution will act together to convince the others".
That sounds kind of like a threat...
"The pioneer groups will build the future, while respecting the acquis communautaire. The genuinely substantive German-French relationship can act as a beacon for those wishing to strengthen co-operation: with the UK in defence, with Poland in promoting the "Weimar Triangle", and with the eurogroup in finding a better way to link stability and growth within the Pact".
I think it's the F6 key that produces that boilerplate, but that might just be on Windows machines...
The French Prime Minister also spares a word for the stability pact - the rules which underpin the euro - which have pitted both France and Germany against the European Commission and which has resulted in a decision by the latter to take member states to court on the issue. "We must improve the pact, which is still too insensitive to economic cycles. We need to place budget discipline in a more ambitious context.
and skip the pettyfogging nagging about France & Germany breaking the rules several years in a row
I am keen to see a remodelled pact that takes greater account of reforms that are improving the long-term viability of our public finances". Mr Raffarin’s appeal to Europe’s trust in France comes as the relationship between the Commission and member states reached a new low this week in the spat over the euro pact. Similarly, France was suspected by several EU diplomats as being one of the main reasons why talks on the Constitution failed last month - as it was not ready to commit itself to the text. Moreover, Mr Raffarin’s words on enlargement are likely to have particular resonance in the new member states. French President Jacques Chirac’s outburst last year that candidate countries had missed a good opportunity to "shut up" when they sided with the US over Iraq, have not been quickly forgotten.
Probably because that kind of attitude doesn't bode well for the Eurofuture...
Mr Raffarin’s letter was published in the Financial Times (UK), the SÃŒddeutsche [Süddeutsche Zeitung] (Germany), El Pais (Spain), Corriere della Sera (Italy), Le Soir (Belgium), Publico (Portugal), and four other newspapers in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary.
Posted by:rkb

#3  Man.. I was the only kid in class who had the Cliff Notes of Tropic of Cancer. Bummer.
Posted by: Shipman   2004-1-16 7:53:05 PM  

#2   Cliff Notes version:

When Europe is united somebody has to lead.The English-nobody trusts them,and they're too cozy w/America.The Germans-can you say Auschwitz?That leaves us,the French.Yes,we are arrogant,but...we can be bribed.
Posted by: Stephen   2004-1-16 5:20:32 PM  

#1  Memo to Europe from America: Whenever someone says "Trust Me", it either means your pocket is getting picked or someone is stabbing you in the back.
A helpful hint from those icky cowboys and cowgirls from across the pond.
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2004-1-16 12:13:46 PM  

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