Posted on 06/21/2002 7:07:11 AM PDT by Pokey78
IT is the centre of power in Europe. Newspapers from 15 countries are stacked neatly on the shelves of Romano Prodi's 12th floor office in Brussels.
From here he has a view of the future of the EU. And yesterday the European Commission President told how that future could include Tony Blair as the first elected President of Europe.
On the eve of the EU summit in Seville, Mr Prodi spoke of his vision of Britain at the heart of the continent with Mr Blair the man equipped to create "New Europe" in the same way he created New Labour.
Italian Mr Prodi should be listened to. He reads every one of those 15 newspapers - from every corner of Europe - and is well aware of the attacks on his dream. He has deflected criticism of creating a European superstate and is admired for his honest views. But if Tony Blair wants the president's job he has to add one other line to his CV - Britain joins the euro. In an exclusive interview Mr Prodi told the Mirror: "When people say that Blair would like to come here I could jump for joy because he would do a great job. Europe is now attracting the most powerful politicians and that makes me very happy.
"Tony Blair is a powerful politician and a great communicator - that is what we need in Europe, people who can communicate the message of what we are doing."
But he cautioned: "It would be politically difficult for Blair to be elected unless Britain was in the euro but there is still time, another two years and seven months until the current commission comes to an end."
Mr Blair's recent call for a powerful figurehead to run Europe has led to speculation that he has set his sights on landing the post for himself after he leaves Downing Street.
Although Mr Prodi opposes the idea of creating a powerful elected president and favours strengthening the commission instead, he is quick to accept the argument made by Britain and France for the presidency plan.
"I think it could work but at the moment it is just a dream," he said. "I think it is premature. How do you elect a President for Europe?
"In the United States people understand the candidates equally. In Europe, because of the language problem, how could you have a campaign with a British candidate against an Italian or a German politician against a French one?"
Not quite seen as a president in waiting yet, Tony Blair will have his work cut out in Seville this weekend as he fights to persuade EU countries to back a Europe-wide crackdown on illegal immigration.
His aides claim Britain will be leading in Europe in a way that would have been inconceivable several years ago.
Mr Prodi - a former Italian Premier - ponders Tony Blair and his future in Europe long and hard in his Brussels office.
But he warns: "Being out of the euro there are some areas in which your influence is less.
"As these areas become more important the bigger the price of staying out will be.
"Personally I would like to see Britain in the euro but the less you interfere in the policy of the country the better you do."
Mr Prodi talks about the progress of the euro with the same passion as an excited new father talks about his child. He gushes: "The euro is now a positive reality, it exists as a piece of paper, it is taken seriously by all the markets so now you can judge the reality and the reality is still good."
He tries to dismiss fears of a loss of sovereignty by adding: "The French are still French and the Italians are still Italian and instead of having six currencies in my pocket now I only have two."
As someone who has suffered more than his fair share of bad press, Mr Prodi could be bitter about anti-European bias. Instead, he trumpets the importance of a free press.
But in an unusually unguarded moment he lets slip his true feelings about Rupert Murdoch's campaign against Europe and the euro.
Jumping from his chair he says sharply: "That is off the record, you cannot write that."
Choosing his words more carefully, he says: "When you make a declaration in the way he has, that you will run a campaign against the euro, then you lose credibility.
"When you admit that it is a campaign you have less influence over people because they know everything you write is part of that campaign. It undermines the stories that are written attacking Europe day after day."
Asked if he has ever met the media tycoon so intent on destroying his dream of Britain joining the euro, Mr Prodi says no, then thinks for a moment: "I'm not sure, I think maybe he did come to see me when I was the Italian Prime Minister but I can't remember much about it."
Convinced the euro is so obviously in Britain's interests, Mr Prodi believes that even Murdoch will soon have to admit he is wrong. "The real story will come when Mr Murdoch understands that Europe is good and the euro is strong. As a businessman, some day he will have to do that."
Every time Mr Prodi talks of Britain joining the euro he parrots the phrase: "It is a choice for Britain and the British people" in the same way as British Ministers preface their comments with "the five economic tests will have to be met".
But his eyes light up as he talks of the day when he can congratulate Tony Blair on signing up to the new notes and coins.
However, Mr Prodi accepts the two politicians will have a lot of talking to do before that day comes. And he jokes that the next time he congratulates Mr Blair it won't be on joining the euro but on England beating Brazil today.
Easily. That's what the Brussels bureaucracy is anyway!
HILLARY Clinton, yes.
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