Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi slams the meeting of France, Germany and the UK

EUOBSERVER ^ | 02/18/04 | EUOBSERVER

[Pikamax]

Berlusconi: Big three meeting is a 'big mess'

Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi has slammed the meeting of France, Germany and the UK, which begins today in Berlin, describing it as a 'mess'.

Speaking in Rome yesterday (17 February), Mr Berlusconi said, "Europe doesn't need any directorate; it's just a big mess".

"This is my opinion and it is shared by all the other European countries, with the exception of the three countries in question", he added, according to the FT.

Rocco Buttliglione, Italy's Europe Minister echoed his leader's views, saying, "Europe is not made up of three countries. It is made up of 25 and those other countries are not going to accept to be led by three countries".

Not for the first time, Italy's scepticism of the 'big three' meeting was shared by Spain, whose foreign minister Ana de Palacio yesterday said, "Nobody should be allowed to kidnap the general interest of Europe".

The sharp criticisms coming from Madrid and Rome echo a wider concern that the Franco-German-UK axis may be the beginning of a directorate from which other countries will be denied access.

Berlin, London and Paris furiously deny this.

The leaders of the three, Messers Schröder, Chirac and Blair, meet today accompanied by a host of ministers.

The main item on the agenda is economic reform in Europe, but they are also expected to discuss more contentious issues such as the Constitution, Turkish entry into the EU and the make-up and President of the next Commission.

Berlusconi of Brussels? Meanwhile, Mr Berlusconi yesterday announced his intention to run in the European elections, which in Italy will be held on 12-13 June, coinciding with the administrative elections.

The parties in Mr Berlusconi's governing coalition will not run under a common list - unlike the opposition centre-left parties - but under a common slogan of "united and free".

Silvio Berlusconi said he intends to lead the government even if the coalition does badly in the European Parliament elections.

[GeronL]

The EU is a joke

[Seruzawa]

I've always suspected that the EU would only hold together so long as GB, France and Deutschland each thinks that it can dominate the currency and the bureaucracy.

The rampant socialism of the individual European nations guarantees their eventual economic collapse, no matter how many meetings they call and no matter how many ways they try to tweak their impending financial disaster.

Prosperity depends on a motivated and productive populace. The PM of the Czech Republic had it right when he said that the EU must awaken from its dreamland of free handouts and cradle-to-grave freebies. Asia is the next arena of prosperity. And the US will be a has-been nation too if we don't stop our headlong rush into more socialism.

[ExposeDem]

How long will this European love fest last with Old Europe in charge?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Looks like there's still a chance that Europe will start WW3.

[BfloGuy]

...and as good as he's been in the War on Terror, Blair still can't drag himself away from his glorious dreams of ascending to the Presidency of the E.U., whilst the U.K. sinks down into the Franco-German economic ditch.

[jungleboy]

You reap what you sow...

[Cronos]

Engald-France-Germany -- the unholy trinity! EFG

[Cronos]

Looks like there's still a chance that Europe will start WW3.

Not anytime soon. WWIII is still against slam. WWIV, hmmm... may well be EU-China vs the US+allies.