Posted on 08/18/2004 6:19:26 PM PDT by quidnunc
Brussels, Belgium – It used to be said, with little exaggeration, that when France sneezed, the rest of Europe caught a cold.
The European Union was founded almost half a century ago to put an end to the bloody rivalry between France and Germany, it was the brainchild of such French statesmen as Robert Schumann and Jean Monnet, and its institutions were largely modeled on those in Paris.
Successive generations of French leaders have kept Brussels on a tight leash. Former President Charles de Gaulle vetoed Britain's EU membership bid, and London stayed out in the cold for a decade. Francois Mitterand championed the euro, and national currencies were subsequently scrapped. And current French President Jacques Chirac has tied his colors to the German mast to maintain France's privileged position within the EU.
Until little over a year ago, it seemed to be a strategy that worked. Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder struck deals on such contentious issues as the EU constitution and future farm subsidies, and the rest of Europe marched in step. "We know that in Europe, little progress is made if Germany and France are not in agreement," said Schroeder last year.
In the past 18 months, however, the Franco-German grip on the EU has begun to loosen. Paris and Berlin presumed they spoke on behalf of the entire Union when they came out against the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, but the majority of the bloc's 25 states rallied behind Washington. And during the heated debate on the EU's first-ever constitution, which was agreed in June after two years of talks, France and Germany were forced to water down plans for a federal-style Europe.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
It's time we had a little more France hatred - thanks.
Not hatred, newbie -- contempt.
Not hatred, newbie -- contempt.
Not hatred...
Disdain, scorn, derision, ridicule, maybe, but not hatred.
Yes, Thanks. I never get enough of "France Hatred."
F
The
French.
Wouldn't it be great if the French and Germans lose interest in this EU thing now that things aren't going their way?
France would be OK were it not for all the French people living there.
They shouldn't worry, they have plenty of clout with John Effin Kerry who will march our entire country to hell if, and only if, they approve.
Credit should go to Otto von Hapsburg. The EU was his dream.
You mean Otto von Bismark?
", he handed the EU executive's top jobs -- trade, competition, agriculture, budgets and the single market -- to politicians from what the French dub "Anglo-Saxon" countries favoring free trade and open markets."
Sounds like allies to me.
France-- the country that invented perfume because they don't bathe
Too much wasted time on France these days.
Sit! Stay!
Bad Dog
No, Hapsburg - the guy who should have been the ruler of the Austro-Hungarian empire if things had gone a little differently.
The site I"m looking for didn't pop up near the top on Google (I'll try to remember to look for a better reference tomorrow) but this site hints at it: " Well after the end of the Second World War, Otto von Habsburg finally renounced all claims to the Austrian throne (1961) and was eventually allowed to return to his home country in 1966. An early advocate of a unified Europe, he served from 1979 till 1999 as a Member of the European Parliament for the conservative German CSU party. " http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Otto-von-Habsburg
Yup, no doubt about it, France is a first class, second rate country!
One can never hate France enough.
Good read.
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