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France's Fading EU Clout
United Press International ^ | August 18, 2004 | Gareth Harding

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 ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Germany
KEYWORDS: eu; france
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1 posted on 08/18/2004 6:19:27 PM PDT by quidnunc
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To: quidnunc

It's time we had a little more France hatred - thanks.


2 posted on 08/18/2004 6:25:36 PM PDT by ItIsATigerIMarried
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To: ItIsATigerIMarried

Not hatred, newbie -- contempt.


3 posted on 08/18/2004 6:31:07 PM PDT by expatpat
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To: quidnunc


4 posted on 08/18/2004 6:41:35 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: expatpat

Not hatred, newbie -- contempt.

Not hatred...
Disdain, scorn, derision, ridicule, maybe, but not hatred.


5 posted on 08/18/2004 6:43:47 PM PDT by edwin hubble
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To: ItIsATigerIMarried

Yes, Thanks. I never get enough of "France Hatred."

F
The
French.


6 posted on 08/18/2004 6:46:25 PM PDT by steveyp
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To: quidnunc

Wouldn't it be great if the French and Germans lose interest in this EU thing now that things aren't going their way?


7 posted on 08/18/2004 6:48:52 PM PDT by RPTMS
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To: quidnunc

France would be OK were it not for all the French people living there.


8 posted on 08/18/2004 6:49:06 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (Havoc be upon them!)
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To: quidnunc
France's Fading EU Clout

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.

9 posted on 08/18/2004 6:56:32 PM PDT by Dolphy (Support swiftvets.com)
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To: quidnunc
it was the brainchild of such French statesmen as Robert Schumann and Jean Monnet,

Credit should go to Otto von Hapsburg. The EU was his dream.

10 posted on 08/18/2004 6:57:08 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: quidnunc
One can't help wondering how long it'll take the French to wake up and realize that in a matter of decades France will be an Islamic theocracy.

“Never underestimate the power of denial.”
Alan Ball
American Beauty
through the character Ricky Fitts
Dreamworks
1999

11 posted on 08/18/2004 7:06:03 PM PDT by Savage Beast (9/11 was never repeated--thanks to President Bush!)
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To: PAR35

You mean Otto von Bismark?


12 posted on 08/18/2004 7:13:44 PM PDT by NovemberCharlie
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To: quidnunc

", 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.


13 posted on 08/18/2004 7:14:15 PM PDT by kddid (Find good in bad.)
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To: Mad_Tom_Rackham

France-- the country that invented perfume because they don't bathe


14 posted on 08/18/2004 7:17:10 PM PDT by SCALEMAN
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To: quidnunc

Too much wasted time on France these days.

Sit! Stay!

Bad Dog


15 posted on 08/18/2004 7:47:52 PM PDT by Leatherneck_MT (Goodnight Chesty, wherever you may be.)
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To: NovemberCharlie
You mean Otto von Bismark?

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

16 posted on 08/18/2004 7:52:21 PM PDT by PAR35
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To: ItIsATigerIMarried
Despite its recent waning of influence, France is still one of the EU's "big three" states along with Germany and Britain. It is the second-largest country in terms of population and has the third-most powerful EU economy.

Yup, no doubt about it, France is a first class, second rate country!

17 posted on 08/18/2004 9:29:58 PM PDT by RJL
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To: steveyp

One can never hate France enough.


18 posted on 08/18/2004 9:42:38 PM PDT by Owl558 (Pardon my spelling)
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To: quidnunc

http://www.opendemocracy.net/debates/article-3-51-344.jsp


19 posted on 08/18/2004 10:48:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Unlike some people, I have a profile. Okay, maybe it's a little large...)
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To: quidnunc; Gunrunner2; spetznaz

Good read.


20 posted on 08/18/2004 11:35:11 PM PDT by VaBthang4 ("He Who Watches Over Israel Will Neither Slumber Nor Sleep")
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