Posted on 11/20/2006 6:57:32 AM PST by Mrs Ivan
Segolene Royal will try to force Britain to choose between being America's closest ally or being at the heart of Europe if she becomes French president, says a close aide.
Her foreign affairs adviser Gilles Savery, a French MEP, unveiled proposals for a new EU treaty, to replace the failed EU constitution rejected by French and Dutch voters.
He stressed that if Britain refuses to back the new drive towards a more powerful EU, France, Germany Spain and Italy could join forces to create a "quartet" to lead Europe.
He said: "Great Britain is absolutely indispensable to the European Union. It is a great nation, a global power.
" But the question the English have to answer is - do the English consider the English Channel to be wider than the Atlantic?
"We on the Continent have the right to deplore the fact that Great Britain appears to consider the Channel wider."
In comments that will alarm Gordon Brown, he also called for more protectionism aimed at safeguarding EU jobs in the face of globalisation. The Chancellor believes competitive businesses, rather than new trade barriers, are vital for a strong economy.
In an attack on Britain and America's military action in Iraq, Mr Savery also advocated moves towards a more common EU foreign policy.
"Europe can be relaunched with Germany, Italy and Spain. It is perfectly possible to have treaties within the treaty, among four nations," he said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph.
"If other nations want to sign up, that's good. But we cannot have a Europe where one part goes to war in Iraq, another part does not, and we all end up paying the bill.
"The question that needs to be asked is - do we want to be vassals of the United States, do we want to be a 51st state?"
Ms Royal kept largely quiet on her vision for Europe and views on foreign policy during her campaign to win the nomination to be the Socialist candidate.
She is likely to face centre-Right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy in the presidential elections next April. If she wins, Ms Royal and German Chancellor Angela Merkel could form a powerful new alliance at the heart of Europe.
Ms Royal opposes a twospeed Europe. Mr Savery accused Britain of leading an "ultra-Atlanticist" bloc within the EU.
On Ms Royal's economic policy, he added: "She believes, like all the French, that Europe should be more protective and should defend itself better."
Meanwhile, Treasury minister Ed Balls pledged that the Government will in future publish an annual statement of all EU funds spent in the UK.
Announcing the move, he branded the state of the EU budget "a disappointment and an embarrassment". Auditors have refused to give it a clean bill of health for the 12th year running.
Speaking to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in London today, Mr Balls, Mr Brown's right-hand man, will highlight widespread beliefs that EU funds are wasted or open to fraud.
Deplore it as much as you like. The only countries that really seem to want the EU are Germany and France, anyway, neither of which are allies that I would choose.
The words "No brainer" spring to mind.
Love, Ivan
Ping!
Don't you mean, an "Axis"?
Why does the Lady think the US would WANT Europe as the 51st state? Not a chance unless it is the only way to keep it out of the Caliphate.
Nor does it appear in doubt as to which side the English people would chose if asked. One side tried repeatedly to conquer it and the other assisted Great Britain in the repulsion of that would-be conquest.
The French have consistently tried to turn Europe into something that is automatically and always in opposition to the US. There is no logical reason why this must be so. This is just the same sort of arrogance that Chirac displayed by telling Eastern Europeans that they were not "well brought up" because they were insufficiently anti-American for French tastes.
We also have big, powerful friends in terms of Australia, Canada, and the United States. Who the bloody hell needs them?
Regards, Ivan
Ivan, you took the words right out of my mouth.
"No brainer" indeed.
Yes, they will turn both into complete and utter socialists countries with no return to freedom. Germany has tried this socialism thing once before, kinda back in the 1930s and 1940s I believe, I as my memory recalls, that did not turn out too well for them. Their little experiment into socialism cost the world about 50 million dead in WWII I believe. Sure, both of you try it, since you both are soon going to be come Mozlum nations anyway. By 2015-2020 both will probably have Mozlum leaders in government.
I believe, unfortunately, that were it put to a popular vote in GB that the EU's would win. Of course, I may be wrong.
Let Royal ruin France, then see her watch in horror when National Front takes power.
If Sarkozy does not win, that appears to be the path France is heading to. They are courting cataclysm.
No, they don't have to choose. She is not the boss of anything.
We also have big, powerful friends in terms of Australia, Canada, and the United States. Who the bloody hell needs them?
I guess the Europeans forgot how things worked out for them the last for about the last seven centuries or so when France or Germany try to interfere with Britain.
France has nearly 9% unemployment, ghettos that give Beirut a run for their money and a political culture that is 10 times more snobbish and elitist than anything we see in the House of Lords. I am completely uninterested in hearing her advice or her threats.
Regards, Ivan
"do we want to be vassals of the United States, do we want to be a 51st state?"
Or, Brits, wouldn't you prefer to be vassals of France and Germany, do you want to be part of the 4th Reich? :p
I can't put my finger exactly on the moment when France decided that it was more fun to define itself as reflexively anti-US, but they're being nuts. The opinion seems to be that Islamism would be cuddly and cute if only they could ally with Islamists against the US.
"But we cannot have a Europe where one part goes to war in Iraq, another part does not, and we all end up paying the bill."
Why don't they just say it right out. "We must join with Sauron." :D
You are definitely wrong. The British people will always choose people who speak English over those who don't.
Regards, Ivan
Whether you do or don't doesn't matter, in a few decades it will be moot. You have more important questions to ask yourself.
"The only countries that really seem to want the EU are Germany and France . . ."
Germany was Britain's primary ally in the 18th and 19th Century. France was its primary ally in the first 20th century. Now its primary ally is the United States.
Seems like a better deal than allying with two losers.
but which would Britain choose?
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