AMBROSE EVANS-PRITCHARD: 'New Europe' reads riot act to Paris and Berlin

The Daily Telegraph ^ | January 31, 2003 | Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

[MadIvan]

By declaring their joint support of George W Bush eight states of the "New Europe" have read the riot act to the Franco-German couple who have long driven policy in the European Union.

Drafted by Spain's Jose Maria Aznar, the text of their collective article was a pointed rebuke to Germany's Gerhard Schröder and France's Jacques Chirac - labelled "Old Europe" by US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld - for thinking they alone represent Europe's collective will.

It is the latest example of the shifting centre of gravity in Europe, which would be reinforced if France and Germany were not part of a victorious coalition against Iraq.

Just a week ago, the audacious Franco-German plan for a twin-headed presidency of the EU was greeted with scorn by speaker after speaker in the Convention on the Future of Europe, all irked by the way Paris and Berlin seemed to imagine they had achieved a fait accompli. It followed a decision by EU finance ministers to castigate Germany for breaching the euro-zone's Stability Pact. They also issued an official "early warning" to France.

The failure of the German and French economies to cope with the rigours of the euro and economic downturn was a watershed. Easily ranked the world's number three and four in the late 1980s, they have slipped rapidly down the rankings.

The baton has passed to the English-speaking nations, enjoying a free-market revival over the past 15 years, transforming the power structure inside and outside the EU.

Britain's economy is now substantially bigger than that of France, and London is by far the richest city in Europe. The Irish are richer per capita than the Germans. The Spanish, enjoying their own spectacular revival in confidence after the self-imposed isolation of the Franco dictatorship, have aligned themselves with the Anglo-Saxons.

Holland and the Scandinavian states have embraced the internet age with a fervour matching California, and all have been through the labour market reforms that Paris and Berlin only talk about.

Together with the Poles, Czechs and Hungarians, all brimming with optimism, and can-do spirit, these nations form a "New Europe" of sorts, more or less coinciding with the core of pro-American states singled out for praise by Mr Rumsfeld, who dismissed France and Germany as the "Old Europe".

Tim Garton Ash, a European expert at St Anthony's College, Oxford, said the terms "new" and "old" confuse the issue.

"What we're really seeing is a 'new Germany' that is willing to stand up for its own national interest and viewpoint, which in this case is a combination of anti-war feeling and anti-Americanism. This is something we haven't seen before," he said.

Nor is "Old Europe" necessarily a good description for two countries that launched the most ambitious currency union ever seen a year ago and are now pushing for the wildly ambitious goal of a full judicial, military and diplomatic union of 15 states, with different languages and intense tribal loyalties, against all historical precedent.

[canuck_conservative]

"the audacious Franco-German plan for a twin-headed presidency of the EU was greeted with scorn by speaker after speaker in the Convention on the Future of Europe..."

Sounds like the smaller nations of Europe have finally wised up to what the EC is all about: surrendering their sovereignty to two puffed-up, declining braggards. Or, as they would say in Brittania, "We've sussed you out, you smarmy barks!"

Are we now seeing the first cracks in the "mighty" EC concept?

[montag813]

Britain's economy is so large that pensions go unpaid; hospitals and schools close, skilled professionals go to Germany and Saudi Arabia seeking work etc.

Sounds a lot like parts of America too, pal.

[Brandybux]

Are we now seeing the first cracks in the "mighty" EC concept?

Their problem goes beyond Franco-German delusions of grandeur. The real booger is way back there in Babel. Since then, every attempt to forge trans-ethnic or trans-linguistic political entities have crashed and burned.

It's fun to watch them kick against the pricks.

[Torie]

The letter of conscience by the principled eight was close to an act of genius, and just what the doctored ordered. France and Germany have been neutered in one stroke. The twin perps have a point of view, but the way they promolgated it was totally uninspiring and tawdry. Kudos in particular to Spain for being the genesis of this. If France and Germany really want to avoid war, they should be encamped in Bagdad twisting Saddam's arm, and warning him that he simply doesn't qualify for a life insurance policy these days. THAT is where they need to spend their energies, not in tactics of delay to enervate and deflect and defeat dealing with a matter that must be dealt with before it metasticizes into something incurable.

[Ukiapah Heep]

This must be a good one for Poland. It's a reverse 1939, where they get to tweak Germany and Russia simultaneously.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Thanks for this post. It is becoming more clear over time that France and Germany, and to a lesser extent Russia and China, have been doing their best to derail the inevitable assault on Iraq for their own political and economic interests, and the rest of the gang are not going to play along.

[EaglesUpForever]

"a 'new Germany' that is willing to stand up for its own national interest and viewpoint, which in this case is a combination of anti-war feeling and anti-Americanism."

Those UNGRATEFUL PUNKS! After we fought the cold war on their behalf: I wonder if they crave the good old days of East German totalitarianism???

[aruanan]

"What we're really seeing is a 'new Germany' that is willing to stand up for its own national interest and viewpoint, which in this case is a combination of anti-war feeling and anti-Americanism. This is something we haven't seen before," he said.

Hey, Timmy! Remember the 'new Germany' that was willing to stand up for its own national interest and viewpoint back in the 1930's? This is why the 'new Germany' is the same old Germany and not part of the new Europe.

[Torie]

Come on, the current Gemany has nothing to do with Hitler and irredentism or anything else. It has more to do with national demoralisation, national decline, cultural delcine (the test scores for students in Germany are even lower than in the US, which is totally mind blowing) and an emerging isolationist and pacifist perspective. The only constant is that for some reason the German culture has a certain fragility. I don't pretend to understand it.

[Yardstick]

Go former Eastern Block members...

I'm cheering for those guys, too. They've been through heck and the last thing I want to see is them having to kiss the ring of France/Germany. I want to see them become the East European Tigers -- prosperous, dynamic, and in possession of their own wills.

[balls]

Let's not forget that in the last decade, Germany has absorbed its bancrupt eastern neighbor, increasing its population by about 20%, at a cost of several hundred billion Deutche Mark to the former West German economy. All things considered, Germany has worked hard and done pretty well economically and deserves a little respect.

[GermanBabies]

No, not really. America has treated Germany the best over the last 50 years and they have decided to put their boot to our ass. What has Germany ever done for America except get us in two world wars?

[gcruse]

the mentally handicapped deal with their problems - by writing articles which seek to deny reality

I don't know the truth of the article, but Ambrose Evans Pritchard is not mentally handicapped. Anyone who read the work he did while in the US concerning Clinton and Whitewater would know that.  Your vitriol is ignorant.

[balls]

That is exactly why the Germans don't want anything further to do with wars. Schroeder may be a complete a**hole, but he knows he won't be around for long unless he keeps Germany out of military confrontations. Don't forget the overwhelming majority of the European populace, England and Italy included, are against any military confrontation with Iraq. (France is a different matter completely and indefensible)

[DoughtyOne]

I couldn't agree more. What frosts me about our policies of the last decade is the fact that we have forsaken folks like that to carry on trade with a nation sworn to bury us. Why didn't we persue trade with those folks, making them strong and better allies?

[billhilly]

" The cowards. All they can do is talk, yak and complain. Lord knows they can't fight worth a damn'. They're called "Euro-Trash" for a reason."

Ah, yes. But just look at the angle of their chins.

[Yardstick]

I don't know, but I agree that they'd make great friends and allies.

[Reagan80]

Let us not forget something here. 100% of my grandparents are European immigrants from the onset of WWI through the end of WWI. 200 Million other hardworking American's ancestors are also; dating back to the Pilgrims.

ANYONE WHO WAS ANY GOOD - LEFT EUROPE CENTURIES AGO!!!

What they're left with are the lazy, the uninspired, the descendants of the upper classes, who believe they are too good to put in a 35 hour week, let alone a 40, a 45, a 50, 60, or 70 hour week (Mine currently averages 50+; with a 2 1/2 year old, when I'm at the age of 40, I've scaled back). They are envious of our success, yet do nothing to try to duplicate it. The last good thing (other than 200 Million American's ancestors) to come out of Europe was the Magna Carta, a Millenium ago.

All the people who embrace the current ideals and morals of the political conservative EVACUATED Europe. Only the leftists remain. That is why they will continue on their inevitable downhill slide. They are demographically doomed. The remaining ambitious among them we should welcome with open arms, and let the immigrating Muslim populations overrun the rest of the appeasing cowards.

Good riddance.

Reagan80

[Lady In Blue]

..... We stood on the wall protecting them for 50 years and then they put their foot to our ass for thanks.

Does anybody know how many bases, troops we have in Germany? The reason I'd like to know is because a previous report on FR this evening indicated that an American diplomat told the Germans in so many words that if they didn't support the U.S.,we wouldn't do business with them anymore[paraphrasing].

[GermanBabies]

Not that much any more but still around a division or so.