No Brits in Europe’s likely new line-up
Daniel Korski 3:01pm
With the Swedish EU Presidency beginning, and most diplomats mildly optimistic that the Lisbon treaty will be approved by the Irish in a new referendum, European leaders have turned their attention to filling Europe’s top jobs.
But Tony Blair, who looked a shoo-in for the post of President of the European Council (not quite the “President of the EU”), now looks as if he has been dropped. Blair’s main backer, Nicolas Sarkozy, is said to have gone off the idea of bringing his British friend back from the political cold; while Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, was never keen.
Four candidates have emerged in his stead: Luxembourg’s long-serving leader Jean-Claude Juncker, Austria’s former Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, ex-Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and former Spanish leader Felipe Gonzales. Of the four, the right-wing Schüssel is the least federalist and has voiced strong opposition to Turkish EU membership, a view that will endear him to President Sarkozy.
But Gonzales, a former long-serving Socialist Prime Minister of Spain, is also strong contender. He currently heads a Wise Man’s group, dreamt up by President Sarkozy, which is thinking about Europe’s future - a perfect perch from which to craft a manifesto for any presidential bid.
With centre-right leaders likely at the helm of the Commission (Jose Manuel Barrosso), the European Parliament (Jerzy Buzek) and possibly the Council, a centre-left, candidate from northern Europe will be preferred choice for the post of High Representative for CSFP i.e. the bloc’s foreign minister. That too may mean Britain loses out. Talk of David Miliband or Chris Patten being put forward for the job has subsided, and attention is turning to Finland’s Oli Rehn, who now works as Enlargement Commissioner, and Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt.
Come the autumn, Britain may find itself without any plum European jobs. With the Conservatives having now left the EPP, which most insiders believe will weaken the power of the cross-party British contingent in the European Parliament, it all points to less British influence in the EU. Ironically, the person who could probably secure the top job of Council President for Britain is Gordon Brown. Both Sarkozy and Merkel are likely to back a Brown presidency, which would ensure that the job focuses on Europe’s economy (unlike a Blair tenure, which would be much broader in scope). Dispatching Brown to Brussels may also be best for the Labour Party; who could offer their embattled leader an honourable exit, while allowing, say, Alan Johnson to prevent the party’s electoral decimation.
But when the EU’s new leaders line up for their first class photo, don’t expect to see a Briton among them.
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Comments
Sir Graphus
July 6th, 2009 3:21pmI curse my luck that I wasn't born a Luxemburger. A population the size of Blackpool has been given the importance of a major nation and its town councillors have been able to fill their boots at the largest trough in the world (with apologies for the mixed metaphor).
Pete-s
July 6th, 2009 3:25pmNo chance of a democratic vote for the citizens then?
Hysteria
July 6th, 2009 3:26pmBrown instead of Blair as EU High Heejun????
Don't know whether to laugh or cry....
Frank
July 6th, 2009 3:35pmOf course Blair has been dropped. Who would want the 'Artful Dodger' for President anyway?
TrevorsDen
July 6th, 2009 3:41pmBrown for EU president? Ha if Labour can insult Parliament by inserting Bercow as Speaker than they could easily shaft the EU by unloading Brown.
Who'd a thunk it. But honestly do you really think the EU bureaucrats and ministers really know what they would be letting themselves in for?
Carly
July 6th, 2009 3:48pmAnother reason, among a growing number for us to pull out!
Minnie Ovens
July 6th, 2009 3:49pmDear God! It gets worse and worse.
Please can someone make it a high priority to get out of this very corrupt and incompetent European Community.
Please.
Laura
July 6th, 2009 3:50pmPro EU people argue that if we were to leave the EU and become a trading partner we would have no influence. But it's clear we have no influence now and if we did just become a trading partner we could once again determine our own laws and future.
Rhoda Klapp
July 6th, 2009 3:51pmOn account of Brown is such an economic genius? Give us a break.
Paul
July 6th, 2009 3:54pmNo Britons in the family photo! Boo hoo!
You think that a Briton in what you call a Plum European Job will make any difference to how well we are represented? Ha Ha!
And what is it that Europe actually does that makes it very important for Britain to have any influence?
The only influence any of us should care about is our own on our representatives at Westminster. And we all know how slim that is (and is likely to continue to be). Like EUReferendum says, if they continue to not listen to us, then we will have to shoot them.
John
July 6th, 2009 4:01pmGood. Can we leave now?
chris
July 6th, 2009 4:03pmOnce Brown is in the EU hierarchy, you can forget about British interests. He will be there, as a Jock, pushing up his ego now saving Europe as well as the world. A sort of Neil and Glenys Kinnock with bells on.
Actually, the very concept of having influence strikes at the EU problem. We are members. We contribute. We have our MEPs. Influence implies that there are various classes of membership. Are there?
Chris lancashire
July 6th, 2009 4:11pmExcellent news, if it's true, that Blair is out of the running. To place the man who lied to the electorate and allowed Brown to run riot with the UK economy would have been a total insult to the UK electorate.
And Brown in charge of the EU? Are you mad? So he would "focus on Europe's economy". Presumably just like he has focused on the UK economy - overspent, overborrowed, wasted billions.
When is Brown going to shed this mantle of economic competence when in reality he is illiterate in the subject?
If we have to have a president give it to Gonzales.
Jennifer
July 6th, 2009 4:11pm2nd paragragh, 3rd line "be" has typed instead of "been"
Moira I
July 6th, 2009 4:13pmIf Tony Blair really has been dropped that would indeed be truly great news. However, taking account of his deviousness, I'll wait and see. But Gordon, and Europe's finances, they will rue the day. And, why the need for an 'honourable' exit, after all his deceitful lies and DISHONOURABLE act of breaking a manifesto pledge for a Referendum on the Lisbon Constitution. Brown,Blair and Mandelson have brought this country to it's knees.
Tiberius
July 6th, 2009 4:19pmContinental European stitch-ups don't end with the Eurovision song contest, you know.
teledu
July 6th, 2009 4:21pmDaniel - it's SHOO in - not shoe. Please read some Damon Runyon.
cuffleyburgers
July 6th, 2009 4:23pmWe have seen repeatedly that failure at home is an important qualification for Euro-jobs...on this consideration Brown is surely overqualified
biggestaspidistra
July 6th, 2009 4:24pm"and most diplomats mildly optimistic that the Lisbon treaty will be approved by the Irish in a new referendum"
I believe they were mildly optimistic last time too
Publius
July 6th, 2009 5:06pm"most diplomats mildly optimistic"
Actually I suspect they're triumphant that they have almost pulled off what amounts to a coup. But it would not be politic to say so, not now anyway.
The fools. It will all come back to bite them.
Hysteria
July 6th, 2009 5:25pmwouldn't it be TOO delicious if the Irish again voted no!!!
Boudicca
July 6th, 2009 5:29pmGo on Ireland - tell them to take their mild optimism and shove it where the sun don't shine. There won't be any Irish leaders in the running either.
Did the Irish REALLY struggle for hundreds of years to break free of the British empire, just to weakly submit to rule from Brussels without so much as one fight? Surely not.
Battle 2807
July 6th, 2009 5:39pmGORDON BROWN for president??????
Please tell us this is some sort of sick joke!
Jean Monnet
July 6th, 2009 5:51pm"it all points to less British influence in the EU". What a shame, I'm sure all of us here remember the halcyon days of persuasive British influence in the European Union. Ha ha ha.
Dear Speccy, I admire your retaining an EU apologist (see Mr Korski's guiding stars here: http://ecfr.eu/page/s/statement - but be sure to look only on an empty stomach) but could you, pretty please, employ a counterweight to such rabid europhilia? Most of your readers find the EU and its Common Agricultural Policy, its waste, its rampant corruption, discriminatory common trade tariffs, counterproductive environmental policies (fridge mountains, dumped fish) and deafness to referendums that go the "wrong way", etc repellent. Mr Korski already has a salary.
Lady Amelia
July 6th, 2009 5:52pmNo Publius, it will come back to bite us....
seb
July 6th, 2009 5:59pm"Ironically, the person who could probably secure the top job of Council President for Britain is Gordon Brown. Both Sarkozy and Merkel are likely to back a Brown presidency, which would ensure that the job focuses on Europe’s economy..."
I had no idea that Broadmoor inmates are encouraged to take part in creative writing lessons. What's in Chapter Two? Something a tad more realistic, I hope, like a ripping Noddy and Big Ears yarn.
Denis Cooper
July 6th, 2009 6:14pmThe odds must be that the Irish will vote "yes" this time, because they're absorbing the message that if they vote "yes" then they'll be helped out of their present economic difficulties, but if they dare to vote "no" again then Ireland will be reduced to an economic wasteland.
Miliband was over there last week, telling lies; in fact the entire "yes" campaign is based on lies and misrepresentation, just like the EU itself.
I wait in vain for Cameron or Hague to condemn Brown for conniving to pull the wool over the eyes of the Irish, and to tell Miliband that he's bringing disgrace on our country by telling lies to a friendly people in a neighbouring country, and to promise that they would never tolerate any EU attempt to victimise the Irish if they exercise their democratic right to reject the treaty.
Jupiter
July 6th, 2009 6:31pmDo they have a padded cell in Brussels for the Prime Mentalist?
Percy
July 6th, 2009 6:32pmI see that Sarkozy and the Dear Leader are busy cosying up to each other in Evian, could be something in this after all, despite how totally mad it is.
The Laughing Cavalier
July 6th, 2009 6:36pmSo, you think that having failed comprehensively in the UK Brown should be allowed to strut the Europan Stage? That's even worse than having Blair in place. Even Mandelson would be a better choice to be Charlemagne II - at least he has the grandeur for it.
David Ossitt
July 6th, 2009 7:05pm"Ironically, the person who could probably secure the top job of Council President for Britain is Gordon Brown. Both Sarkozy and Merkel are likely to back a Brown presidency"
Oh yes; oh please yes, let it be him. Just think! with him in charge, the EU will be doomed.
He could take Bercow with him as a sort of mini-me.
mitch
July 6th, 2009 8:32pm"Ironically, the person who could probably secure the top job of Council President for Britain is Gordon Brown. Both Sarkozy and Merkel are likely to back a Brown presidency"
Another unelected position for our useless PM, will he ever face the voters or his he a coward??
Nick
July 6th, 2009 8:49pmSadly, Brown's going nowhere. The EU leaders don't want a UK general election before their Constitution is irreversible, so Mandelson's propping up the corpse of Brown's premiership until the Lisbon Treaty has been rammed through. That's why they're suddenly being nice to Gordon - make his position more secure and there's less chance of Cameron getting in and ruining their plans by calling a referendum.
S Davy
July 6th, 2009 9:26pmThe EU will not end peacefully. Those who have tried to extend its life will have blood on their hands.
Jeremy
July 6th, 2009 10:24pmI find it sad - the way in which these jobs and salaries and expenses are carved up and handed out to one another by Europe's "political leaders" without any reference being made to the people of Europe themselves - like so much of the whole EU enterprise, I suppose. At least these same political leaders seem to have had the sense to put Blair back in his coffin. Let's hope they also have the sense to nail the lid down. For good. But the idea, as mitch observes, that a man as corrupted and compromised by his long associaton with Blair and all his works - as Gordon Brown is - could be granted a further "appointed" (as opposed to elected) life of power and money and influence in Europe fills one with dismay. One longs to see such people get their just deserts and nothing more. I think the political leaders of Europe would be best advised to put Brown in the same place as Blair and then turn around, wash their hands and forget about the pair of them. Permanently.
Bring back the democratic, self-governing nation state, say I. At least then, when we chuck 'em out...they stay chucked out.
When you see the leaders of Europe carving the cake up between themselves like this, the whole thing looks like a conspiracy amongst politicians to keep themselves in unelected and unaccountable jobs and salaries and perks and expenses for life. Regardless of what their electorates may or may not think. Then you realise how politically, financially and even morally corrupt the whole European enterprise is. Of course, to men like Blair, Brown, Mandelson and Kinnock, such considerations would matter not one whit or jot.
Paul
July 6th, 2009 10:44pm"it all points to less British influence in the EU"
influence to do what exactly? What good is the EU for, pray tell?
The only influence we should care for is ours over whomever we let rule us. And when we let Europe rule us, we have no influence.
Paul
July 6th, 2009 10:50pmIn the old days, when our national rulers plotted with foreign powers in order to stay in power over us and against our best interests, we would call them traitors, and they would be treated accordingly.
Verity
July 7th, 2009 2:15pmPaul 3:54 makes a very telling point: "And what is it that Europe actually does that makes it very important for Britain to have any influence?"
Err ... well, uh ...
Percy writes: "I see that Sarkozy and the Dear Leader are busy cosying up to each other in Evian, could be something in this after all, despite how totally mad it is."
Maybe it's something in the water.
Dana Anderson
July 8th, 2009 12:12pmComments here show how much a charismatic figure as Tony Blair is needed for the EU and for Britain. I am sick and tired of all these condescending British comments towards the man that did his best to change that country for better. Don't you realize had it not been for Tony Blair Britain would now be an hangover from the colonial past, proud of its debased traditions ?
A Blair's European presidency will be sorely missed, not certainly England out of the EU.
yanto
July 16th, 2009 9:45amto dana nee cherie.to even think of delboy tony as eu president would be a waste of time.when the truth comes out regarding the iraq war he,ll have too much to think about.but no doubt he,ll dodge that too.
yanto
July 16th, 2009 9:57amto dana nee cherie.to even think of delboy tony as eu president would be a waste of time.when the truth comes out regarding the iraq war he,ll have too much to think about.but no doubt he,ll dodge that too.