Monday, March 16, 2009
Barroso Should Mind His Own Business
The President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso has just said at a Downing Street Press Conference that he "regrets" the Conservative decision to pull out of the EPP. Quite what it has got to do with him, I am not sure. He works for the Commission, not the European Parliament. Perhaps he might like to pay more attention to the mismanagement and fraud which takes place within his own organisation, rather than commenting on who David Cameron chooses to ally the Tory Party with.
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43 comments:
I think every democratic (non extremist) politician in the whole of Europe (which believe it or not includes the UK) regrets the Conservative party running away from the European centre-right. Into powerless, futile what exactly?
@Simon Gardner - oh no they don't. Are you a Dolly sock puppet ?
And anyway Iain is right - its no business of the President of the European commission.
What is shows you is how frightened the Eurocrats are that someone is finally standing up to them ( as opposed to Gordon Brown's craven surrender of Lisbon and the UK budget rebate - which France is now happily spending ion protectionist measure to help put British workers out of their jobs ).
What a tosser you are Gardner.
EPP is Centre Right? A hoot.
Its a federalist body.
The EPP was opposed to the UK having a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty - something the Conservatives campaigned for - and it wants closer economic integration in Europe, as well as common immigration, defence and foreign policy.
Good riddance.
Google before writing, Iain. It is Barroso's business. He is a leading member of the European Peoples Party.
Iain, that crypto-Communist creep thinks everything's his business. I shouldn't be surprised if he told God what to do every morning.
man in a shed' ----'how frightened the Eurocrats are that someone is finally standing up to them'
who is this someone? surely you can't mean windmill dave ????
Simon Gardner, you are the living embodiment of the old adage. 'Empty barrels make the loudest sound'
Now be a good boy or girl and get back to your studies.
What was interesting, from this press conference, Brown supporting Barrosso to continue as Presidento!
Lets have a look at Simon Gardner's comment:
I think every democratic (non extremist) politician
[The federalists are extremist and anti-democratic]
in the whole of Europe (which believe it or not includes the UK)
[How patronizing. By the way, do you mean Europe or the EU? They aren't the same thing.]
regrets the Conservative party running away from the European centre-right.
[We aren't. We have good relationships with centre-right parties from all over the world (which believe it or not includes the Europe (& the EU))]
Into powerless, futile what exactly?
[Somewhere our voice can be heard rather than being drowned out by anti-democratic, anti-free speech, statist, federalist robots who are entirely concerned with a project of european elites who have little or no regard for the feelings of large numbers of european citizens. It may indeed be futile, but where democracy and freedom are concerned it's better to die trying.]
Barroso is President for the entity which decides what the European Parliament may vote on.
I am quite certain he believes he has every right to pass comment. In fact, as thing stand, he is probably "right".
The Eudenrat is a toothless poodle chock full of Federasts who would rather walk out than hear someone suggest that opposing views need to be listened to, let alone accommodated.
We need shot of the whole lot before we can re-establish sovereignty, freedom and Rule of Law in the UK.
"re-establish sovereignty, freedom and Rule of Law in the UK."
What an extremist you are, just keep paying and shut up. Your next payment is due.
Quite why the right of free speech should not apply to the President of the European Commission is something which has yet to be explained.
But what is clear is that (a) the Conservative withdrawal from the EPP-ED group is relevant to the Commission, because it has to work with the European Parliament; (b) the Conservatives' decision will tend to diminish British power in the EU, by removing all British membership of the largest political group in the Parliament; (c) the diminution of the influence of one of the largest member states generally is a significant matter on which the President of the Commission can legitimately take a stance and express views.
Dennis said...
I'm with dennis on this one!
David Boothroyd said... [some very sensible stuff and statements of the bleeding obvious.]
Quite.
I can’t quite believe we finally agree on something, David. It’s a most peculiar feeling.
"I can’t quite believe we finally agree on something, David."
Nobody cares. I expect even your wife thinks you are a cretin.
Absolutely right - it's nothing to do with Barosso. But don't expect today's Tories to tell the little creep to mind his won business - Mr Cameron's "PR" approach to politics would preclude that, no matter how justified.
He's absolutely entitled to his view! He's in place because there is a centre right majority in the European Parliament and the EP has to approve the whole Commission team.
You should actually welcome him saying this, as it makes the Commission more political, rather than dull and grey and bureaucratic - which of course you would criticise too.
If that is what Simon thinks, then Simon does not seem to think deeply or well.
Ands whilst Barroso might be entitled to express his opinion there is a time and a place for everything. And tihs does not include using a press conference at Number 10 to express his personal opinion as head of the EPP.
Or 'medlin' as the wv very nicely puts it.
Ian please be more consistant
when other foreign leaders or the IMF make comment on browns policies you smile and rub hands gleefully.
When similar statments are made about cameron you shake your head and call it a disgrace.
Iain, your criticism is a bit unfair. At a press conference he was asked directly what he thought about the Conservative Party decision to pull out of the EPP. His reply was:
"It is up to each party to decide in which European grouping it wants to sit. It is up to each party to decide, so I can't criticise a specific decision.
But of course I regret that decision. My party is a member of the EPP and I regret this decision because in Europe (it is) the main political parties and the main political families that really shape the European agenda."
That seems a reasonable reply. Do you think he should have said "I have no opinion on that matter."
Judging by the movement towards the further right in most European countries currently, Barroso is probably "hoping" the centre right will hold its position in the forthcoming EU elections, and with it his job! I fear there are big changes on the horizon which will frighten the hell out of me if they come to pass!!!!
@ David Boothroyd: I think your wrong on this. Lets find out.
Its odd how its all the enemies of the Conservative party who are most upset by this move from the EPP. David Cameron must be doing something right (pun intended).
Man in a Shed said... “Its odd how its all the enemies of the Conservative party who are most upset by this move from the EPP.”
Do try to keep up. It matters not a jot what it does for the Tory party. The problem occurs IF the Tories become the government. At which point British influence in the EU is vastly diminished because the Tories have taken their bat away.
It’s bad enough already because of being outside the successful Euro. This makes it worse.
I regret Barroso.
The man is a futile idiot. As you say, let him put his own house in order first - and let him stop wasting our cash on his Ponzi 'schemes'.
Man in a shed: I think you may have misunderstood. I am not upset nor delighted nor anything about the Conservatives' decision to leave the EPP. It's entirely up to them.
If you really want to know my view then I think that Cameron made the pledge solely in order to reassure the eurosceptics within the Conservatives, but having done so, he is duty bound to go through with it even though it will damage his party's interests.
Exactly what power or authority does the EU Parliament have?
Virtually none. The EPP is talking shop, no more.
When Cameron becomes prime Minister he will exercise power in the EU in that official capacity. We are for the EU substantial donors and a major market for products. In addition they have access to our fishing areas and other benefits.
Victor, NW Kent said... “Exactly what power or authority does the EU Parliament have?”
Very considerably more than it used to and clearly considerably more than you think.
Just because the British press ignores it, doesn’t alter the fact that it is more powerful and gets yet more so.
"..in Europe (it is) the main political parties and the main political families that really shape the European agenda".
Shades of Mafiosi from Mr Barroso?
But once Conservatives are elected in UK presumably the new EP grouping will immediately increase in importance as will the Conservatives influence within it.
[Not that I ever vote in elections for that undemocratic parliament.]
pol-e-tics said... “But once Conservatives are elected in UK presumably the new EP grouping will immediately increase in importance as will the Conservatives influence within it.”
Er no.
If you are outside the three main European parliamentary parties, then as he says, you have no influence at all. Zilch.
Barroso is fully aligned with the EPP: he owes his post to the fact that the EPP has a majority in the EP (and could therefore claim after the 2004 Euro elections that the President of the Commission should be from the EPP "political family").
Not sure why Iain is so worked up about Barroso having a view. It's clear Barroso was responding to a journalist's question - was he expected to say "no comment"?
Barroso is a leading member of the EPP, and his party is part of it aswell. That makes it his business I'd say.
(Note, political family is nothing more sinister than the preferred term for the European parliament alliances between national parties).
How strange some of these comments are. And there was me thinking that European Commissioners were supposed to leave all their party political allegiances at the door when they take up office.
That is indeed strange. First I’ve heard of it. And it’s certainly not what happens in reality.
[Oh and I should have added the Greens - so make that four groups.]
@ farnboro
"It's clear Barroso was responding to a journalist's question - was he expected to say "no comment"?"
Barroso is not obliged to respond to any journalist's question. So why could he not say 'no comment'? I'd suggest that he saw the question as yet another opportunity to further his views and cause - and chose to do so.
Iain: Don't worry. Conservative Central Office have been to check out my post correcting the error of your ways, that is, it is his business.
I always wondered if the resemblance between "Cardinal Barusa", arch-villain of Timelord-ruled Gallifrey, who wanted to be "Lord President Eternal" and "Cardinal Barroso", erstwhile Supreme Leader of the Eurocracy, was more than merely superficial. The main difference is that the former is a power-mad maniac hellbent on universal endless supreme power, whereas the latter is, er, well, em. Oh dear.
O/T
So nothing at all on today’s [16-3-09] Cameron press conference Iain? Why on earth not? Seemed newsworthy enough to me.
A good point Simon, but I suspect Iain is a little shy of his many commentators coming forward with the obvious inference that Cameron's principled assault against the BBC is nothing at all to do with his visit to see Mr Murdoch (or come to that Murdoch's liaison with little Osborne on that yacht).
I don't do press conferences. And I have been working all day. I am sure ConHome covered it. It's what they do!
So no to a monthly presser and yes to weekly PMQs. Hmm.
Well my fave bits were:
DC- “The BBC is an important national institution. I want to see it prosper and succeed and be a fantastic cultural asset. I am a supporter of the BBC. I am a supporter of the licence fee. I think the license fee can go on.”
Simon, you missed out the bit where he oilily went on to slither about how the BBC had to tighten it's belt and share the national pain.
I suppose it might also be revenge for Wossies nasty little interview remarks aimed at the untaintable Supreme Oppositionalist!
No I saw that but I am even more confident that (should it ever happen) the BBC is “safe in his hands”.
This despite the insane rantings and confident predictions of armegeddon not very far from this point.
Iain, it's being a national government's representative that Commissioners are supposed to leave at the door, not their political inclinations.
Barroso is a centre right politician, and so has every right to have a view on whether a fellow entre right party made the right decision in leaving the EPP-ED political grouping in the parliament.
The European Parliament is not toothless, and MEPs arguably have more power than backbenchers in Westminster. In fact being the biggest national party within the biggest political grouping there leads to getting some key chairmanships, rapporteurships etc. with which to progress your agenda. Giving that up is a big decision!
Seems weird to me that we in the UK spend so much time grumbling and misunderstanding the EU rather than working out how to get the best out of it to do what we want to do...
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