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.
Regards, Ivan
Thank you. That is very welcome news.
Do you really think we like the French or Germans all that much? One country, we've been at war with since forever, the other is an object of ridicule for John Cleese as Basil Fawlty.
Regards, Ivan
Britain can hitch it's wagon to the rising United States of the sinking EU. If they throw in their lot with us, they will be independent, free, and rich. If they cast their lot with the Europeans, they will be ensnared in the European bureaucracy, regulated to death, and poor.
This should be a no-brainer, but for some reason it's not.
You just earned an A for descriptive prose.
A civil war that the Muslims will win, eventually.
In fact, it's already begun.
IED's for the police is the next step.
Once goods are on a ship, it does not cost that much more to transport them 3000 miles than 30. The Chunnel gives the Froggies a slight structural advantage, but it does not carry enough goods to overcome the fact that they are on the express elevator and going down.
Why would Great Britain want to sign on to that?
You know, nobody does bloody genocidal madness quite like the Froggies. They may surprise you. One thing's for sure, it ain't gonna be pretty, and it ain't gonna be PC.
Was anyone else wondering which member of the royal family would have dared make a comment like this? My money was on Princess Michael.
The moment was just as soon as we kicked the krauts out in Workd War II.
Thanks for posting. Outstanding FReeper comments BUMP!
This little girl cant me much of a study of history. Other than WW1 and WW2 (where the US and Britain were allies) I would be hard pressed to find a political climate were Britain naturally sided with France.
Remember, if you draw a line in the sand, someone may actually step over it.
do we want to be a 51st state?"
How arrogant of her to even think we'd ever allow that.
The question should be: Should Great Britain join Europes decline or hedge her bets with the United States and the rest of the non-Islamic west.
So do Americans.
Oui, je le sais bien. Mais ca, c'est que je pensais avant d'ouvrir l'article.
Shurely not!
Nanny knows best is just another mewling socialist with no better idea of what is good for her country than a dead newt.
Britons need to obey.
Said with tongue in cheek, I hope.
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