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.
Just what the world needs, another "know best" Frenchman. /sarcasm>
Lets see.
EU-a weak socialist(communist lite)super state over run by muslims and anti-US zealots.Where the UK will lose it soveriegnty to the likes of France and Germany(they will controll it not the UK).
or
US: A sister nation that shares history,language,culture,and has the deepest military/intel alliance on the planet.
I dont see why the UK has to choose. Why cant it keep its trade relationship with the EU and keep its alliance with the US? The EU is quickly becoming an enemy of the US with rhetoric like this.I look for them to join with russia,and communist china in trying to counter the US with some one world nonsense. Choose wisely British brothers your long history is at risk.
America or the Dark Side is the choice.
What's next for Europe - under these Grande Dames?
Emasculation of all non-productive males???
No doubt they will attempt to influence Hillary's election too.
So they can be vassals to the US or the EU? How about letting the UK have the ability to ally with whomever they please? What with it being a sovereign nation and all.
No, those of us who read the article aren't.
LOL. Sorry about that... Since so many posters don't read the article before posting, I thought you were one. Happy Thanksgiving!
France??? Spain??? They'll cease to exist before the quartet can tune its instruments. As for Germany and Italy--Europe has tried that duet before. If Royal wants to offer something useful, she'll urge Europe to face the music, but it looks like all she's got is the same old song and dance routine that's led Europe to the brink of its grand finale.
I hope you are right. The MSM makes it look like all of england is now islamic mainstream radicals.
(I thought Basil Fawlty was British?)
Snort. Royal and whose army?
So France wants to tell Britain what it must do? Haven't they tried this for the last 1000 years with similar results every time?
I thought this thread was about Prince Chucky.
Apparently Royal was named by Michael Jackson.
Regards, Ivan
You were mistaken!
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