eurealist.co.uk

So when the Euphiles keep telling us that the member states are in charge do they mean that they are in charge only so long as they understand that it’s all heading in the direction of more Europe, and the direction of deeper integration.

EU development commissioner, Louis Michel, said “The British Prime Minister has the upper hand, but to run a good presidency, it’s necessary that every-one else helps … We’ll help him, but on condition that it’s all heading in the direction of more Europe, and the direction of deeper (integration].”

Mr Blair’s conduct during the EU summit - his defence of the British rebate from the Union budget, his wider demand for budget reform and his call for EU leaders to heed the lesson of the French and Dutch No votes to the constitution - were seen by many federalists as evidence of a British plot to reduce Europe to a giant free trade zone.

He said that if the British presidency was only about “constructing, or cementing a Europe that is just a free market, then it is going to be difficult for him”.
Michel said Mr Blair’s idea of Europe was “manifestly that of an economic free trade zone, where, rather stupidly, countries still give in to internal competition” “As long as the British do not understand what the European model and the European project really are, we will have a certain number of problems.”

According to the Telegraph when the EU development commissioner, referring to last week’s budget row, defended EU agricultural subsidies, said the underlying cause of such squabbling was the EU’s inability to raise its own revenues is a call for a Union tax, collected by Brussels. Well obviously that is the intention in long run and the more problems there are agreeing the budget the more clarion will be the calls for an EU wide tax, the constitution is very clear about that intention.