eurealist.co.uk

Governments have been flooded by legal actions from large corporations claiming, often successfully, that differing tax regimes in the EU are unfair. The UK is fighting big claims from Marks & Spencer and Cadbury Schweppes, among others. These claims could cost the British taxpayer billions if the ECJ finds aginst the governments and it looks as if it will. So up steps our Tone who id trying to stop the court from making rulings which interfere in member states’ tax laws.

Unfortunately it looks as if this move will be strongly resisted by the EU Commission The Observer reports today that a senior official at the European Commission indicated last week that it would probably oppose the British reform initiative. ‘The ECJ exists to implement European law across the Union. I don’t think we would ever support an attempt to hinder its ability to do that,’ he said. The official added that any reform of the court would have to be agreed by all 25 EU states, a near impossible task.

Now what was the FCO Myth site said about tax

We control tax and social security
The Government negotiated successfully to keep a national veto over tax proposals. Social Security proposals are subject to an effective veto through a national ‘emergency brake’ mechanism allowing any Member State to refer a proposed law to the European Council (the body composed of national heads of state/government) for decision by consensus.

Some negotiation some myth.

This letter in the Times suggests that far from there being no plans for an EU army. The plans for such a force are well advanced, even the umbrella satellite system that will be required for the forces communications are being worked out, although as the letter states what press there is about this system concentrates on the banal.

Galileo project

From Mr Gerard Batten, MEP for London (UKIP)
Galileo project
From Mr Gerard Batten, MEP for London (UKIP)
Sir, Your report (July 16) on the new EU-backed Galileo satellite system concentrated on its banal applications — dodging showers, locating shops and finding friends — but glossed over the massive implications this system has.
The services currently on the table include plans for a compulsory pan-European road charging — with a spy in every car. This means we will be forced to pay for the system while having the privilege of keeping the EU informed of our whereabouts.
The project also involves a technology transfer as the EU signs deals with China to use Galileo as a global satellite positioning service, in competition with the US GPS system and in opposition to the wishes of the US Government. The main purpose of this technology is military and strategic, and it has major implications for Britain’s future defence capabilities and our strategic relationship with the US.
If Galileo is implemented, then Big Brother really will have arrived. I would rather take my chances looking for my friends in the rain using more traditional methods.
GERARD BATTEN
(Member, Independence and Democracy Group)

“Condemned to succeed”: the Heath-Pompidou summit which took Britain into the E.E.C, May 1971

The Heath Government was elected in June 1970 determined to take Britain into the E.E.C. The balance of political forces in Europe finally appeared to favour our application, the General Election had conferred a fresh mandate for entry and most important of all, perhaps, the European ideal lay at the very heart of the new Prime Minister’s political creed. Entry seemed a more achievable objective than it ever had before.

The key summit documents

Documents released under Margaret Thatcher Foundation FoI request:

Summit agenda

20 May (Session 1)

20 May (Session 2)

21 May (Session 3)

21 May (Session 4)

Agreed Minites (unpublished)

Heath’s secret files on the E.E.C.

Available here on line for the first time are Heath’s secret files on the E.E.C up to the May 1971 summit, which run to 1500 pages.

Read them in full from the link here