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mikewarsaw

Listed below are comments made by mikewarsaw between Sunday, 4th October 2009 and Monday, 23rd November 2009.

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EU back to the future? 08:35am on 23 Nov 2009 Better evolution than revolution. Consensus decision making is the tradition in the European Union. The EU is NOT the"United States of Europe" and it is highly unlikely that it will ever be. However, that does not prevent sensible consensus policies being implemented eg in energy generation and distribution, transportation, capital markets and banking and so on. A "president" with a 2.5 year mandate should provide better co-ordination and continuity than the current 6 months coordinating leadership cycle.
Blair camp not hopeful 12:39pm on 19 Nov 2009 As Mr Blair is a representative of a member State which does not use the Euro, is not part of the Schengen area, takes a permanent negative view of all things European and would simply prefer a free trade zone, this is frankly a disqualification for his being a candidate.
Will EU flunk its big moment? 12:13pm on 19 Nov 2009 Oh dear, MarcusAurelliusII is at it again with his/her "EUSSR" comments. I just wish he/she would keep commentaries limited to the good old USofA as its patiently clear that the person concerned does not understand about how and why european nations have gotten together and prospered in peace since the 1950's by "uniting we stand and divided we fall" or "all for one and one for all".
Obviously in a grouping of 500 million plus citizens with multiple legal systems,voting systems, traditions, history etc etc, closer cooperation to mutual benefit has to be streamlined. Which is what the Lisbon Treaty aims to achieve. A union or possibly rather confederation but a United States of Europe? Highly unlikely. But both the (ex) superpowers, USA and Russia want to continue in their old divide et impera strategies and dominance. A uniting Europe of nation states blocks such policies...
The most recent example of the unqualified and blind following of a superpower has been the continuing calamitous support given by the UK government to the USA in both Iraq and Afghanistan in clear opposition to the citizens of the UK.
As to decision making the EU policy is one of devolving to the lowest level possible. Thus education is purely a national/regional prerogative. Furthermore, given that the total EU budget is only about 1% of national (State) budgets, let's keep matters in proportion.
Will EU flunk its big moment? 11:01am on 19 Nov 2009 The post of EU President is one for 2.5 years only. It is designed to provide greater continuity and efficiency in place of the current 6 months presidencies. The same goes for the "High Representative" ie pseudo Minister of Foreign Affairs. That the positions are being decided without "transparency" is understandable as both report to the Council of Ministers, ie representatives of the Member State governments. The choosing process is not supposed to be the political equivalent of the annual Miss World contest!
Czech president swallows bitter pill 9:54pm on 03 Nov 2009 I voted for the UK's entry into the EEC back in the early 1970s because England in particular had lost its Empire and had not yet found a new role for itself. The growing EEC was the opportunity for the UK to re-invent itself as an integral and leading component of a progressively uniting, cooperating and developing group of European countries. That process has continued over the years and will no doubt continue to do so.
The so-called "Eurosceptics" in Continental Europe are in the great part from ex-communist functionary families who had a leading role in the Soviet european colonial Empire as administrators. They still hanker for close ties with mother Russia and its power brokers in Moscow. Many of them were undercover communist agents. They want a weak Europe so that they can concentrate political power in their own hands. A uniting European Union is a major economic and thus political threat to Russian ambitions of Empire and its regional supporters.
That the Conservatives in Britain associate themselves with the Eurosceptics is frankly surprising. Afterall it was Winston Churchill who was one of the fathers of European integration and it was the Conservative Party which took the UK into the EEC, the ancestor of the EU.
If the English want to leave the EU then so be it. I am however, doubtful that the Scots, Welsh or Irish would want to leave the EU. What will England then do? It actually makes little contribution nett to the EU. Its perceived to be an American Trojan Horse in Europe. Maybe it should apply to the USA to become its 51st State. Like Hawaii.
Europe and the UK election 1:54pm on 14 Oct 2009 I live in Warsaw, Poland. As an expat Brit I have observed the Polish political scene over the past 18 years. The principal ally of the British Tories in the EuroParliament is the Polish PiS "Law and Justice" party, which is ultra catholic right wing nationalist, xenophobic, homophobic and europhobic. It has a large group of virulent antisemites as members as it has absorbed the small but highly vociferous neo-fascist extreme right. The views of Mr Kaminski are well known and published over here. He happens to be on the moderate left of PiS! You should read the views of his even more extreme colleagues!
So the Tories allying themselves with what are east European rabid right-wingers who have far more in common with the British National Party is a surprise, to say the very least.
Winston Churchill must be turning over in his grave!
Plotting Czech-mate? 5:22pm on 09 Oct 2009 To MarcusAureliusII: I strongly recommend you stick to internal US matters as most of what you write on the European Union in particular and Europe in general is nonsense. Extraordinary renditions are an American institution. Here extradition has to go through the courts. As for firing squads, yes they existed in communist and fascist/nazi days but that is 20th century history as far as the EU goes. Though they do take place where US forces/special units operate, eg in Afghanistan or Iraq. Frankly, calling the EU a european version of the USSR is a disgraceful falsehood.
Mr Klaus's career started well back in the communist period with his training by the Soviets. He has never hidden his continuing affection for Moscow, whether in past or present form under an undemocratic authoritarian leadership. He even supported Putin over the latter's crushing of the Chechen revolts and the invasion of an independent Georgia. He is Moscow's man in central Europe.
As European integration with freedom of travel without internal borders, a single currency, a single economic market, democratically elected European and national Parliaments and improved efficiency are being realised, which will over time strengthen Europe, this is seen by Moscow as a direct threat to the recreation of its dictatorial empire, then Klaus as Moscow's "ally" is doing everything he can to sabotage EU integration. Fortunately he can be impeached under the Czech constitution (something that is lacking here in Poland where we have a Mr "NO" vetoing President of a similar mindset).
The Eu is currently made up of 27 member States with more waiting to join. Why? Because "united we stand, divided individually we fall". I am proud and pleased to be a citizen of the European Union. The time of the populist nationalistic State in Europe is past, together with the murderous results of such nationalism.
Berlusconi the fighter 4:32pm on 09 Oct 2009 Unfortunately, Berlusconi is most likely to go on "forever". I cannot see him losing an election, his lawyers will keep him out of jail. Its only dementia that is likely eventually to stop him. Unless he "dies on the job"
Will Czechs disappoint Tories? 10:00am on 04 Oct 2009 As to President Klaus of the Czech Republic, he is a rabid anti-European. Fortunately the Czech Constitution does NOT give hive veto rights. The ultra right wing of his own political party are continually trying to block Czech membership of the EU. High time the Constitutional Court gave a final, decisive decision. Both houses of Parliament have voted for EU Lisbon treaty. High time the "will of the people" was respected!
We have exactly the same situation here in Poland where one, highly unpopular political leader has been blocking the decision of both houses of Parliament. Kaczynski will now be forced to sign otherwise he will be seen to be breaking all his promises. Unfortunately there is no impeachment process possible under the Polish Constitution.
Will Czechs disappoint Tories? 09:54am on 04 Oct 2009 Frankly, I think its high time that the citizens of the "United" Kingdom decide for themselves whether they want to be a part of Europe. I can see a situation arising where the "celtic states": Wales, N.Ireland, Scotland vote for membership of the EU as its clearly in their direct economic interest, as does London (which is heavily dependent on economic integration with the EU). As to the rest, ie England, then it can survive on its history heritage tourism and not much else. A minor state with a large population, on the periphery of the EU, without any influence whatsoever on key decisions. I voted back in the 1970's for British entry into Europe because that is the realistic future. The Empire has evaporated. Maybe England should apply to become the 51st State of the USA?

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