Barroso squares up to Berlusconi
For the first time ever, the president of the European Commission has carried out a reshuffle.
The powers exist under the Amsterdam treaty but until President Barroso promoted his transport commissioner, Jacques Barrot, to the justice job, it had never been done before.
Franco Frattini, who had been an energetic justice commissioner, had taken leave to campaign in the Italian election and has now landed a bigger job which will ensure many reappearances in Brussels.
He's going to be the new Italian foreign minister.
But Barroso got fed up with Berlusconi shilly-shallying around and not coming forward with a name and has appointed the French transport commissioner who'd been standing in.
This leaves the Italians with transport, not exactly a prime brief.
Suggestions they want it to deal with the Alitalia crisis are wide of the mark: the rules are pretty clear on state subsidies.
Rocco's precedent
But there is another reason for Barroso's move.
Last time Mr Berlusconi's first choice, Rocco Buttiglione - with his extremely conservative views on homosexuality - caused the whole commission to be rejected.
The names of similarly conservative pals, particularly those on immigration, were swirling around again.
Indeed, I am in Strasbourg at the moment and one usually reliable source seemed convinced Mr Berlusconi would attempt to, in his words, "slap democracy in the face" and re-present Mr Buttiglione.
My source said this time the parliament would be powerless. Without the ability to reject the whole commission, any censure would be meaningless.
"Ridiculous," says a commission source. But perhaps Mr Barroso is getting his own back on Italy's controversial leader.
They could vote against the candidate but would not be able to use the power to reject the commission.
I’m Mark Mardell, the BBC's North America editor. These are my reflections on American politics, some thoughts on being a Brit living in the USA, and who knows what else? My 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~32~RS~)
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Thank God Franco Frattini is gone. He was the very epitome of the self-aggrandizing bureaucracy for whom the answer to every question is ‘more Europe’.
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Mr. Mardell,
What you wrote might be true. But I cannot help rejoicing at the thought that Buttiglione could be given a second chance.
What happened when he was rejected was a scandal for democracy. They knew he was a catholic - of the kind that doesn't change his mind when he gets into politics - and they prepared ad hoc questions. Thay already knew the answers he would've given.
What was the issue? Discrimination? No, he answered clearly he would respect any other position than his (as well as those involved, acknowledging that's a very delicate problem which requires delicate answers) but stick to his own beliefs of society lawfully based on a man/woman/kids family. This doesn't mean using police to hinder gay people's efforts to stay together.
And frankly, I don't think Homosexual Marriage or adoption of babies is a matter of no-discussion. You (and the EU's official position) seem to give for granted that the issue is solved and doesn't require any further thought.
Well, I don't know where you got those certainties from, but if Buttiglione is proposed for the same job I'll be happy.
And, guess what, without fascist-intolerant-"reactionary" mood (I know you labelled us as such).
All within democracy and dialogue (as opposed to those who sacked Buttiglione).
With respect
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Does anybody find it odd that the story about MEPs voting to keep their expenses report secret was lead item on the 10 O'Clock News last night ... yet the only report visible on the BBC website this morning is the far more EU-favourable one about how MEPs voted on employing relatives.
Has the BBC been nobbled and such 'negative' (though accurate) news about the EU's activities consequently been censored since last night's news?
Or are the BBC's web editors simply more 'institutionally biased' in support of the EU project than their TV counterparts?
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Since the only notable thing about the majority of commissioners is that they are politicians who have passed their sell-by date in their own country, a reshuffling of the deck will not achieve much other than changing the task they are making a mess of. It would be far better if most were replaced by 'captains of industry' who actually know what needs to be done and how to do it.
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Do we want to open the door to organised crime and fascists in Europe?
In the 'party' of Mr Berlusconi there are lots of people that are very proud to raise their right arm and bring the fascist greetings(The business man and newspaper owner Ciarrapico)
I follow the Italian political situation since 16 years and have seen how far it can come.
This has nothing to do with the 'exotic' nature of Italians, or with political left or right but everything with mediaconcentrations that can fall in the wrong hands.
This can happen in any European country.
I you think I'm exagerating, read the following article which are all statements of Mr Berlusconi himself one week before the elections(I was in Italy)
http://www.indymedia.org/en/2008/04/904792.shtml
Will the European Christen Democratic alliance sit next to this man?
Do we want to follow in Europe the roadmap of Berlusconi and Putin?
It's urgently time for the European parliament to act!
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I really don't think that Buttiglione was dismissed by the EU because he was catholic (anonimolombardo) however if politicians heading a commision go to the European parliament with a religious agenda, (civil union, for same sex couples has never been on the Roman catholic agenda nor on Buttiglione's), it's totally justifiable that a commision is dismantled. The idea that Buttiglione may be given a "second chance" by Berlusconi just demonstrates the lack of insight that Berlusconi has with regards to the workings and aims of the EU and the contempt that he has for it.
Lets keep the EU free from the influence of an religious doctrines and prejudices something that is merely a dream in Italy today
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Mr. Mardell’s ‘reliable source’ sums up the EU problem nicely. MEPs believe they have a democratic legitimacy to rival that of our elected governments but they absolutely do not. No vote in the EU Parliament with which a national government or people disagree has any democratic legitimacy as far as the over-ruled country is concerned. Under the rules currently in force each national government nominates a Commissioner, but the EU Parliament believes it is justified in rejecting this decision of an elected government. This is the same ‘Parliament’ that recently voted 499 to 129 not to respect the outcome of the upcoming Irish referendum on the EU Constitution should it not be to their liking. It is the EU institutions that ‘slap democracy in the face’ when they over-rule elected governments and the verdict of national referendums.
The entire EU system is upside-down; it should be democratically-determined national law that can override EU decisions when a people or their elected government so desires.
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Buzet23, I have to say that I really like your idea of copying the US economic and political model. Given what their captains of industry such as Cheney and Rice have achieved there over the last eight years by allowing short-sighted greed to rule, this kind of approach, if applied throughout the world, might be capable of stopping the biggest threat humanity is facing. I am speaking of global ecological degradation, of course. It is true that the effect may only be achieved on this model through the implosion of the world economy and the resultant social chaos leading to a sharp fall in the production of pollution but this may be one of those rare fortunate cases that what is wrought by the invisible hand of the market in the short term, will end up being best for the planet in the long term.
Now, removing my tongue out of my cheek, I have to say that market fundamentalism is probably the most dangerous form of fundamentalism in the world right now. And, yes, I do realise that the destruction of the world economy would not necessarily lead to positive environmental effects. The major advantage that politicians have over captains of industry is that we can vote them out.
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How can the re-presentation of Mr Buttiglione be a "slap in the face for democracy." Mr. Berlusconi has been elected, the "EU" commission not.
And since when have "EU"-lovers worried about democracy? Only when it suits them! It is a card they play.
The existence of the "EU" is a slap in the face for democracy.
It seems to me that homosexuals and Catholics are more highly represented than one might expect amongst "EU"-lovers.
I believe I understand why Catholics would be more highly represented, but why homosexuals?
Is it true? If so, why?
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The arguments currently taking place in the European Union remind me of the arguments that used to plague the ancient Greek city states. They can be extremely irritating but form a part of the democratic process.
Another common theme between the EU and the ancient Greek city states is that some states have a chip on their shoulder, feeling that they should be far more important than they deserve, and this can create serious tension and disputes.
If the European Parliament stayed permanently in one location (Brussels rather than Strasbourg), we could use the money saved to have a Senate, where people of vision and maturity appointed by individual states could bring some maturity to some of the more infantile European goings-on.
To make the whole thing work more effectively, we'd also need to give the EU Commission and Presidency some more clout so a future Barosso could take decisions and stick with them without having to worry about immature politicians such as Mr Berlusconi.
And the new Europe needs to start eliminating corruption, which from what I can see is destroying the very fabric of the European Union from the inside.
We never had this problem in Sparta (for most of the time).
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I never trusted Berlusconi and I never will trust him. This man is much to close with Putin and he's best friends with fascists. His new government will be full of fascist ultraconservatives . I hope that his government will be gone soon but I'm affraid that this guy will be Italian prime-minister for the next 4 years.
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Barroso's move is quite intriguing - it appears he seems to share your source's expectations of who Italy's comeback kid will present as Frattini's successor.
Whilst this may cause uproar, Mr Buttiglione prospective candidature reveals a broader problem facing the EU - a clash of political cultures with the EU - what may be acceptable to some, is not for others. Buttiglione potential candiditure is a direct consequence of Burlosconi's election. A reflection on the way Italians voted. The same goes for MEPs and all these allegations of corruption (my source tells me a italian MEPs are notorious for pocketing expenses). One should not forget that they are democratically elected!
Meanwhile, I'm sure other EU leaders are looking forward to their next meeting now that the jester is back in the European court.
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I agree with -StuartC- that the BBC is institutionally biased in favour of the EU. I could not find any sign of of today's stories revealing the EU's secret plans to rename parts of Southern England.
Why does the BBC sit on the unfavourable news but rushes to publicise anything that shows the EU in a good light?
Is the EU loan/subsidy at risk if the BBC becomes impartial?
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Mark, Silvio Berlusconi's contempt for the EU Commission is widely shared and fully justified.
Who voted them in anyway?
Talmont (10) says that "market fundamentalism is probably the most dangerous form of fundamentalism in the world right now."
Really? Try living as a free, liberated, independent woman in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan...
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Mark, apropos of your previous post, I bet it'll be a long time before you write about the Balkans again ;-)
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ScepticMax, the point you make is irrelevant to my claim. I am as worried about religious fundamentalism as the next guy. Indeed, I am worried about it regardless of whether it exists in the Middle East or the Mid-West. However, my claim was that market fundamentalism is the most dangerous form fundamentalism takes, not the only dangerous form it takes. Now, would you like to argue against the claim I made or against the claim you wish I'd made? The question that I really wonder about, however, is why Mr. Mardell's blog attracts such a high number of people who have such strindently anti-EU views.
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Berlusconi is a populist who has become Italian prime minister with the help of Lega Nord (including a few fascists). I'm affraid they will have a large influence on Italian politics.
For example: Italy's population will decrease to just 50 million in the next 40 years (that's a decrease of 8 million). Not surprisingly the labour market will collapse and probably the Italian economy. Without immigration (or a huge natural increase of the population, which is unlikely) this doom scenario will maybe become reality. Lega Nord has strong anti-immigrant positions. Their influence on immigration policy could curb immigration and that decision would be letal for Italy.
The populist vocabulaire of Berlusconi and friends will anger many (newest incident: Berlusconi and the Spanish government, which is manly female). So, probably troublesome years ahead for the relationship between Italy and the European Union.
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Talmont,
I'll ignore your explanation regarding market-fundamentalism as it doesn't make any sense to make any comparison of the promotion of free market policies with the deliberate murderous objectives of religious nutters who claim a god-given right to spread their version of 'divine truth' by the sword. (Sorry there's no way of stating it more politely).
As to your other point: Why does Mark's blog attract a high number of people with strident anti-EU views? Simple: it is one of the few fora [plural of forum] on MSM (and especially the BBC) that hosts debate on EU matters and allows EUrosceptic voices to express opinions. I know that this may come as a shock to many on the 'liberal-left', but most British people are EUrosceptic. You don't believe me? Then put it to a vote. But of course you won't - you're too scared that you may not like the result. (Just like New Labour reneging on its commitment for a vote on the new EU Treaty [aka Constitutional Treaty])
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The BBC is too pro EU what about the EU trying to rename parts of southern england .What gives them the power to do this it not even a country.The Eu states it loves cultural differences but really it the oither way round.The Eu we want the truth Mark
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I saw the 10°clock news which led with the story about MEPs blocking publication of internal reports. It was a bit sensational - was it really worthy of being the lead item that day? It did not go into much depth and kind of lumped all UK MEPs in with their other European counterparts.
It would have been more interesting if they had researched in more detail on what UK MEPs are upto. eg. How many employ family members as staff.
Whilst one British Labour MEP was prepared to go on TV and defend employing his wife as a part of his admin support, there are others - and not just pro-EU MEPs.
Despite banging on about EU corruption and leading UKIP to electoral success in the 2004 elections, Kilroy-Silk, who has gone rather quiet of late - only employs one person - his wife.
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Jaws @21. What are you talking about? It's not some more murdoch press nonesense is it?
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The story about the EU trying to re-name the South of England is absolute balderdash.
Margot Wallstrom, the Vice-President of the Commission, explains it all in her blog:
http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/wallstrom/the-silly-season-already/
The story is from two years ago; the truth is that it's simply an issue of how the EU distributes regional funds. But, of course, that's not interesting enough for our europhobic tabloids who twist the truth and suggest that the EU is trying to re-name our country. It's all absolute rubbish and it's frankly an embarassment that there are people in this country who fall for such tripe.
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ScepticMax,
Thank you for your explanation regarding the presence of antiEU opinions on this blog. I take it from what you say that you think either that papers such as The Sun or Daily Mail are not mainstream (though their circulation would lead me to think otherwise) or that they are not open to antiEU views (though their contents would appear to strongly suggest otherwise)? Or is it simply that such papers are not open to debate on the EU (a claim I would be much more likely to agree with)?
As for the number of people in the UK with antiEU views, I am aware that the number is very high. However, I suspect that it is not as high as you think not, for that matter, as low as I think. As for the UK leaving the EU, I have three reasons why I hope they will not. The first is that I like visiting the UK and this would probably make things a bit more difficult. The second is that if it resulted in less trade between the UK and the EU it would adversely affect the UK economy. And the third reason is that the British would lose the ability to affect decisions which will, in one way or another, have a great amount of significance for their well-being.
Finally, as regards market fundamentalism. You, once again, fail to deal with the claim I make. I did not say that market fundamentalists are psychotic maniacs hell-bent on destruction. My claim, I once again repeat, was that market fundamentalism is the most dangerous form of fundamentalism. Consider the scenario where you have a knife-wielding maniac and a corrupt hospital administrator. Who is more dangerous, overall? Probably the administrator as his actions may lead to the deaths of dozens of people over many years while the maniac will, most likely, be quickly caught. Similarly, the effects of market fundamentalism are, for a number of reasons, likely to be far more detrimental in the long term than those of any other kind of fundamentalism.
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Talmont,
Sorry: I don't read the Sun or the Mail. (Even rabid EUrosceptics like me have standards).
I don't necessarily want the UK to leave the EU, I'd rather the EU reformed itself and became the free trading zone - or 'economic community - that people thought they were voting for in 1975.
Instead, we now have a nascent federal 'United States of Europe' - for this is the declared - and logical - objective of 'ever closer union' enshrined in the EU's new Constitutional - sorry, Lisbon - Treaty. And Britain, like all other member states, will become subservient to this collective.
It is the ethos and 'values' of this Union that I reject. If the only means of ensuring our sovereignty and independence is to cede from the EU, then so be it.
Re: 'market fundamentalism' - I don't accept your basic premise. There is no such thing. You either believe that men (and women) are free, or you believe that they are subject to the will of the collective (you can call it 'society' if it makes you feel more comfortable).
It is the free market that creates the best conditions in which to live a free and prosperous life. The world's peoples (though not many intellectuals) know this and when possible, vote with their feet accordingly. That is why there are very few immigrants to those nice places where the free market is verboten (like the once fashionable Soviet Union, or the still fashionable Cuba. And I can assure you that there were, and are, plenty of 'corrupt hospital administrators' in those socialist paradises).
To conclude, a 'market fundamentalist' is like a 'laws of physics fundamentalist': a nonsensical term. And even if it made sense, would it really be a bad thing?
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I am Italian and I am deeply ashamed about what's going on right now in my country. I believe that we are in the middle of a "soft" regime and the majority of people are brainwashed zombies under the influence of controlled media. Please help us.
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Well Phil I think italy is on its own! what can I say I have lived in Italy for a number of years and remain amazed at the lack of unified concern of Italians. Everybody complains but in the end nothing happens...why? Because at the foundation there is an "I'm alright Jack" attitude that permeates the political caste. Italian politicians are the highest paid in europe roughly 15,000euro a month BASIC yet Italians are the lowest paid an average salary of 1,200 euro a month yet nobody does anything about this, in an other country there would be mass upheaval, it wasn't even mentioned in the election campaigns of the right or the left. The way in which politics is structured here is that there is no connection between members of parliament and those that voted for them and therefore politicians can basically do what they want without answering to anyone.
Italians complain about corruption but see no problem in conflicts of interest that almost all politicians have.("Annozero" survey) The Roman catholic church has kept Italy behind in social and health reforms and legislation rendering Italy a backward country just look at Spain once considered Italy's poor cousin. Maybe that's why Silvio is provoking Barroso a touch of inferiority complex!?!
There is a fine line of separation between the church and the state. How many public offices, schools, hospital do you walk into in Spain and see crucifixes?How much influence does the church have in IVF treatment in other countries? Same sex union? It's the norm in this so called secular country Italy.
Another national disaster is Alitalia how many government would try to bail out an airline that loses 1million euro a day for years? How many countries have 100's of tonnes of rubbish piled up in a major city for months without anything concrete planned despite the intervention of the EU?
The highest levels of death in the workplace, one of the highest levels of road deaths in Europe....The list of political and social disaters can go on and on.
Added to all of this is the question about freedom of the press is something that should concern all Italians and all Europeans, in Italy it hardly exists. The quality of news reporting stinks and if there is anyone decent they disapear especially under Berlusconi.
Italy, I hope, has reached rock bottom: a failed economy(Dutchnemo: the economy is in pieces already!) a social system in pieces and infrastructure that doesn't function and a political caste that is out only for itself. On a positive note at least if it has reached the bottom it can only go up or stay as it is....or is it?!?
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Buzet23, if Commissioners are 'politicians past their sell by date' then why is the current President a former Prime Minister; why did his predecessor move on from the post to become Prime Minister; and why is Franco Frattini about to become Foreign Minister? As for captains of industry, look no further than Neelie Kroes...
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Reply to Scepticmax, no. 26
"rather the EU reformed itself and became a free trading zone"
In other words return to the 1970s, undo all the treaties from the Single European Act in 1986 to Lisbon, thereby making a fiction of the Single Market, Schengen, the euro, and all the security/immigration/fraud prevention/foreign policy/third pillar competences.
This is unrealistic for a number of reasons. Most importantly, a trading zone will not be effective unless there is a level playing field for all involved: not just in respect of trading rules, but also the ability to live and work in another country, i.e. employment and social security. It is also facilitated by the application of similar laws across the board. Stepping back from that, as you are suggesting, would lead to a disfunctional or limited system where Member States are free to promote their own self-interests.
At the heart of your "trading-zone" arguments lies the idea that the UK should somehow be part of Europe, taking all the economic advantages, but none of the associated "disadvantages". Again unrealistic. The UK should put up or shut up.
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Ravenseft, (30. At 1:01 pm on 25 Apr 2008): Well, I'm sure what you'd really like is for Britain to 'put up' the funds for the EU circus, and 'shut up' our complaining about our loss of sovereignty and independence.
This wont happen.
If the "Single Market, Schengen, the euro, and all the security/immigration/fraud prevention/foreign policy/third pillar competences." fall by the wayside, all the better.
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Reply to Scepticmax, no. 31
"Britain to 'put up' the funds for the EU circus"
Now we get to the substance of your objection, built on at least three fallacies:
(a) the parasitic nature of the EU vis-a-vis the UK but not for other Member States who profit from the UK's membership. In other words, we was robbed. This conveniently forgets the rebate funded by other Member States, including those far smaller than the world's fourth largest economy. It also ignores the mismanagement of the UK's membership; whereas Ireland was able to turn the EU to its advantage, the UK took on the role of non-participating member. So much so that even the EU has to remind Northern Ireland that it should be applying for funds.
(b) it's all about money. Only the UK approaches the EU with a pocket-book mentality, tallying the ins with the outs. All very well, but rather false when the actual "expenses" are put into perspective with other government expenditure - 2.75bn euros per year for the EU, compared with a social security outlay of £161bn, defence of £32bn and health of £104bn. Small potatoes really.
(c) it's an unnecessary and corrupt circus (it must be if it's run by foreigners), but nevertheless the world's largest trade bloc whose economic growth regularly outstrips the US and Japan, and whose currency is replacing the dollar as the world's major currency. A circus which has encouraged democracy to flower in previously-communist countries, and which has ensured the longest period of peace in over 100 years.
What I would like is for the UK (or its constituent parts) to decide where its future lies. If not with the EU (as the EU will not "fall by the wayside" to suit the UK), then it should withdraw as did Greenland in 1984.
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Rafenseft (30): Common trade does not require common governmental functions. It is not the case in NAFTA for example. Mexico has negotiated free trade within NAFTA and with the EU without being required to live under EU laws that their people never wanted and cannot change through their votes. Switzerland has negotiated free trade with the EU while preserving the independence needed for the survival of their direct democracy (no national law of a member-state can contradict EU law even if supported by a national referendum). Britain should renegotiate its membership of the EU to achieve free trade and nothing more. Common policies in political areas are only needed if the real intent is to use a common market as subterfuge for building a common government, which would inevitably be undemocratic (as implied by your ‘put up or shut up’ statements) and is therefore an undesirable and unrealistic goal.
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Ravenseft, As it's Friday evening, I can offer only a short-form point-by-point rebuttal of your claims:
a) The UK was, and remains, a nett contributer to the EU (the rebate just reduces the burden a bit). Quite amusing, considering that Luxembourg (ranked the world's No.1GDP (PPP) per capita by the World Bank) in is a nett recipient. (the UK is ranked 16th).
b) It's not all about money. (But then I don't see anyone refusing to accept the UK's 'paltry' contributions...). It is about national sovereignty and independence of action.
BTW, I find that British taxpayers - the people who actually work and pay taxes - tend to care about 'the money' more than the recipients, who seemed more ideologically motivated. Funny that, eh?
You'll also be glad to know that I am consistent: the UK social security and health systems are both a grossly overblown and expensive waste of money. Defence, on the other hand, is underfunded.
c) I love Europe: its people (your 'foreigners'), its history and its cultures. I don't like the EU with it's over-arching supra-national, federalist and collectivist ambitions. The two should not be confused.
Actually, "longest period of peace in over 100 years" should rightly to be attributed to NATO and the US nuclear umbrella. The EU is a beneficiary of this policy.
You last paragraph is a well considered desire. Alas, our national 'leaders' are too scared to ask us.
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Decocracy is no were in sight with the EU if they want the Treaty to be in touch with the people they should let us have a say and them both us the sceptics and the pro EU fans can debate it which is called democracy .But the Eu is far from this.This Treaty will probaly at some point come to slap the EU in the face or result in its downfall or members leaving.Now cause they force undemocratic EU laws on us they are hated even more.Not very good at business a 2 year old could run the EU.
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eu bullying a sign of things to come....
EU pressuring Commonwealth on trade
Wednesday, 09 April 2008
The European Union has been accused of trying to push Commonwealth countries into signing new trade agreements that will leave them worse off, reports the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
The accusations were made at a conference in Cape Town, where trade representatives of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries took stock of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) being negotiated with the EU Commission.
ACP Secretary General John Kaputin says countries found themselves under pressure to agree to clauses they believed would harm their economic interests. These included giving EU investors access to service industries and government contracts, as well as greater protection to intellectual property rights.
The race towards the deadline of 31 December 2007 was fraught with panic, confusion and frustration. In the end only 35 out of 77 countries initialed interim or full EPAs. Many more might not have initialed, but were held captive by the possibility of trade disruption that would have followed if they had not initialed, says Kaputin.
South Africa was among countries that did not sign an EPA agreement
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Opion polls from the eurobarometer shows UK most anti EU.seeing why this poll as something to do with Eu the stats could be much lower in the uk maybe 15% .So it not just in the UK ,EUs image is going down thec drain...
Percentage of citizens who believe EU membership is "a good thing":
Ireland - 78 per cent
Luxembourg - 74 per cent
Netherlands- 72 per cent
Belgium - 69 per cent
Spain - 62 per cent
Lithuania - 62 per cent
Poland - 62 per cent
Denmark - 61 per cent
Slovakia - 61 per cent
Germany - 58 per cent
Greece - 57 per cent
Estonia - 56 per cent
Italy - 52 per cent
Czech Rep - 51 per cent
France - 50 per cent
Portugal - 50 per cent
Sweden - 49 per cent
Cyprus - 47 per cent
Malta - 45 per cent
Latvia - 43 per cent
Finland - 39 per cent
Hungary - 39 per cent
Austria - 36 per cent
UK - 34 per cent
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I am English , Eurosceptic !!!
I Regard the EU with Contempt .
I am interested to read the many contributions to this Blog , for the major part anti EU .
I note the harsh criticism of Berlusconi , which may in a personal sense be justified . People shouldn't believe everything they read in the newspapers . Whatever arguments to the contrary , you are guilty until proved innocent in Italy . I have lived in Italy and am very much aware of the difficulties they have regarding government . Berlusconi is perhaps the only Italian politician of today , who might , given enough parliamentary support , be able to bring Italy onto its feet again and reduce the vast national debt . It needs a strong business man and enough parliamentary support .
Parliament and politics in Italy , is not about governing the country , it's about a lot of heated talk among politicians and political party infighting . People can talk about honesty and corruption , the latter is built into every strata of Italian life , only italians don't see it like that .
I was interested to see the list of EU member states and their percentage of EU supporters . Without a survey , 34% is what I have thought for Britain and it could be even less .
I would like to see Britain leave the EU . I am sorry if Talmont would be disappointed because he would find it more difficult to visit Britain .
It is only a very few years ago , that Britain for the first time traded profitably with Europe . Britain has long been accustomed to trading freely around the world , I doubt that leaving the EU would make much difference . I have long criticised EU marketing as being concentric , trying desparately to sell the same products within Europe rather than worldwide .
I wonder what benefits Talmont thinks Britain might miss out on , I have never seen any and cannot think of any new ones . I can see the possibility of many benefits to Britain being an independant Sovereign state , creating its own laws and managing its own affairs .
I now live in Thailand , which many people would consider a developing country ; there are no social services and many people are too poor to finance one . Medical sevices are very inexpensive and for the very poor cost 45p inclusive . For all the so called protectionist laws in Europe , I'm much better off here . There are no health and Safety regulations here .
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Helenroma , you said it well and there is so much more to say than you have said .
Just one point ; I know one should be optimistic , but ; Do you really think Italy has reached the bottom ; isn't there a fair bit more to go ?
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why does the BBC support the EU 100% and does not support the general mood of the public which is anti EU.The British cant be fooled into the EU trap which as been placed down by unelected unwanted EU. Euro sceptic mood in Britain is on the rise sooner or later the UK will leave this Euro mess of a so called organisation.opion polls show the general mood and its not pro EU
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Re #32.
1. EU is NOT the " world's largest trading block"
APEC is - by far. EU's economic potential is steadily declining in the global market.
[Out of politeness I won't mention its geopolitical/ military insignificance]
2. EU has NOT "has ensured the longest period of peace in over 100 years."
NATO (read: US) did.
3. EU has done nothing to end communist/Soviet occupation of East/Central European countries and allow them to pursue a free market economy.
On the contrary: "old Europe" had appeased USSR and kow-towed to Moscow for decades in the most embarrassing, cowardly fashion.
It was US (read: Ronald Reagan) which finally broke Soviet camel's (or rather white elephant's) back.
BTW. "Old Europe" is still scarred sh...less of Russian Bear and sucks up to it, even though the Asian animal has been toothless for many years and is itself mightily scarred of Chinese Dragon.
4. There is an illness known in psychiatry as 'mania grandiosa'. EU ledearship and its enthusiastic supporters seem to suffer from it, having lost contact with reality.
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In Ireland, one of the arguments in favour of joining the EU in 1979 was that even though our sovereignty would be curbed somewhat, ultimately it would give us more power to shape our nation by giving us the power to influence those who effect us. The EU is, of course, a very different thing for Ireland and Britain, as Britain has long been one of the most influential world economies, but as the global economic playing field widens, one should take note that a strong voice within the EU could well be the most effective tool in cushioning the economic downturn that may be lurking. The EU's decisions will unavoidably effect Britain, so if Britain left the EU, it would be losing, to some degree, its voice to influence such policies.
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Exactly why would Mr Burlesconi proposing someone unpleasant, or differently opinioned, be a slap in the face of democracy? The whole establishment of the EU 'government' is a slap in the face for democracy. The EU 'President' is inevitably trying his wings, and sees the Italians as an easy target because Burlesconi is seen as less than perfect. If he wins, he has set a precedent and bureaucrats love precedents to prove their actions are, of course, entirely correct. How much money would be saved by deciding we would have one government, and be run from Brussels (or London), has it been calculated? Two layers of govt is one too many. Two layers are twice as expensive and no more than half as efficient. We have to accept that we were lied to by Mr Heath, but we must still make progress from where we are now, as we can't go back. It is time to be honest with the population, time to make out the case for honour and truth in Euro politics. Once this is done, perhaps El Presidente's actions might be justified.
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Reshuffled people is a part of life....
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> 13. At 4:36 pm on 23 Apr 2008, DutchNemo wrote: ...
well, at least the trains are going to run on time.
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> 19. At 7:25 pm on 23 Apr 2008, DutchNemo wrote: Berlusconi is a populist who has become Italian prime minister with the help of Lega Nord (including a few fascists). I'm affraid they will have a large influence on Italian politics.
I wonder how far Italy will go towards independence for the north now that Umberto Bossi has been appointed minister for Federalist Reforms:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7389695.stm
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> 20. At 8:21 pm on 23 Apr 2008, ScepticMax wrote:
I would probably fall into your Eurosceptic grouping because I am British and I do not accept without question all that others would want me to believe about the EU. I think this is a healthy condition, and it is the same treatment I give to my national Government.
That does not mean however that I am wholly against the EU. I would rather believe instead that it is an expression of a national trait; it being that we British have a healthy contempt for those that would be our leaders. It would therefore not be too much to expect that a blog hosted by the BBC would attract a surfeit of such views.
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> 27. At 10:45 am on 25 Apr 2008, aquaPhil wrote: I am Italian and I am deeply ashamed about what's going on right now in my country. I believe that we are in the middle of a "soft" regime and the majority of people are brainwashed zombies under the influence of controlled media. Please help us.
Surely the call for any change must come from within Italy; pressure from elsewhere in Europe risks being portrayed as interference and thus counter-productive?
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> 40. At 9:07 pm on 28 Apr 2008, jaws1912 wrote: why does the BBC support the EU 100% and does not support the general mood of the public which is anti EU.
Surely the BBC's role (with respect to News and Current Affairs) is to provide impartial reporting, and not to align it's self with one faction or another?
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