Comment at end
10th June, 2009
So Sarkozy’s favours are now pointing in a different direction, are they?
Sarkozy & Blair, G8, June 2007
O.K.
That means Mr Blair is now free to re-claim his rightful place in Number 10.
BBC report
Nicolas Sarkozy has withdrawn his backing of Tony Blair to become the first president of the European Union, senior sources have told the BBC.
The French president is understood to have changed his mind after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
It is thought he feels EU opposition to the former UK prime minister is too strong because he backed the Iraq war.
The president will be chosen by leaders of EU member states. The post was created under the new EU reform treaty.
The sources close to the president also indicated that Mr Sarkozy felt Mr Blair was not right for the role because Britain has failed to adopt the European single currency and the Schengen zone of passport-free travel.
Instead, the sources say the top job could go to the current president of the commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, or the prime minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker.
BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell however said the British government has a distaste for Mr Juncker, who is seen as far too keen on more European integration, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown would probably do what he could to prevent him being elected.
He added that some of the smart money was moving to the Danish Prime Minister Anders Rasmussen.
The new president is to chair EU summits, take on some of the functions of the current presidency of the Council of the European Union – held on a rotating six-month basis by EU heads of government – and represent the EU on common foreign and security policy.
KITE FLYING?
Not that I’m convinced about this cooling of Sarkozy story. There is plenty of politicking going on behind the scenes, you can be sure. Take the “it is thought” and “sources close” with the usual pinch of salt.
The EuroSEPTIC (yes that’s what she calls herself) Mary Ellen at The Mail/Brussels even mentions Felipe Gonzalez, the socialist former prime minister of Spain as Monsieur Sarkozy’s new favourite for the job.
Different names mentioned from different quarters sounds a little like kite-flying to me.
I’d advise Ms Ellen not to get too excited too soon in her desperate hopes to see the end of Blair’s ambitions. But you know what it is with some over-excitable Tories … give ‘em a nod or a vote or two, and they think they have won the war.
Of course if HER man turns out to be the next British PM, look out world. The Tories already think they know who their bestest friends in Europe are.
Oh me, oh my.
IS A STRONG EUROPEAN VOICE STILL CONSIDERED IMPORTANT?
Blair & Sarkozy DO seem to have a good relationship. And they are both bestest friends of Mr Obama. America wants and needs a strong voice talking for Europe, and to whom they can talk comfortably, Democrat or Republican. It always has (Kissinger) and it always will.
President Obama & President Sarkozy, last week in Normandy. President Obama, like Mr Blair, has said that some progress needs to be made on the Israel/Palestinian issues within six months.
There is no stronger voice, in my humble opinion, that that of Tony Blair.
Prove me wrong and put in place A N Other EU President than our former PM.
Recent history, Blair & Sarkozy:
- In January 2008, Blair was named as Sarkozy’s favourite for the top EU job.
- In November 2008 Blair & Sarkozy got it together on ‘Euroconomics’.
- In June 2007, a few days before he left office, at the EU Summit Blair drew his “red lines” under the Lisbon Treaty (supposedly under Brown’s direction.)
- And a few months later, in December 2007, Blair hosted a highly successful “Donors Conference in Paris” to raise money for the “Palestinian state”.
Excerpt:
‘To help set up a viable Palestinian state, three and a half billion pounds have been promised at the Donors’ Conference in Paris today, exceeding the amount the Palestinians had been asking for by £0.7bn. They had requested £2.8bn. Britain will be spending £243m over the next several years.
This is clearly a sign of the support that nations are putting into this project, and will be a welcome start. Tony Blair’s presence and clear deep engagement at the heart of the project, which is to build the infrastructure, business and communities for Palestinians, is likely to have helped donor countries in their confidence, despite all the negative vibes.’
Watch Tony Blair speak at the December 2007 Paris Conference.
By the way, what high-profile international business have Messrs Juncker, Rasmussen, Barosso and Gonzalez been involved in recently? And isn’t Ms Merkel, despite once being said to be “interested” in the EU Presidency likely to win again at home in her upcoming general election?
Just asking.
Not that Mr Blair hasn’t enough to take up his time. Today Kofi Annan launched the Africa Progress Panel APP Annual Report at the 2009 World Economic Forum on Africa. And just who is the top-listed panel member under Mr Annan?
The Africa Progress Panel includes Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations (1996-2006) and Nobel Laureate); Tony Blair, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997-2007); ….
The 19th World Economic Forum on Africa is being held in Cape Town, Africa, from 10 to 12 June 2009 with the support of the Government of South Africa. Over 700 of the most prominent leaders from Africa and other parts of the world will gather to deliberate under the theme Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for Africa.
Tags: Anders Rasmussen, Angela Merkel, BBC, Britain's red lines, EU presidency, Felipe Gonzalez, Jean-Claude Juncker, Jose Manuel Barroso, Lisbon treaty, Sarkozy says no to Blair
July 15, 2009 at 3:54 pm |
Regarding Brown and Mr Juncker, it would be good to ask Brown if something may have occurred during one of his trips to Luxembourg which might just have provoked his atitude to the man who would undoubtedly be the best EU President
If so, what was it?
It’s not personal is it?
July 15, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Hi West,
A lot of things in politics are sadly personal. But I have no idea about Juncker and Brown.
Anyway, as far as Britain’s engagement in Europe is concerned, it will not surprise you that I think the Great Communicator – Blair – would be the ONE to raise Britain’s engagement within the rest of Europe. About time too.
Ask British people about Juncker and they’ll say, “WHO?”