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  David Sumberg MEP   

BRINGING COMMONSENSE TO BRUSSELS

Date:  20/01/2003 

 

 

NIGHTMARE OF TWO EU PRESIDENTS

North West Conservative Euro MP David Sumberg says Franco-German proposals for the European Union to have not one but TWO elected presidents is 'a farce only the EU could conjure up'.
 

Mr Sumberg said the proposal is the result of an absurd compromise between France and Germany.

 

"In essence Germany wanted a president elected by MEPs and France wanted one elected by heads of member states like Tony Blair,' he said. 'So despite the huge expense of creating two posts and the ludicrous proposition of having a push-me-pull-you two headed pantomime horse clattering around the EU the French and Germans decided they each should get what they wanted.  Yet again this is another in a long line of unwanted and dangerous Franco-German ideas like the Euro and the European Army and more recently the elimination of the national vetoes in foreign policy. One can only hope the smelling salts do the trick and the EU comes to its senses and abandons this two president proposal before it becomes part of its constitution."
 

Mr Sumberg said he was depressed to see the Labour Government meekly following in France and Germany's foot steps.
 

"Labour seems incapable of promoting a British vision but happy to see France and Germany push through their proposals for a more integrated Europe. If these proposals go through the President of the Commission will become an increasingly politicised post, something no previous British Government would have accepted. These presidencies might make nice jobs for elderly European statesmen but they are no solution to the real problems of democratic accountability and excessive centralisation the EU faces today."