Blair criticised over 'invisible presidency' of the EU

[emad]

Blair criticised over 'invisible presidency' of the EU

Nicholas Watt , European editor
Friday September 23, 2005
The Guardian


Tony Blair faced pressure yesterday to intensify work on Britain's presidency of the EU amid claims that nothing is being achieved.
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president, said that barely anything had happened since Britain assumed the reins in July. "The chairmanship of the union is now British," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "We are at the end of September. What was the contribution of the British presidency up to now? Practically very little."

Mr Giscard's remarks reflect belief across the EU that Britain is running an invisible presidency, with few initiatives being taken at a crucial time in EU history.

Britain is to make no attempt to replace the EU constitution after it was rejected by French and Dutch voters in the early summer. The EU budget, which led to the collapse of the last European summit in June, will not be addressed by leaders until the final weeks of the presidency in December. The prime minister is to discuss the budget in one-to-one meetings with fellow leaders but will not table firm proposals until December 16 in Brussels.

Dalia Grybauskaite, the European budget commissioner, questioned Downing Street's decision not to place the budget on the agenda of an informal summit at Hampton Court Palace at the end of next month. "I have no idea how it is possible to avoid in discussions about the future of Europe," she said.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/eu/story/0,9061,1576708,00.html

[KoKo]

1. Blair reminds me of Bush...all talk and do nothing.

He's always blathering and effusive about something defending himself but like the Chimp does anyone ever see him doing work? He took a secret vacations same time as Bush and seems to flit all around the same as Chimp