Well, it turned out indeed to be anyone but Blair. The new President of the European Council, and it is right to stress that, for he is not President of Europe, is to be the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr Van Rompuy, as many suspected it would be.
Mr Van Rumpoy is an economist, who was chosen to be a quiet man. It appears that it was agreed that the new president must not be seen to overshadow the heads of government of the states of Europe. (This alone would have let Blair out, as he would have made it his business to overshadow Prime Minisers, Presidents, Grand Dukes, Queens and Kings.) It is thought that this election reflects the countries’ desire to limit the amount of power to be given to, or taken by, the Council. His appointment will mean that there will be more continuity in the work of the Council which, prior to this, was chaired on 6 monthly rotating basis, by the heads of government of member states.
The other full time post, that of High Representative for Foreign Affairs, (why High, why not just Representative?) will be taken by an English Baroness, Lady Ashton, who again seems to have been chosen for the lack of likelihood that she will overshadow the Ministers of Foreign Affairs from the individual states or indeed anyone else, including the tea lady. She has never held elected office, has no experience of diplomacy and is considered to be light weight at best. Others have described her as a disaster. Ashton was sent out to Brussels to replace Peter Mandleson as trade Commissioner last year. An appointment from the Lords was seen as necessary as Brown did not want to risk a by-election.
It seems that the worries of those who thought that the initiative in foreign affairs would be taken out of the hands of the likes of David Miliband and handed to a “supremo” in Brussels appear to have been quelled. It is unlikely that this novice will take any more than a back seat in any foreign affairs matters.
Looking at the photograph of them together there, I think that they were chosen to frighten the mice.
Oh ho ho ho, how the mighty have fallen eh?
ReplyDeleteBlair, oh er who? Seems he has out lived himself. I think the UK is now seen as a wee man in Europe. So glad Blair got the boot, he is bad news, real bad news.
From Rule Britannia - to Cool Britannia - to Drool Britannia - all in one lifetime. With Van Rumpoy as Pres does this mean we get to ditch the butchers apron?
ReplyDeleteThe point of being the High Representative is to emphasise to everyone else how much lower they are.
ReplyDeleteAs for the mice, it seems to me that Lady Ashton bears some resemblance to the Princess Royal.
ReplyDeleteHe he... Spook. I know. It's great. It actually works out well all round. The presidency is reduced to what Mr Van Rumpoy described as a co-ordinating role, and Blair gets a slap in his face. No President Blair.
ReplyDeleteAnother couple of years for that Scunnert. But it will come.
ReplyDeleteI see QM, I've always thought that people who wanted to have "high" someplace in their title were in need of some sort of confidence booster. I see you prove the point.
ReplyDeleteNow you come to mention it Danny, I see the resemblence there. I wonder how that could have come about. You have to admit she's one scary sight. I understand that her remit includes security. One look at her will scare the terrorists off.
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