People to look up to?

Brussels based weekly European Voice has announced the winners of its annual awards. Those who were chosen say a lot about the priorities of those who read the magazine. European of the Year: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Presumably because he has pushed so hard to meet the criteria for entry. The man is a vile autocrat by nature who thinks he owns Turkey, but that is an attitude unlikely to put off Pro Europeans. Statesman of the Year: Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. This was for completing negotiations on the EU constitution. While I am against the constitution, the man did an impossible job, so what can I say. Commissioner of the Year: Gunter Verheugen. Of course this man has been very dedicated to his job of enslaving the Eastern half of Europe, so I guess he deserves it. The one that really pissed me off was this one. Campaigner of the Year: Irish health minister Micheal Martin. For introducing a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. I have never smoked, I think it is a disgusting habit, but banning it is illiberal in the extreme. To think that the raw material for smokers is subsidised by CAP whilst the powers that be are pushing hard for a ban. What kind of crappy crazy world do we live in. My personal choice for European of the Year is Hans Martin Tillack, someone who really cares what kind ofEurope we live in.