Tax Competition

The arguments raging about tax competition in the EU underscore the two completely different, not to say incompatible views of what the EU is to be. As the discussions develop, it looks like being an interesting time. In the Red corner, the old Europe, wedded to a system of wealth transfer that can no longer be afforded. Championed by France & Germany among others is the idea that the state has a right to your money and that dodging taxes by moving production to the east is somehow immoral. They see the EU as a guarantor of “Social Europe”. In the Blue corner, Anglo Saxon attitudes prevail. Taxes should be kept low to promote economic growth. Although nominally in this group, the UK fails miserably to do as it says and the real champions are mostly the newcomers in the east. These countries see the EU as primarily a trade block. Estonia, one of the best examples of truly free market capitalism in Europe is defending itself vigorously from the worst that the reds can throw at it. The Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts sharply attacked France yesterday for its ongoing pressure on new EU member states to increase their corporate tax rates. Now he is joined in the battle by none other that Industry Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, who is saying that tax competition in the European Union is useful. First the man in very successful in pushing Turkey’s candidature forward and now this. Monsieur Chirac must be sticking pins into his effigy as you read this.

Someone agrees with me

Its nice to see that other people share your ideas. Its even nicer when they are those from whom you would never expect such a thing. On the Guardian's KickAAS website is the following comment on President Chirac's latest ideas on poverty.

There is a much easier way M Chirac because it's happening under your watch. Get rid of agriculture subsidies. That would save the West over $1 billion a DAY while giving poor countries a dramatic opportunity to develop crops like sugar and cotton that they can do efficiently but from which they are priced out of world markets at the moment because of immoral and uneconomic Western subsidies.

Funny the idea seems somewhat familiar.

Regulation solves everything

The European Commission has proposed a package of measures to promote new and better medicines specifically designed for children. The EU executive's proposal for a regulation on medicines for children, adopted today, aims to improve the health of children in Europe by ensuring the authorisation of medicines specifically researched and developed to meet the therapeutic needs of children.

So there you have it, better health for all at the stroke of a pen. Funny how the wise sages who control our lives constantly over estimate their abilities to solve problems and under estimate their capacity to cause problems.

Dutch 'Iron Lady' commissioner fights MEPs' business deal claims In follow up to controversial commissioners, Neelie Kroes has been defending herself against acusations of slease which seem to be politically motivated.

Theresa Villiers, the Tory economics spokesman, said Mrs Kroes had been singled out for a parliamentary lynching because of her rare experience in the real world, serving on more than 30 company boards in a wide-ranging business career. "The socialists were out to get her as target number one because they know she's going to push a free-market agenda," she said.

In a more normal environment, experience is something useful. In Brussels its proof that you cannot be independent. Next time I need a doctor I'll bear that in mind. I wouldn't want years of medical experience to sway his opinion.

Response to Globalisation?

Also from Mr Titley's speech

There are those who believe that the best response to the insecurities of globalisation is to hide away in our houses, lock our windows and doors, turn out the lights and hope the rest of the world goes away. And then there are those like us who believe we have to grasp the opportunities of globalisation and counter its threats by building an outward looking agenda based on international cooperation.

Some of us would say that the EU with its emphasis on harmonisation of harmful regulation is a continental effort to lock windows and doors and hope the world goes away. I'm sure there are some anti globalisers in the anti-EU camp, but most of us believe in embracing global trade and that the EU is a misguided attempt to hide from it.

A Labour Quisling taking us forward

Hat tip to EU Referendum From a Speech to the Labour Party Conference by MEP Gary Titley, Titled Only Labour Values can take us forward in Europe. On the European Elections

Opposition parties benefited everywhere - except here. The British Conservative Party achieved the remarkable feat of being the only opposition party in Europe to actually lose in the elections. They lost because the electorate got fed up with Michael Howard's opportunism, fed up with his flip-flops, fed up with all the contradictions in his policies.

Except they did really well in the local elections held the same day. They actually lost out to the UKIP, who came out strongly against the EU.

The only ones to gain from all this were the UK Independence Party - the BNP with suits and posh accents. Their message was as much anti-immigration as anti-EU. UKIP is a collection of the paranoid, the obsessive, the little Englanders, the backwoodsmen. Yes, men. All 12 MEPs they elected are middle-aged or elderly men. Gone are the days of the angry young man. Now we just have grumpy old men.

They are never going to let up on this independence is Fascism lack are they. Does this preposterous pompous fool not notice that the BNP wears suits anyway and that they had a big success in those elections. By constantly pretending that UKIP is the same as BNP, does he not risk increasing the credibility of the BNP. Little Englanders? What is that suppose to mean exactly? Its a refrain constantly used as if a fondness for ones own country were somehow criminal. I am happy to be British and want nothing to doing with the socialist mess that is the EU. My resistance is not based on some misguided sense of superiority but on a disgust for the social engineering experiment that is the EU and its impact on individual liberty. I suspect that most of those who voted UKIP have much in common with me.

Each and every one of us is determined to work at the heart of this Parliament, - leading the way in finding solutions to the many problems that confront us. We have to

1. Create new and better jobs while protecting workers
2. Make Europe's economy more dynamic while safeguarding the environment
3. Have a coherent European response to World crises
4. Reform world trade rules so that they are fair for all
5. Blah blah blah........

The guy is a god obviously, all this power at his fingertips.

The most statist, interventionist, over regulated economy of the world wants to become more dynamic and create jobs. Just a thought Gary, abolish all of the EU's regulations. Reform trade rules....ha ha ha ha , from the makers of the CAP.

Then comes the best bit.......

We are sorry to lose Neil Kinnock. Neil has done a tremendous job in his 10 years in the Commission. First he got to grips with transport policy. Then he modernised the European Commission and made it more accountable both politically and financially. Neil has been an inspiration to us all.

With such inspiration the future of the EU is secure.

I'm Struggling

What happened to my blog? There is a huge empty space. I know the EU is all useless hot air, but this is ridiculous. Hurrah, I solved it.

An interesting view

This picture appeared in Le Monde yesterday. Apart from the fact that it is insulting to the Turks, what is it trying to say? . I'm not sure whether this is what they are trying to say, being a French newspaper and all, but could it not mean this. The EU is a bunch of people sitting around together producing crap. Some are more sophisticated than others at the task, but the end result is still the same.

Controversial

EU assembly launches grilling of new Commissioners

The European Parliament launched two weeks of confirmation hearings Monday for the EU's incoming executive commissioners, with some of the more controversial figures braced for a hostile grilling.

So what do they regard as controversial? I wonder.

Kroes' extensive business links -- she has sat on the boards of more than 30 Dutch and foreign companies -- have caused disquiet over whether she can serve fully independently as the EU's chief corporate regulator.

Ok, I can see that this may be a problem, although my instincts tell me that it could just as easily be ideological. The women is a capitalist for Marx's sake. But this is outrageously controversial......

The cigar-chomping Buttiglione is a staunch Catholic whose conservative views on homosexuals and abortion will ensure him a lively reception from the PES, the Greens and other left-wingers at his hearing on October 5. Udre carries less overtly controversial political baggage, but she has aroused suspicions among some MEPs for professing to a "healthy euroscepticism".

One of them is religious, Shock Horror, whilst the other is sceptical about the 21st century secular religion of the EU. Next we'll have free marketeers nominated. Oh wait a minute...

Britain's Peter Mandelson faces opposition on more ideological grounds when he appears before the parliament on October 4. The twice-disgraced confidante of Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to bring a free-market zeal to his post of trade commissioner, an agenda not shared by everyone in Europe.

So in the views of the 68 generation whose neosocialist views are strangling our civilisation, we now know what it means to be controversial.

Update on Kinnock

According to Mr Freemarket, the fearless defender of the public purse, formerly known as the Welsh windbag, will continue to fleece the public in retirement. The value of his pension is calculated at £2.3 Million. Not bad for a failure is it. I seem to remember the old chap ranting about fat cat pay and perks. Perhaps my memory is plying tricks with me. I wonder what the state of Marta Andreasen's pension is?

The Case of the Inevitable

In the absence of any real arguments in favour of a European super state, most of its supporters fall back on the question of inevitability. As it is going to happen anyway, why fight against it? Aside from the fact that the same argument could have been used in the context of the Nazi invasions or any number of other horrible historic events, what is it about the EU that makes it so inevitable? It is after all to the best of my knowledge a totally unique experiment. In our favourite love to hate rag today, one of the most underwhelming politicians of the last 30 years is banging on about swimming against the tide of history and other cliches. God these Europhiles should come with a warning. The Lost Boys of the Tory party are planning another excursion into Never Never Land. John Redwood, the Eurosceptic who never grew up, has once more raised the prospect of renegotiating Britain's membership of the European Union. His stated objective is a relationship which is "more closely modelled to what we originally joined". Its funny that so called never never land is an actual situation from just a few years ago. It is painted however as a situation that could never exist. Forget the weird syntax. Just estimate the possibility of France and Germany, not to mention the other member nations, agreeing to turn back the clock by 30 years or accepting that Britain alone can pick and choose among the aspects of the union from which it benefits and the obligations which it prefers to avoid. Yes lets not mention the other 22 (yes that twenty two) members of the union that include people much more likely to look favourably on measures to reform the EU. Lets also not mention the fact that many of the members citizens are also fed up with the surreal bureacratic nightmare that the EU has become. No only the Leaders, the Elite of the premium members are important. Picking and choosing are terrible things are they not. That undermines that whole socialist principles on which the union is based. Over the next 20 years Europe will become more integrated not less. All the pressures, internal and external, make that inevitable. If you doubt it, read Stephen Haseler's latest book. It sets out a series of self-evident truths that other Europhiles have been afraid to express. Its title is Super-State and superstate is what, sooner or later, Europe will become. Which pressure these are is not stated, but no doubt this is the typical left ignorance of the free market. But with a single market we need a single government to control it. Uh Wrong, free markets are not supposed to be controlled, thats what makes them free. Oh if you don't believe me read this book that also says it is all inevitable. Oh clever Mr Hattersley you've really got me now. The world's largest economy with a stable common currency and a successful single market is, he rightly argues, bound to pursue policies that conflict with the interests of the US. That makes the two "superpowers" competitors but not enemies. It also means that "core Europe" - the Franco-German alliance which Britain should join and make into a troika - is certain to lead the way towards distinctive defence and foreign policies. The only way we can maintain the worlds largest economy in the face of socialist stagnation is of course by continuing to accept more members. As for distinct defence and foriegn policies, I am forced to admit that neglecting the defence of the realm and snuggling up to dictators is certainly distinct. Whether it is wise is of course the subject of another discussion entirely. Thirty years ago, we joined a common market that was little more than a free trade area. Foolishly, Ted Heath promised no reduction in national sovereignty - instead of emphasising the strength that comes when sovereignty is pooled. Ted Heath's foolishness was no more than plain lies. He knew the British public would not accept his inexplicable wish to destroy their nation so he pretended that there was nothing to fear. As for pooling sovereignty its a poetic turn of phrase that means absolutely nothing. So far pooling sovereignty has given us hundreds of thousands of pages of regulations and little else. Economic and political union cannot be separated. The free movement of capital and labour have to be politically defined and legally regulated. That is a necessity, not a matter of choice. Let me define Free for you Roy. It means that interfering gits like you don't have the opportunity to run our lives. Its not in the least bit a necessity. Is it possible that John Redwood, sometime fellow of All Souls, does not recognise that obvious fact? Is it possible Mr Splattersley that Mr Redwood is several notches up the evolutionary ladder from you?

My First Week

I was planning to review this blog's first week of existence yesterday, but I was forced to be away from an internet connection for the whole weekend. For a first week, being noticed and mentioned by Europhobia and by the Adam Smith Institute was not bad going. I hope it is a portent of things to come.

A divided Union

This week the economist has a survey of the EU. Although much of it is only available to subscribers this article is free view. It asks whether the problems in the EU could be terminal. I particularly liked this paragraph: European federalists—the heirs to Monnet and Schuman—are well aware of these problems. Some believe that a new impetus for European unity can be provided by trying to build up the EU into a new superpower—a global force that can equal the United States. But so far any moves in that direction have served only to deepen divisions within the EU, in particular over attitudes to America. In a nutshell, the key source of much of the problems. The federalists think they work in a fairground, their approach to policy "Scream if you want to go faster". They haven't seen a problem yet that more integration will not solve. The problem is that the citizens of Europe are not waving but drowning.

Let the Battle Commence

Kinnock joins Europe campaign Heavy hitters recruited to argue for EU constitution Britain's two outgoing European commissioners, Neil Kinnock and Chris Patten, are to join the board of the pressure group Britain in Europe in a sign that the once demoralised organisation is again attracting political heavy hitters in advance of the referendum on the European constitution expected in 2006. Its nice to see the the armies preparing for battle, but I must say I am less than impressed with BIE's champions. Chris Patten, the man who's finest hour was giving Hong Kong to the communists. He is uniquely positioned however to comment on the transfer of a relatively free people to an undemocratic authoritarian government. Neil Kinnock, the perennial looser, whose job fighting corruption in Brussels was most noted for his sacking of a whistle blower. The man who against all the odds managed to lose the 1992 election. I am prepared to bet that the so called heavy hitters will prove to be a liability to the cause.

Euro Morons

As a believer in the rights of the individual over and above everything else, I hate the people protectors more than anything. We need this law to protect blah blah blah.... and all or freedom of choice is trodden on. The follow comment one working hours law is typical.... Don't gamble with peoples health. All this extra working creates nothing but Stress. Undermining the peoples health. Why not impose the limit to all countries ,equally.There should be no person required to work longer hours than that agreed by the EU .People need their rest and their leisure,time for family life.The Social needs of the people should be a priority.If there are Companies that make a case for longer hours to be worked as part of the contract of employment,then the EU should take measures to stop such practices. Fair wages for a fair days work.Work sharing ,if there is that much work available that requires extra time then give it to the unemployed.If there are not enough people for the job,then train them to do it. Actually all this extra working time provides those who want it with extra money. Why not impose no limit at all and let people decide for themselves. Some people don't have family so there need for time for family life is somewhat limited. The needs of the people, social or otherwise are much better understood and dealt with by the people involved. As for work sharing and training the unemployed, socialism collapsed, it never worked anywhere and is unlikely to work just because you want it to. Besides, the countries where people work longer hours tend to be those with lower unemployment.

Tough on Fraud, Not!

We are all aware that the CAP is a corrupt gravy train that misuses vast sums of our money to subsidize the least important sector of our economy. That in itself is worth complaining about. The abuse that goes hand in hand with free money should at least be something that we can all agree to curb. However... At least £1.8 billion paid in inflated claims to Europe's agro-industry has never been recovered by Brussels even after the exposure of the abuses, according to a report by the European Union's senior watchdog yesterday. Thats just the fraud that is known about. The European Commission, in the face of defiance from the EU's member states responsible for enforcing the rules, has retrieved just £380 million out of a total of £2.2 billion identified as "irregular payments". This money has been identified, what about all the rest? At a time when some quarters are calling for a bigger budget, we should not forget where the money they already have access to is going.

Europe's answer to poverty

From Eurosoc French president Jacques Chirac has become the most prominent figure to call for a global tax to combat poverty. Just an idea Jacques, you may not like it or think it is a good plan, but I have an alternative. Why not scrap the common agricultural policy and allow poor countries to sell their produce in Europe. Believe me, it would have a much bigger impact than any Tobin (or Chirac) tax ever would. In case you don't believe me, here is a much more credible voice than mine, focusing on just a very small portion of the CAP. Developing countries figure prominently in the ranks of losers from CAP-sponsored sugar dumping. Translated into foreign-exchange losses, world-market distortions associated with EU sugar policies cost Brazil $494m,Thailand $151m, and South Africa and India around $60m each in 2002. These are large losses for countries with significant populations living in poverty, acute balance-of-payments pressures, and limited budget resources. So what is it to be Jacques? Care for the poor or votes from the farmers?

So common Foreign & Defense policy is a good idea?

From the EU Newsletter, priorities for the new parliament Terrorism: force is not the answerPresident Borrell strongly condemned the recent tragic terrorist acts in Beslan, Russia, and stressed that the EU needs to consider measures outside the use of retaliatory force. "We cannot expect to eradicate its causes with the simple and indiscriminate use of force, avenging with the lives of other children the damage suffered by ours, or creating an intolerable escalation of violence," he said. "We will not win the fight against terrorism by seeing it as a conventional war."President Borrell stressed that the world has to analyse the underlying causes of terrorism and find solutions to the hostilities around the world including Chechnya, Iraq and Palestine. Call me old fashioned but I was under the impression the the cause of terrorism was terrorists. To quote a recent statement "We love death as you love life" . They started it, and they have no demands that we can possibly comply with. As for the underlying cause of terrorism in Palestine, the EU has been subsidizing it.

Thats what its there for !!

The Turkish Prime Minister has been publicly admonishing the EU for meddling in Turkish affairs, in the continuing saga of the adultery law. But Prime Minister you misunderstand. The European Union exists for the sole purpose of interfering in the internal affairs of members and wanabees.

They must have seen us coming

Got EU for wasting £55m Is there another organisation in the world that spends money as easily as this bunch of thieves. According to the paper least favoured by the chattering classes: A JUGGERNAUT trundles into EU headquarters in Strasbourg after a bizarre journey from Brussels — pouring more of YOUR money down the drain. A convoy of 15 trucks roll in as the entire European Parliament decamped to historic Strasbourg for just FOUR DAYS. And the whole crazy system — which experts say costs an extra £55MILLION a year — exists just to appease the French. Why don't we just give the French an extra £55 million per year, it would be a lot less hassle. Perhaps this is part of the peace strategy of the EU. ( you know how we would have all been killing each other for the past 60 years without the guardians of the peace) At least in September with the roads full of trucks running between Brussels & Strasbourg, waging war would be really difficult.

Turkeys voting for Christmas?

Its been all over the media this weekend, should Turkey be allowed into the club. Apparently the Germans are leading the challenge. According to EUobserver: The leader of Germany's centre-right opposition party, Angela Merkel, has written to other centre-right leaders in the EU in a bid to block Turkey's full membership of the EU, offering instead a "privileged partnership". Whilst I understand some of the misgivings, its clear that the real reasons have nothing to do with religion and everything to doing with power. The Germans will no longer be the biggest country in Europe. Can you imagine the bolshy Turks accepting the Franco-German alliance without an argument? I thought not. They will become a huge thorn in the side of federalists everywhere. We just need to wait and hope.

Words Fail

The devil will find work for idle hands to do, as a miserable git once said. This could be the mission statement of the EU. When you pay failed politicians large wages, unfortunately they feel the need to do something to earn them. Such is the case of sexism in the insurance industry. Women would be forced to pay hundreds of pounds more for their car insurance under new EU anti-sexism laws expected to come under heavy fire from a parliamentary inquiry this week. Do these people have any idea what the purpose of insurance is and how it works? Sorry silly question, this is the 68 generation at work, totally clueless on every count. The measures proposed by the European Commission to enforce 'gender equality' would force the financial services industry to treat the sexes equally. It argues that differences in men and women's life expectancy are down to potentially changeable lifestyle and social forces, such as women traditionally drinking and smoking less than men. Its that old chestnut again, gender is learned not inherited, so we the elite will do our best to destroy old fashioned gender roles whether you like it or not. If only we could get these interfering morons to take more holiday, perhaps our lives would run more smoothly.

Welcome to the Western Club

One of the things that many in the Eastern and Central European Countries failed to understand about the EU is its wish to meddle in everything. So for some I guess the reality has come as a shock. Let's hope for their sake they take the Italian rather than the British approach to EU regulations. Thats what this man seems to have done. A Czech organic farmer whose family has made goat's cheese for six generations is evading new European Union food regulations by selling his produce as "animal feed". Of course the powers that be found out soon enough and the result was this. Armies of health inspectors have taken to standing outside the farm, interviewing customers about what they plan to do with the cheese. One customer, a pensioner living in a one-bedroom flat whose only pet was a goldfish, denied eating it himself, saying it was for a neighbour's dog. I guess the experience of decades of dealing with communism will not be completely in vain.