No Wonder they Complained

Those with a memory for EU trivia will remember that Neelie Kroes was an unpopular choice for the position of competition commissioner in some left wing circles. Now we know why:

France's plan to "protect their industrial or financial crown jewels'' risks "taking Europe into a 1930s-style downward spiral of tit-for-tat protectionism''

As if that were not bad enough, she went on to champion the market.

"I don't agree that it would be better to shelter European industries from international (or even internal European) pressure,'' she said. "It's not through protectionism, but through competition that firms innovate, strive to get the best from their people, make the most effective use of their resources, push up quality and push down prices.''

Maybe she should have a word with Peter Mandelson, its a lesson he still hasn't learnt. Its funny isn’t it that a woman whose private sector experience was seen as a conflict of interest in Strasbourg, is the only one that really understands how capitalism works. No wonder the socialist in the European Parliament disliked her so much.