Bankrolling Hamas

We can't let the Palestinians pay the consequences of electing a terrorist government.

The European Union is to lead international efforts to restore the flow of foreign aid to the Palestinian people. The plan, decided on at a meeting in New York of the so-called Quartet of Middle East peace brokers - the EU, US, Russia and the UN - aims to bypass the Hamas-led government.

Of course they won't pay money direct to Hamas, but will that make a difference?

1. All staff that they pay, will sooner or later be Hamas supporters. Hams will sack exisiting staff and push in their friends. Thats how things are done in such countries.
2. The small amount of money that they raise themselves will be easier to spend where they like, if we pay some of their bills.
3. Palestinians will feel free to vote for such nasty parties, secure in the knowledge that we will continue to pay the bills.

So nice that we are being forced to pay for this.

Falling Popularity

Even by Eurobarometer’s unexacting standards, the EU is become ever less popular and the constitution is considered unnecessary by most Europeans. The number of people who think that EU membership is a good thing:

Finland (36%), the UK (33%), Austria (31%) and Latvia (29%)

Just one third in the UK. As for the constitution:

Belgians show the most faith in an EU constitution being beneficial for Europe at 36 percent while Estonians and Latvians are the least inclined to believe this (12%)

The best that they could achieve was only one third, in solidly pro Belgium. It just goes to show what a good debate about the EU leads to. No wonder they have tried to stop it for so long. Not all the news is good however:

Six in ten citizens favouring harmonization of the bloc's welfare systems, mainly in central and eastern Europe, such as Poland (86%), Latvia (82%) and Hungary (81%)

Things could get even worse for us, if the commission tries to deliver on that wish.

Those Nice Lib Dems

They are often regarded as the nice party, different from the two big nasty ones. Well the head of the Lib Dems in the Europarliament treated us to a glimpse of what these Eurofanatics are really like.

Chris Davies, an MEP for the North West of England, wrote to a constituent saying that he hoped she enjoyed "wallowing in her own filth"

Strange choice of words for a colleague of Mark Oaten.

Sun Protection Factor EU25

Whilst munching breakfast this morning, it was mentioned on the news that the EU is planning to standardise labelling for Sun Cream.

It was a great example of how organisations use the facts to justify their actions. Often the facts may be true, but at closer investigation, irrelevant.

Take this statement:

The commission identified false boasts on suntan products. These include claims that products can act as "sun blocker" or that they offer "total protection" or "100% anti-UVA/UVB". A spokesman said: "It is impossible to offer this, so no such products can exist."

If this is true, then the sellers of these products are surely covered by existing legislation. Forbidding people to make false claims on packaging has after all been around for a very long time.

Another thing mentioned on TV was that the protection factor was misleading, because it referred to laboratory conditions, which were not the same as on the beach.

But seeing as the general public has no idea how their skin behaves under laboratory conditions, but rather buy the level of protection that they find suits their needs, this is a completely misleading statement. The only thing important here is that the numbers actually do reflect a measure of the creams ability to protect.

Once again, there may be small issues to be resolved here, but the information is deliberately misleading and the case for EU wide action strangely absent from the press release.

Answer To A Europhile

Reader Ellee Seymour, posted a comment yesterday, that begs for an answer:

Andrew Duff, Lib Dem MEP, has a letter published to today's East Anglian Daily Press about Douglas Carswell and Co saying they cannot say how an independent Britain could possibly stand up politically to the US or compete economically in an open, global market. He goes on to add that neither can they tell us how they would seek to influence decisions in Brussels without the engagement there of British MEPs, ministers and officials. He concludes by saying that UKIP and its fellow travellers in the Tory party would sell Britain short.

Over to you...

So as not to let Ellee down, here is my response to Andrew Duff. Standing up politically to the US:

• It may be painful to Mr Duff, but the UK is more often than not on the same side as the USA.
• Even if we weren’t the EU is impotent in such matters.

Competing economically in an open, global market

• Countries do not compete against each other, companies and individuals do.
• The EU hobbles our companies with regulations that damage their competitiveness. No amount of joined up lobbying clout can make up for this.
• In fact, when it comes to trade issues, the EU is largely pushing for things that are not in British interests, so we are not even benefiting from the EU’s size.

Influencing decisions in Brussels

• If we were not a member, only the proportion of our trade that is with the EU would be subject to EU rules. Domestic trade and other international trade would not be affected. So why would we need to worry.
• A cynic could also add that we currently seem to have zero impact in Brussels anyway. The train is going to a destination that we don’t want, so at best we are able to slow it down.

A free independent Britain would grow faster and suffer less problems that one handcuffed to the European bureaucratic monolith.

The Directives that Bind Us

I came across this question over at Iain Dales Blog:

Have Blair & Clarke Been Stymied by an EU Directive?

The idea is that automatic deportations are banned under EU Directive 2004/38 Richard North, as usual has more information. On the Somali killer of Sharon Beshenivsky:

Under the European Convention of Human Rights, he could only be expelled after having been convicted and received a prison sentence of five years or more – unless he was a "persistent offender".

So for the sake of being PC, a police officer is killed and innocent children are without a mother. A government's first duty is to protect its citizens. If membership of an international organisation makes that impossible, then it is the duty of our rulers to leave that organisation.

The EU Brand

For those of a paranoid nature, don’t fret, I am not talking about hot irons here, but rather about trade marks.

The EU brand is tarnished, connected as it is in the public’s mind to corruption, incompetence and overweening nannyism. The great unwashed even rejected the constitution.

So what would you do? Clean up the corruption? Cut down on new legislation? Get the accounts cleaned up?

Well not if you were of the calibre of our rulers you wouldn’t:

The European Commission has recruited Simon Anholt, a British brand consultant who has worked with Microsoft, Unilever and Coca Cola, to chair a panel of branding experts on European identity.

To try and make himself interesting, he likened the EU to al-Qaeda.

He did have something useful to say though:

He believes the EU has lost its central narrative: that it brought peace to a war torn continent.

Exactly, and that was 60 years ago, why not move on. Why do you think no-one has come up with another reason for its existence? We don’t need this beast, whatever name you give it, and if the product is rubbish, no amount of brand management will change that.

Good News or Bad?

British companies will be able to keep more of their cash from the grabbing hands of Gordon Brown thanks to an ECJ ruling.

A ruling in the European courts on controversial tax rules for British companies with subsidiaries in other member states could result in millions of pounds being returned to UK firms and a revision of UK tax laws

At first sight, this looks like a ruling for common sense. Gordon’ avarice is being tempered by those nice chaps in the ECJ. But do not be fooled.

Sovereignty means the risk of bad rule from Westminster, as well as the dream of just rule. This ruling is another nail in the coffin of the veto on tax issues. It also adds urgency to the tax harmonisers arguments. Much more of this and Gordon might even join them.

Power Grab

Now and again a story will surface, which on its own explains so much of what is wrong with the EU. This is one such story:

At the heart of the French idea is the elimination of national vetoes in justice and police cooperation and workers' protection rules, through a legal construction which does not require a change in current EU treaties.

In case you are in any doubt, that means removing the vetoes that exist in current treaties, without having to alter the treaties themselves or create new treaties superseding them. This single idea contains within it almost all of the false ideas that sustain this worthless project.

1. The project is so important that procedure, rules and democracy are irrelevant
2. Momentum is everything. Whether an idea is good or bad is less relevant than whether it keeps the juggernaut moving.
3. The people are fools and need to be bullied. Just because they voted against the Constitution does not mean we can listen to them.
4. Taking over more powers is always good. Getting rid of vetoes is not questioned from a logical standpoint, it’s obviously a good idea.
5. Countries that wish to keep control of areas of policy that others think should be EU controlled, are just being obstructive.
6. France can use the EU to solve all of its problems at everyone else expense.

Such a shame that these stories never get the dissection they deserve.

Better Off Out

There is a new campaign in town. Its called Better Off Out and is supported by the great and the good. They actually think, gasp..... that we would be better off without the ball and chain we call the European Union around our ankles. How dare they say such things. Don't they know that its forbidden. The great unwashed might start to get ideas.

Euro Parliament Rent Scam

The city of Strasbourg have been over charging the European Parliament for rent.

The French city of Strasbourg has been overcharging the European Parliament up to €2.7 million a year in rent for as long 25 years

What other organisation could over pay and not notice it for so long? No wonder our money is being so badly spent on everything else.

Newsflash: EU-Serf Denied Front Bench Seat

Its official, I have no chance to serve in a David Cameron Cabinet. Apparently he will accept no-one who advocates withdrawal from the EU. No word yet on whether he demands belief in santa claus or fairies at the bottom of the garden.

Its not the EU but...

I couldn't resist: I give you Comical Patty. For the original

Finns Want a Referendum

According to Polls, most Finns want to be asked about the EU Constitution.

According to a poll commissioned by the Sunnuntaisuomalainen Sunday supplement of Väli-Suomen sanomalehdet, a group of provincial newspapers, 57 per cent of respondents wanted a referendum on the EU draft constitution before it was brought before the Finnish Parliament.

Good for them. The reason I want to see referendums in all countries (even Europhile ones) is that the EU has only lasted this long, due to the lack of debate. The more debate, the faster Euroscepticism will grow.

Euro Myths

The favourite subject of Europhiles everywhere, is Euro Myths. Eluned Morgan MEP is no exception.

Mrs Morgan said, "Some of the stories make me laugh frankly because they are so over the top, and sometimes you have to give these people credit for being so creative. "There was one recently where it said the European Commission was going to standardise the size of condoms and everyone was saying they wouldn't be big enough for British assets. "But it's just titillation fuelled by newspapers. Most of the Euromyths are either pure imagination or massive exaggeration. They're spread to make the EU appear sinister or silly."

This is what masquerades as an argument in Federast circles. Sometimes, some eurosceptics indulge in exaggeration in order to make people take notice.

So what. Isn’t the EU itself built on an exaggerated fear of German invasion and sustained by a completely erroneous belief that all our jobs depend on it?

What the federasts fail to do is to address the real EU issues, like a run away budget, an evil agricultural policy or the unnecessary loss of our nation. Instead they prefer to repeat ad nauseum, myths that they claim have been disproved.

Their attempts at positive argument are even worse though, try this:

Also the people writing the legislation are Brussels administrators who are being driven by consumer demands. It's about protecting the consumer.

Protecting the consumer from their own elected representatives no doubt? Because if the Brussels gravy train did not exist, such laws could anyway be passed at Westminster.

Eye Popping, Even for the EU

What would an organisation whose accounts have not been sign for a decade have to do to surprise you? How about running a programme, for which 70% of the funds have been wasted?

The scheme has given about €500 million a year to 12 former communist countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to promote free markets and democracy since 1991.

Nice so they’ve had just noticed 15 years later that something is not working.

The auditors investigated 29 representative projects in Russia, the main beneficiary of the programme, and found that only nine actually achieved the objectives for which the EU was paying. In total, only 5 of the 29 projects had any lasting impact.

Wow no wonder Tony Blair wants a Brussels job. Only 17% of the projects could be regarded as a success and it took them 15 years to notice.

One project invented a region on paper to meet the criteria for receiving EU funds.

Perhaps we could suggest this to John Prescott. Rather than trying to force regional parliaments on real people, he could just invent a region.

Fitness equipment aimed at helping children ended up being used by Russian soldiers.

So they can beat each other up more effectively I suppose.

Again, someone remind me why we pay a single penny to this cowboy outfit.

Water Regulations to Wash Away Small Business

It’s bad enough that regulations have made water more expensive across the UK. The water companies have invested vast sums of money meeting new regulations rather than mending their infrastructure, hence the hosepipe bans. Now new decrees from the Eternal City are to put small businesses in Rural areas in trouble.

Thousands of small, rural businesses face paying annual charges of more than £600 for tests on their private water supplies, from July. They could also have to pay thousands of pounds to upgrade supplies to meet a European directive covering drinking water.

Now if I believed for a single minute that these rules were based on a reasonable assessment of the cost benefit analysis, I would say nothing. But I am willing to bet that not a single life will be saved whilst jobs are lost in areas of the country least able to cope. Never mind though, I’m sure that the jobsworths that do the audits will be happy.

Those Bloody Irish

Ireland is a success story. We have all read the stories in the paper about low unemployment and rapid growth. Good luck to them on that, they deregulated and slashed taxes and the result was as expected. I have one very major complaint about them though. They continue to see the EU as their personal rich aunt who is there to provide. Take this story for example:

IRELAND and 12 other member states have taken on the European Commission, as it bids to accelerate dairy export subsidy cuts towards their promised elimination by 2013.

They don’t need the money and yet they are trying to stand in the way of CAP reform. The bastards are stopping the poor scrape a living by selling their goods to us. You would think that of all people the Irish would have some sympathy with the starving in Africa.

Attack of the Bow Tied PM

Its not often I get cheered up by the sight of a politician trying to undermine the courts, but I will make an exception here.

Judges at the European Union’s top court must pay more attention to national sensitivities or risk fuelling growing public antipathy towards the EU, Wolfgang Schüssel, chancellor of Austria, has warned.

Good on that man, although not everyone will see it the same way:

Mr Schüssel denied he was trying to apply political influence on the court, which jealously guards its role as the independent arbiter of the EU laws.

The problem is that the court is not independent and uses it powers invariably to extend the remit of the EU, often into areas where officially it shouldn’t go. So if it get a little political pressure from the other side (and more importantly publicity about its agenda) then it’s no more than adding a little ying to their very powerful yang.

It Could Have Been Us

Austria is one of the countries that ratified the Lazarus Treaty:

On 25th of May (2005) the upper chamber of the Austrian Parliament, the so called “Bundesrat”, ratified the EU Constitutional Treaty with 59 out of 62 representatives in favour. This step followed the preceding ratification in the lower chamber, the “Nationalrat”, on 11th of May (2005) with only one member against.

Contrast those numbers with the following ones:

According to latest Eurobarometer polls, Austrians are, after the Brits (of course), the most Euro-sceptic Nation among all Member states.

And:

46% of Austrians did not consider a European Constitution as ‘necessary’, against 35% who did.

So in a strongly Eurosceptic country, both houses of parliament overwhelmingly ratify a treaty that the majority of citizens do not want. Note that the person writing this report is happy about the way in which it was passed:

As most other EU countries, Austria lacked a genuinely broad and well informed open discussion on the EU constitution carried by the mass media.

The people were uninformed so they would have made the wrong choice. This all basically reinforces my prejudices that politicians are self serving gits who ignore the electorate’s wishes. Unfortunately, nowhere is this more so than over the subject of the EU.

No Surrender

With the love of the EU waning in Turkey, the foreign minister is forced to resort to ever more pathetic attempts to protect his position:

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul spoke out against criticisms that "Turkey surrendered to the European Union," and said Turkey has in fact become "an exemplary country that provides stability to its neighbourhood.

Now forget whether you agree with his second statement or not, what exactly is the link? Is there an argument in there somewhere? Not that there is an argument to back up his statement any way. At EU summits, as we have found out to our cost, the only flag you are allowed to wave is a white one.

Modest With the Truth

As I pointed out recently, Tony Blair’s “great deal” over the EU budget, not only left us with more of the EU’s bills, but it was not even the last word

The European Union's next budget is £20 billion more than Tony Blair admitted when he unveiled a British-brokered deal last December, a leading Brussels official will say today.

So as bad as it sounded at the time, worse is to come.

It will be about £24 billion above the budget Mr Blair announced and means that the taxpayer will have to find an extra £2 billion.

Just think about the number of IT projects, Nanny State Activists and Useless NHS projects that could have been had for this money. No wonder he wasn’t eager to publicise it. Then again if the government were in the least prudent, this would mean a vast number of operations, new schools or tax cuts, depending on your preference. It seems that once again, the only time our Dear Leader can be modest, is with the truth.

Happy, But Not Completely

Greeks regard the European Union in much the same way that a pet dog regards its owner. In exchange for performing a few pointless exercises, it provides generously for all needs. But all is not well in the land of Hellas:

The majority of Greeks are happy to be a part of the bloc but blame the euro for many of the country's woes

Which raises some interesting questions. Will the EU damage itself the more it tries to do? After all, without the Euro, the Greeks would have been happy, now they have a complaint leave at Brussels door.

Cameron is Determined

Despite the skepticism of many Eurosceptic Conservatives, Cameron seems to be still on course for divorcing the EPP. According to Francis Maude:

We want to create a new grouping of parties that take what we would call a more progressive approach to the European Union and who do not see it as an ever more centralised block which is what it currently is. "The European constitution moves even further towards that model and that is why we think the right thing to do is form a new grouping which will be very formidable."

I’m not sure about formidable, but the aim is at least good.

Someone is Awake in Ireland

I can’t say I agree with all of this but one statement is certainly worth repeating:

AS we approach the 90th anniversary of the Easter Rising, the Taoiseach appears rather hypocritical in celebrating Irish independence while his Government supports the EU constitution which would virtually annul the powers of the Oireachtas.

Ok, so the EU is known for the problems of plenty rather than famine, but independence means home rule, not rule by Brussels.

Quote of the Week

From David Davis

"A while ago, a couple of my friends were berating me for being too tough on Charles Clarke. "After all," one said," if you went on the street and sold 6 ounces of cannabis, you would still be arrested." "Maybe," the other one replied, "but not for selling cannabis - just for selling it in ounces."

Unfortunately, a great example of the government's priorities on crime.

Though Shalt Not Say....

Islamic terrorism

The European Union, tiptoeing through a minefield of religious and cultural sensitivities, is discreetly reviewing the language it uses to describe terrorists who claim to act in the name of Islam.

Now I understand that Muslims may dislike the term, but take a look at what they have decided to use in its place:

we talk about "terrorists who abusively invoke Islam"

Now if I were a Muslim, thats probably how I would refer to them. But seeing as they refer to themselves as Islamic, I fail to see the problem in us using the same terms. I also never cease to be amazed at the priorities of people dealing with very real threats to the lives of innocent people. "Forget about the problems, lets be careful about the words we use. "

Archbishop Cranmer

He hasn't been seen for a few hundred years, but he is back, and he is none too fond of the EU.

Council of Europe membership for EU

That man Juncker is once again spreading joy with his great ideas.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg, has proposed that the EU become a member of human rights watchdog the Council of Europe, in a bid to strengthen ties between the two organisations.

Sounds innocuous does it not? After all, all 25 member states are alreay members. There is one slight problem though:

The EU according to its present treaties has no "legal personality" which is needed to enter international organisations.

Guess which treaty would solve that problem? Yes, the constitution so roundly rejected by French & Dutch voters. So what he is basically saying has nothing to do with the Council of Europe, and everything to do with the constitution.

The US should "divorce" the European Union

In trade negotiations, it is often the rich world on one side and the poor on the other. At least one important American involved, thinks this is a mistake.

I believe that the US should stop enabling the EU in its efforts to drag down the global trade talks and instead focus on those trading partners who share our goals of creating meaningful economic opportunity.

So says Congressman Bill Thomas, a man who has finally realise that the EU is a problem creator not an ally.

We have been sitting next to the EU for a long time and the conversation has been painful. So, until the EU is serious about true liberalisation, we should get up from that seat and visit with others at the dinner table to have more fruitful discussions.

I hate to be cynical, but I suspect Mr Thomas, will be waiting a long time before the EU is serious about true liberalisation.

Get Your .EU Domain

The doors are finally open, and the customers can at last buy the goods.

Some 300,000 Europeans rushed to register their ''.eu'' domain names in the first hour of being able to sign up for the new Internet addresses, officials said Friday.

Prior to last week, only brand name owners could register. So I wonder what is being bought. ihatethe.eu anyone?

Tony’s Deal, lasts 4 months

Remember when Tony gave in to the pressure and release billions more of our cash to pay for massive pensions and expensive lunches? Well his carefully worked out “deal” has been torn up.

British taxpayers face paying an extra £208 million to the European Union after a late-night deal was struck by EU representatives to add billions to the budget compromise agreed by Tony Blair.

Parliament didn’t think the cash was enough and the complained. Our government, true to form, meekly agreed to give up even more of our cash. The man is a marvel. He compromises without getting anything in return, and when that is found wanting by the other side, he just turns the other pocket, so to speak.

Crouch Low, and Proceed With Caution

European Integration sometimes resembles a wildlife programme. You know, where they follow a pride of lions around, showing aspects of their daily life. They lie around all day, doing nothing of any value, from time to time they growl or roar, scaring the local wildebeest. But they are at their most dangerous when the creep silently through the long grass, towards their prey. Its only when it’s too late to escape, that the big cat leaps into action. So when the European Commission or Parliament is roaring, we should listen but not get too afraid. It’s when they creep up on us that we should get worried.

Brussels is keen to replace the current patchwork of national corporate tax regimes with a pan-European approach towards calculating a company’s tax base.

They are not, I repeat NOT, trying to harmonise tax rates. They are just trying to help those poor souls doing business in a number of EU states.

The Commission stressed that a new regime was not required for companies that anyway only operate in one member state. It also made clear that the Commission had no intention of proposing harmonised tax rates.

So, what are the odds, that once they have crept up on the Corporate Tax issue, through the long grass of trying to help business, they won’t leap to attack the concept of different tax rates? This may be why some countries oppose the idea.

The plan faces strong opposition from countries such as Britain and Ireland

But then judging by previous attempt by the current government to resist Brussels overtures, I guess they are as worried by the prospect as a pride of Lions would be of a baby wildebeest putting up a fight.

Quisling Conservative MEPs

I have discovered an interesting Blog, supporting the continued association of the Conservative Party with the Federast EPP. It does us all a favour by reminding us which of the Conservative MEPs have views similar to most of those who voted for them and which would be better off joing the Liberal Democrats. From one of those that we need to deselect:

Whilst the Hannan/Helmer/Heaton-Harris/Deva axis childishly denounce the European Union in favour of protecting their anachronistic vision of the nation state, Beazley offers an exciting vision for just what Britain can achieve from the European Union by working with our friends and allies in the best interests of the people of Europe.

An exciting vision where all our laws come from Brussels, I presume.

Defence of the European Realm

The state of the Defence industry in most European Countries would make a Soviet Tractor manufacturer cry. Out dated technology, low sales, late deliveries and incompatibility all come as standard. A proper free market would be a help.

Creating a more open “European Defence Equipment Market” (EDEM) between Member States is the theme of a public consultation launched by the European Commission today.

So what are we to think? Judging by the EU’s past record on such things, an ostensibly free market project will turn into a political one. National champions will continue to exist and certain countries will still play by the old rules. Not that you can blame them. Can you imagine trying to actually use your limited military capability when the country that manufacturers your spare parts doesn’t share your views? You couldn’t proceed without the acquiescence of all your "European Partners".

Switzerland Welcomes Polish Plumbers

Switzerland has decided to go where most EU member states fear to tread.

Switzerland has formally opened up its labor market to nationals from the European Union's 10 newest member states.

Seems strange doesn’t it, when they are not even a member of the club. But the reality is that whether you think they are enlightened or stupid, they made the decision themselves. Oh to be allowed to eat at the Open Buffet instead of being forced to go Ala Carte.

Statesman Juncker's Wisdom

Man of great Stature that he is,Jean-Claude Juncker has been sharing his thoughts with the German edition of FT. He is criticising the European Commission.

"I criticise the communication strategy of the commission…It gives the impression that everyone who puts questions to planned or ongoing mergers should automatically be a protectionist.

What he calls a government that stops foriegn takeovers is not mentioned.

Mr Juncker also showed he supports Paris' interventionism in substance, saying he understands that European governments resist a Europe which is only interested in the market.

Which brings us back the the problem at the heart of the EU. Idiots like Juncker and his fellow federasts, accept some freeing up of markets as a way of achieveing the useless political union that they dreams of. The average Brit, and his Eastern friends, accept a certain amount of political union in exchange for access to a big market. But in the end, we are never going to agree to a finalcompromise. Every time one side gets happy, the other is downcast. Its like having a social club for Cats & Dogs. We just do not fit together.

The story of the EU

An Anonymous Poster lefter the following, which I thought was a good explanation of how the EU mindset has been created.

The Gorillas and the Banana Story

An experiment was conducted with four gorillas moved into the same cage. When the gorillas were first introduced into the environment, the experimenters would lower bananas into the center of the cage. When the gorillas went after the food, all were hosed down with a high-pressure water hose. Even if only one went after the food, all received the same treatment. As expected, soon the gorillas did not go after the bananas when they were lowered into the cage. Behavior was trained and reinforced. Now, the experimenters replaced one of the gorillas.

When the bananas were lowered into the cage, the new gorilla, of course, started toward the free meal. The other three gorillas knew what would happen, so they quickly jumped the new gorillas, keeping him from causing the dreaded response of water. Although perplexed, the new gorilla quickly learned not to go after the food lowered into the cage, and to jump any other gorilla that did the same.

The experimenters continued by slowing replacing each gorilla one by one. The result was the same: the new one went for the food the others jumped him. Soon the experimenters had replaced all of the four original gorillas. Keep in mind that the high-pressure water hose had not been used since the first four gorillas were together. But every time a new gorilla went for the food lowered into the cage, the others stopped him cold. The experimenters were able to go several generations away from the original four gorillas, but still the behavior did not change. None of the gorillas knew why they shouldn’t go for the food, but they knew what to do if any one did. It was what was done before them, and before them, and so on. A proud tradition was born.

So we keep on doing something, even though we have no idea why.

Open Doors Let Everyone In

Regular visitors to this blog will be aware that I am broadly in favour of the freedom of moverment of people in the EU. However, the current policy is one with absolutely zero controls. Take this for example:

The family of a murdered schoolgirl demanded to know last night how her killer, a convicted Latvian rapist who had spent more than 20 years in prison, was allowed to enter Britain unchecked.

Yes he had served time for rape in his home country, yet we had no way of excluding him.

The Home Office said it was pressing the EU to take action. A criminal record is not a bar to entering Britain but European Economic Area regulations allow individuals to be banned from entering a country on the grounds of public security.

I have an idea. Let the plumbers come here to work and the waitresses to serve us lunch, but why should freedom of movement be extended to people who are clearly undesirable. We should be able to ban everyone with a criminal record from deciding to come, including petty thieves as well as violent criminals. We have enough problem cases of our own as it is.

The Future of Europe

The idea of variable geometry is one that has support among a diverse range of people. The latest to show support for it is the Italian President:

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi said on Tuesday that the European Union should set up a "vanguard" to make decisions when there is no consensus.

His version seems to resemble a Dog Lead & Choke Chain rather than any flexibility. You know, the dog doesn't want to move, so you choke it until it does. He is obviously too old to remember that he shouldn't make such statements. We can't have the public getting scared. He follows the remark with a unique piece of wisdom on democratic accountability:

"it would be unacceptable to distort the political project if there is no consensus"

So we can't allow the project to be derailed even if noone wants it. Priceless.

European Superpowers Agree on Defence

Two of Europe's most powerful countries have agreed on the need for closer defence cooperation:

Greek National Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis and his visiting Belgian counterpart Andre Flahaut Tuesday called for an effective European policy for security and defense.

With the big boys on board, it should be a great success as long as they find a mug to pay for it.

On the funding of rapid reaction forces in the framework of the EU and NATO, Meimarakis reiterated that Greece could not increase its contribution given its economic capabilities.

Such commitment is touching.

In The Words of Our Dear Leader

I didn't think I would ever quote him with approval, but here goes:

"If we can't put a decent trade round in place, when it is so plain that our long-term national interest and the wider interest of the world demand it, this will be a failure with multiple consequences, all of them adverse," "Europe's agricultural protection is a policy born of another age and it's time to end it."

For once in your unethical, slimy, retrograde existence that you call a political career, Thank You.

Verdict on The Euro

A great piece in the Times about the Euro and the wish of the newer members to join.

For almost anyone who has followed the lamentable failings of the eurozone economy, it may seem remarkable that any more countries should want to throw in their lot with the single currency.

Its a failure they must be mad. But even funnier is that fact that existing members are aghast at the thought of their club growing.

Old Europe” may also fear that widening euro membership might lead to monetary union becoming more of a means to foster economic reform, and less an instrument for political ends.

Funny, I thought that was the whole point (at least thats what Our Dear Leader said) He finishes with the idea that growing the Eurozone would deepen its problems. You know, John Major is disliked in Eurosceptic circles. But he did at least keep us out of this mess.

David Cameron is Right

David Cameron has got a lot of stick for his comments about standing up to big business. If he means what I hope he does though, I am in total agreement. Because big business is populated by a bunch of big state worshipping cretins. If you don't believe me read this.

Monday saw the launch of a new campaign group, Business for New Europe, backed by a range of City luminaries. The organisation, launched on the 20th anniversary of the first reading in the House of Commons of the Single European Act, aims to promote "a positive case for reform in Europe".

They think that just because their narrow interests are helped by destroying our nation, then it must be a good idea. We need to be pro market, not pro business.

Thou Shalt Buy Non Working Trash

As a long time critic of our Lords and Masters in Brussels, it takes a special story to bring out a big reaction in me. This one had me wanting to roll around on the floor laughing. They really have excelled themselves.

The EU Commission is considering new proposals that would require public procurers to purchase innovative products and services still in need of further research, alongside the more traditional, risk-free approach of buying only established products.

Yes you read that right, require. But why could such an idea be proposed?

such "pre-commercial procurement of innovation" could be an important new driver for research and development in the EU.

Its all part of being dynamic and competitive. The fact that it would increase government spending, (replacement of products that didn't work) is not thought to be a problem. Can you imagine the fun this would create for the IT sector. The government can't get technology to work that has been bought through normal methods. If they have to buy alpha releases of new software, absolutely nothing would work. (On second thoughts maybe its a good idea)

Perfect Partners

Some of you are aware that I am a Conservative. As such my party is in the uncomfortable position of effectively being part of The European People’s Party. David Cameron is committed to an amicable divorce, but the process drags on. So why do I say uncomfortable? What about this:

The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) will at its congress next week call for the "implementation" of the EU constitution.

You can see how well The Conservative Party’s engagement with these nutters is working to give us influence. No? Even among full members of the Federast crew however, there is disagreement.

The Spanish PP has proposed a passage in the EPP manifesto saying that "The EPP believes that any attempt to enforce the constitutional treaty by instalments would be a fraud not only to the Dutch and French electorate but to all European citizens." The Dutch Christian Democrats (CDA) have issued an amendment proposing to scrap a passage that says "the EPP proposes that the process leading to the ratification of a European Constitutional treaty should be continued after the period of reflection, taking full account of the outcome of this period."

Despite glimmerings of reasonableness from The Spaniards and Dutch, the sooner we get out of this grouping the better. Perfect Partner they are not.

France Versus Le Pomme

Not content with taking on Google, France wants to get the EU to take on Apple as well.

France is pushing the European Union to break the dominance of Apple's iPod by forcing the company to allow songs downloaded from iTunes to be used on rival players.

Bearing in mind what happened to another proprietary Apple system when faced with an open standard, it might be in Apple’s long term interest. I fail to see however that this is an issue for our lords and masters to decide for us.

Its All India's Fault

These poor countries, since they became independent, they have consistently failed to show the right degree of reverence to Bwana. Don't they know that we are still in charge. They should listen to Mandy.

Europe's trade chief insisted on Tuesday it was time for big developing countries such as Brazil and India to make concessions to unlock global trade talks that are just over a month from a deadline.

They should ignore the fact that we are not playing by the rules and doff their caps in respect to us. We refuse to make concessions, because we are arrogant. Not that giving your citizens the chance to buy cheaper goods can be in any way considered a concession, of course.

Those Eastern Lemmings

Its interesting to see the newer member states keeness to join the Eurozone. After 6 years of existence, the Euro has neatly demonstrated why it was always a bad idea. One size fits all just doesn't work. Yet like Lemmings over a cliff, new candidates keep coming:

Lithuania became the second east European nation to apply to adopt the euro in 2007.

The first was Slovenia, which is in a better position to be accepted.

Only Slovenia passes all the economic tests, with inflation at 2.4 percent in February.

So maybe only one Lemming will make the leap.

Who Says Membership isn't Beneficial

Three of the EU's newer members are in a fight that shows they have learned the rules of the game. Its all about The Gender Institute.

Slovenia, Slovakia and Lithuania are now preparing to step up their lobbying to be host to the institute which will have an annual budget of around €8 million.

One has to applaud their dedication to the cause of Wimmin's Rights, unless you are cynical. Cynics will dismiss this as nothing more than a fight over our cash and EU prestige.

Euro Nanny to Ban Mercury

Apparently, next time we are sick, we should steer clear of the mercury thermometer, Euro Nanny says its dangerous.

European Union lawmakers called on Tuesday for an EU-wide ban on mercury in most thermometers, hoping to minimise the risk posed by the toxic heavy metal to humans, ecosystem and wildlife.

Makes you wonder how many cases of poisoning have happened due to mercury thermometers. Especially when the total usage of mecury in the EU is only 33 tonnes per year. But I shouldn't be cynical should I, its all because they care about us.

EU wants USA to Harmonise Taxes

Not content with forcing the downtrodden Serfs of Europe to pay more of their hard earned cash to the Feudal Lord, the EU has set out to change the US tax system.

The European Union plans to reimpose sanctions on up to $4 billion a year in American goods in 60 days after the World Trade Organization adopted a report saying the United States still gives an illegal tax rebate to exporters.

The EU's well thought out measures include throwing rocks into our harbours and grumbling to each other at cocktails. In all fairness, the tax credits were a form of export subsidy, something that is stealing from the serfs to give to the nobles. But thats only really a problem for downtrodden Americans. We should take all of their cash we can.

Turning All Four Cheeks

The EU, that great "Soft Power" leader, is showing just how soft it can be.

The European Union condemned widespread violence in the West Bank, but said neither the attacks on EU offices in Gaza City nor the kidnapping of at least 10 foreigners would affect urgent aid granted to Palestinians last month before a Hamas-led government takes office.

Of course, you cannot blame the Palestinian Government for the actions of the mindless thugs that kidnap people and raid EU offices. Unless of course, the Palestinian Government are a bunch of mindless thugs.

Blasphemy Laws

Turkey is ruffling feathers

Abdullah Gul, the Turkish foreign minister, sparked disagreement among his EU counterparts at a weekend meeting in Austria, when he called for European nations to review existing laws, to ensure they outlawed the "defamation" of all religions.

If Turkey is to ever join the European Union, someone should explain to Mr Gul, that there is only one form of blasphemy as far as the EU is concerned. In the EUtopia, one is not allowed to blaspheme against Ever Closer Union. All else is open to criticism.

EU Money Causes Bulgaria Ruckus

Bulgaria is a long way from the grip of the superstate, and yet our cash is already causing problems there:

Controversy about the control of European Union (EU) funds erupted last week between Assen Gagauzov, minister of regional development and public works, and Petar Mutafchiev, minister of transport and communications. The conflict is about who will control the state Road Agency (RA), which governs the EU funds.

Now these two may be no more than typical empire building politicians, though Bulgaria’s recent history should give pause for thought. It is none the less an instructive example of how free money leads to a political system that is about the spoils. Anyone who has seen the state of Bulgaria’s roads knows that they need investment, but welfare inevitably leads to a corruption of priorities, at the very least.

EU is Uncompetitive Shocker

I am sure this will come as a major surprise to all of you, but the EU is uncompetitive and the situation is not improving.

The European Union (EU) will fail in its plan to boost economic growth and employment unless it further streamlines its reform agenda and benchmarks performance of its members, the influential Bruegel think-tank said in a study.

Wow, why didn’t someone tell us before? Mind you we could have guessed, given the goals of The Lisbon Process:

The EU’s Lisbon reform agenda, named after the Portuguese capital where it was launched, seeks to boost growth and employment rates so that the EU can afford its generous social policies amid an ageing society and global competition.

Economic growth, so that we can afford to stifle economic growth with socialism is not a normally recognised recipe for success.

Sorry About the Lack of Posts

I have been struggling with Blogger all week after unintentionally screwing something up. I have finally found a solution, changing the template. In the meantime, you can read a posting I made on Once More on the topic of the European Peoples Party.

Where is the EU's Norman Tebbit?

Apparently, we are all too stuck in our ways. Very few of us wish to work anywhere other than our homeland.

European Commission statistics show only 1.5 percent of European workers live in an EU country other than their country of origin -- a statistic that has changed little in 30 years.

Isn't it time someone in Brussels took the hint, or are they going to look for a European Norman Tebbit, who will tell us all to get on our long distance bicycles?

A Transparent EU

Don't get too excited its just a building we are talking about.

A design has been selected for a new meeting space for the European Union in Brussels. The building will supplement the adjacent 1927 Palace Complex, designed by architect Michel Polak, which now serves as EU Council headquarters.

What is so special about this building?

Phillippe Samyn describes the box-like building as a "lantern," due to its glowing, glass-box appearance, created by facade layers of both translucent and transparent glass.

Not that exciting is it. Now if they were talking about a transparent accounting process, or transparency in lobbying, now that would be something to write home about.

Reinstate Roger Helmer Campaign

Here is a campaign I can wholeheartedly support: The site describes their aim as thus:

Roger Helmer was elected a Conservative MEP in 1999. In May 2005, he had the Conservative whip removed in the European Parliament. We believe that this action was unfair as he was standing up for Britian's interests in standing up to corruption within the EU.

The mission of this campaign is simple. We wish to highlight the unfair removal of the Conservative whip from Roger Helmer MEP, and in doing so, persuade David Cameron and those who have it within their power to return Roger once more to the Conservative fold. With your help, we know that we can achieve this goal.

This is an extreme example of why, we must leave the EPP. A British MEP is excommunicated for standing up for his constituents, on the orders of a German Federast.

Union of European Socialist Republics

Ok so I'm a tin foil hatted paranoid. But this man?

Vladimir Bukovksy, the 63-year old former Soviet dissident, fears that the European Union is on its way to becoming another Soviet Union.

What can I say, I hope he is wrong.

A Single Market?

Reactionary Capitalist running dogs such as myself and a certain Mrs T, were always assured that the EU was first and foremost about free trade. We create a single market and everyone gets richer. Unfortunately no-one read th small print. It seems that every time some wet lefty meddler wants to stop us doing something or pass a piece of ridiculous legislation, everyone cheers them on. Yet when push comes to shove, there is not a free marketeer in sight.

Within the past few weeks, the EU internal market commissioner has seen governments in Madrid, Paris, Warsaw and Luxembourg hardening their opposition to foreign takeovers. Stung by France’s move to fend off a possible bid from Italy’s biggest energy group, the government in Rome this week also ratcheted up its protectionist rhetoric. More trouble could be in store. On Tuesday the Commission began examining French justification for its decision to protect 11 sectors from foreign takovers.

Ok so we expect it from France and well Italy, its always about keep it in the family. But Poland, our supposed allies, that we sacrificed some of our rebate for, have joined in the fun. At this rate we will have all the useless restrictions with none of the benefits.

Terrorists Saved From Bankruptcy

There are few areas of business that Middle Eastern countries are true world leaders in. It is therefore a great decision on behalf of the EU to support the one sector in which the region has a true global competitive advantage.

The European Union yesterday offered £83 million to help the Palestinian Authority despite the recent election victory by terror group Hamas.

Fans of exploding teenagers everywhere will be heartened by this. Unfortunately not all of this money will be available for purchasing semtex, much will be paid to UN or other third party programmes.

Around £11.9 million would go to the Palestinian Authority to "relieve the pressure on the caretaker government" and help pay salaries.

I’m sure that the Hamas supporters who are to replace all the existing workers will be very happy to hear this. In fact, it could fund innovative programmes to reallocate workers to other duties. Exploding in restaurants being one of them.

Though Shalt Not Offend Threatening Bullies

The Foreign Ministers of EU member states, added a new commandment to the Aquis Communitaire yesterday:

"Freedom of expression should be exercised in a spirit of respect for religious and other beliefs and convictions. Mutual tolerance and respect are universal values we should all uphold,"

Now call me a Fascist if you will, but personally I have had enough of this “Respect” thing. If someone belongs to the Flat Earth Society, do I have to respect his belief? What about a communist, who defends the worst of Stalin’s atrocities? What is different about a religious belief, from any other? I respect everyone’s right to have beliefs different to my own, I tolerate idiots and bigots spout nonsense about the topic of their choosing. But respect? You have to earn that. Meanwhile, though upsetting people is not allowed, using cash extorted from taxpayers to fund terrorist organisations is fine. Did someone rewrite the rules of the universe while I wasn’t looking?

Get Them Young, Keep them for life

Anyone who thinks that letting the state loose on our kids is a good idea, obviously doesn't read the list of subjects that NEED to be added to the cirriculum, coming from pressure groups of all types. Education is politicised and gets more so all the time. The latest to jump on the Bandwagon? Jacque Chirac:

Lessons on the European Union to give secondary school pupils in all 25 member states an "apprenticeship" as Europeans, are being proposed

The First Crook of the Republic is not content to steal our cash, he also wants to steal our children.

The proposal is one of more than a dozen drawn up by President Jacques Chirac's government to create new "momentum" with a "Europe of projects". French officials hope that some could be brought to fruition in the coming months using existing EU treaties.

No doubt the British Government will put up a stiff war of words before totally capitulating. I would love to introduce a course "The State is a Parasite" to all schools in Europe, I'm sure it would be of much more value, but then of course as The State is in control of the Department of Juvenile Brainwashing, I doubt I could get it accepted.

Sponsor a Terrorist, Please give Generously

With competition in Global Terror at an all time high, many terrorist organisations are finding it hard to make ends meet. Of course they could hold sponsored Infidel Decapitations, or go door to door, but that just doesn't raise enough money. So what is a Respectable Market Leader in Exploding Teenager Services suppose to do? It needs a Tranzi International Organisation to provide it with funds. All in the interests of peace, of course. Luckily for Hamas, a highly respected provider of "dead school children" and "burning restaurants", such an organisation exists.

European Union foreign ministers are expected to continue providing millions of euros in aid for much-needed funds to the Palestinian caretaker government today.

So in answer to my oft repeated question, can the EU get more illogical and immoral than the CAP? Unfortunately they can.

European Institute of Technology

In the ever losing fight to make Europe competitive, The Eurocrats have decided that they need a University to compete with the best in the world.

The European Union should create its own institute of technology by 2010 to rival the United States, Japan, and emerging economies in research and innovation, the bloc's executive said on Wednesday.

Because we all know that Eurocrats are great at this kind of thing, and are bound to succeed. After all the EU is well on its way to the Lisbon Target of "most competitive economy in the world". The problem is of course, they will want it to be both elite and egalitarian, a mix that is similar in the ranks of possibility to a kosher pig. In fact, its true that Europe's universities are failing to compete, but does anyone seriously think that Brussels is best placed to combat that?

The Euro is Great

If someone typed: The Euro is Great into a search engine, would you expect The Road to Euro Serfdom to come in at number 6? Neither would I but guess what, it does. Some other curious one:

1. wot is the european union: 1
2. evil American corporations: 1
3. danny cohn bendit: 7

More Expected Ones:

1. i hate europe: 3
2. euro failure 4
3. serf farming: 8

Lets hope they all found what they were looking for.

Don’t Give Them an Inch

I have often wondered about the people who campaign for things like the metric system. I would personally never think of campaigning for the imperial system. I totally support the spirit of the metric martyrs; theirs was a campaign for the freedom to choose. But believe it or not, there is such a thing as The UK Metric Association, which campaigns for total metrification of the UK. Message to all of them: get a girlfriend, take up a hobby, jump off a cliff or just take Valium. Why waste your lives on such a pointless issue? Now they have released a report saying “Britain should set an early date for converting its road signs from miles to kilometres” The Reason?

The imperial signs are a "confusing" exception as most of the UK officially operates in metric measures, it claims.

They don’t think that millions of motorists might find road signs in a measurement they are not used to more confusing? Or do they really think that motorists are now so used to buying butter by the 500g that they will adapt to Kilometres like a CAP subsidised Duck (Raised indoors of course) to water? The former Eurosceptic, but current EU mercenary Kinnock is quick to jump on the band wagon. (Where he was joined by a Conservative Dead Sheep).

Ex-Labour leader Lord Kinnock, who is backing the report, says the UK's imperial signs contradict its modern image. "They contradict the image - and the reality - of our country as a modern, multicultural, dynamic place where the past is valued and respected and the future is approached with creativity and confidence."

Even by EU standards that’s a pretty pathetic argument. It is however perfectly within the normal socialist worship of the concept “Modern”. Modern meaning in this context anything that irritates normal people or is socialist in its philosophy. The funny thing about all this is that it is EU inspired. Those worthless people beavering away in Brussels on more ways to make our lives difficult, are actually insulted by the thought that we drink pints and travel at miles per hour. They are so wrapped up in their authoritarian ways that they actually think it is their duty to change us. Pathetic isn’t it. In fact, its so "sodden blanket, water is dripping all over the floor, wet", that even The Guardian is taking the piss.

It is not necessary to invoke the searing Eminem movie 13.54 kilometres, nor the awe-inspiring jazz trumpeting of Kilometres Davis, nor the fine Proclaimers' song I'm Gonna Be (804.67 kilometres), to argue that if we were the UK Metric Association, we wouldn't start from here.

What can I add to the wisdom of The Guardian? (Never thought you'd read that did you?)

Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill

Over at Right Links, we have launched a Blog Campaign to raise awareness of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill. This bill is a piece of illiberal rubbish, totally unsuitable for the country that developed parliamentary democracy. We have decided to ask a number of questions about the bill, of which the two below are the most relevant to this Blog:

1. Why does the Bill change the current procedures for the enactment into our law of EU legislation?
2. What guarantees are there that the Bill could not be used to bring in the EU Constitution by the back door?

What is being sold as a way of cutting red tape, actually looks more like a way of speeding up the process of passing EU directives and regulations into UK Law. Please join the campaign, blog about it and write to your MP. legislative regulatory

Spines & Brains Made of Jelly

The latest words of wisdom on “The Cartoon Crisis” from the great leaders of the Union of European Socialist Republics, comes from the Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini.

Frattini`s position, which also appears to have the backing of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, is that journalists must impose a form of self-censorship in order not to offend the sensibilities of Muslims, and other religious groups.

No doubt, when the journalists fail to censor themselves, a helpful Directive will be prepared to lend them a hand. His wisdom was demonstrated to be immeasurable by the following comments:

It was 'unwise' for European papers to republish the cartoons just three days after the victory of the militant Islamist group Hamas in Palestinian elections and following recent remarks about Israel and the Holocaust by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Take hold of head, remove from behind. Surely the time when freedom to discuss the threat to our way of life from extremists is most important is when the threat seems to be growing. It is precisely because the Iranian President is a psychopath and The Palestinian Government is a group of terrorists, that this issue of free speech is so important. With leaders like Frattini and Solana, what hope is there for Western Civilisation?

Anti Dumping

Why is it we have to rely on the Danes to stand up to those trying to remove our rights.

Bendt Bendtsen, Danish Minister of Economic and Business Affairs, has written a letter to the FT complaining about antidumping duties:

In my view anti-dumping policy should not be used to counteract globalisation and increased competition, if there is no need. Anti-dumping measures can be taken only if convincing proof of unfair competition can be found and if it is in the wider interest of the European Union.

Too right, it should not be used as a protectionist measure.

He gives the example of Chinese Shoes

The total gain for the EU producers is just above €100m a year if an anti-dumping duty of 40 per cent is being levied on leather shoes from China and Vietnam. For the consumers and the user industries in the EC the total loss can be estimated to approximately €975m per year.

Despite this almost 10 to 1 ratio, what is the betting that producers have the bigger and better lobby, and are therefore able to punish the rest of us.

The Services Directive

It was supposed to liberalise services across the EU, leading to a truly free market in services, a way of producing, so we were told, 600.000 jobs. It was decried as a dirty capitalist plot, a way of destroying social cohesion and wrecking the social model. Socialists even called it the Frankenstein Directive. Yet it has been accepted by the Notoriously Backward European Parliament. What has happened. In the words of David Rennie

If this was such a blow for free markets, why, exactly, was the Tory in charge of shepherding the directive through the parliament, Malcolm Harbour MEP, being given manly hugs by Martin Schultz, head of the Socialist group in the European Parliament, and Robert Goebbels, a Lefty from Luxembourg?

From the Latest Open Europe pamphlet (PDF), we get a glimmer of an idea as to why the left wing beasts of Brussels might be in celebratory mood:

Article 5 (1b) Member States, in conjunction with the Commission, shall introduce, where appropriate and feasible, harmonised European forms. Those forms shall be equivalent to certificates, attestations and any other documents concerning establishment which demonstrate that a requirement has been met in the Member State of destination. Article 16 (4) By five years after the entry into force of this Directive at the latest, the Commission shall, after consultation of the Member States and the Social Partners at European level, submit to the European Parliament and the Council a report on the application of this article, in which it shall consider the need for proposing harmonization measures regarding service activities covered by this Directive.

Like previous directives and treaties that have come before, they purportedly set out to create free market reforms, a truly liberal Europe. After coming under intense attack from the supposedly Consensus Politicians of Europe, the measures end up rather different. They become another reason to stifle business and to remove freedom of action, yet another step along the Road to Euro Serfdom. This is not an entity that can be reformed, no more than a Scorpion can be trained not to sting. Its purpose is to create socialism in Europe, and no amount of reform effort will ever change that.

An Enabling Act

The Mother of Parliaments is having such a difficult time passing all the legislation required by Our Dear Leader and his tyrannical masters in Brussels, that he has decided that an enabling act is the only option.

A Bill To Enable provision to be made for the purpose of reforming legislation and implementing recommendations of the Law Commission, the Scottish Law Commission and the Northern Ireland Law Commission; to make provision about the exercise of regulatory functions; to make provision about the interpretation of legislation relating to the European Communities and the European Economic Area; to make provision relating to section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972; and for connected purposes.

It’s a boring thing to read, I know, but please do read it, it makes for chilling reading. They want to neuter parliament and let decisions be made by ministers. Ministers of course owe their positions to the Dear Leader, who is not know as a believer in cabinet Government, so basically we will have an elected dictatorship.

Aland, Big Enough to Stand up to the EU

One of the reasons that we can’t leave the EU is that we are too small and weak to stand on our own. We need the security of the community. It would take a real superpower to go it alone in these scary days. Like Aland for example:

Thanks to a quirk of early 20th-century history, Aland's 26,000 people are essentially sovereign co-rulers of their home nation of Finland. As such, they can veto any international treaty that Finland wants to enter, including EU treaties.

Well with a population of 26.000 I guess anything is possible:

Low public opinion on Europe could mean Alanders prevent Finland from ratifying the constitution.

The Alanders have their reasons:

1. First, this community of Swedish-speaking Finns lost the right to fish at sea with traditional nets.
2. Then Alanders saw their beloved spring duck hunting virtually abolished.
3. To the Alanders' final outrage, local laws on consuming "snus" or Swedish chewing tobacco, are about to be quashed by the European Court of Justice.

Just the normal EU trying to force us all to wear the same straight jackets.

The head of the Aland government, Roger Norlund, put it like this: "Aland finds small-scale solutions to its problems. But the EU model is one of large-scale solutions, and harmonisation."

I Wish Sarkozy was British

Great piece about Nicolas Sarkozy in the Telegraph. The political future of France indeed. I wish we had a politician or two of his calibre.

Common Foreign Policy

Javier Solana likes to see himself as the EU’s foreign Minister. The EU constitution would have made his dream a reality. So it’s just as well it was rejected, because this is his idea of a good foreign policy.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is lobbying for the United Nations to include language against blasphemy in the tenets of a new human rights body and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he supported the idea.

So let’s get this straight:

1. The Organisation of the Islamic Conference is apparently aware of something called human rights. (surprising given some of their track records).
2. They don’t think that it includes the right to may drink if you so wish, or that choice of partner should be free or that women are actually human and therefore worthy of rights.
3. They think that the right not to be upset is a Fundamental Human Right.
4. Worst of all, a man who supposedly speaks for us, supports this perverted idea.

Solana made the following statement:

"We have been talking today on how we can send a message to the people in both communities, the Islamic and European, that we need this not to happen again ... We strongly hope that people will be now sensible to understand that,"

So next time someone upsets you, burn down an embassy or two, threaten them with a beheading and the EU will treat you with respect. They will even try to protect you from those with whom you disagree. Is this a hint to us Eurosceptics?

Mittal, The Indian Raiders

The bid by Mittal for Arcelor has once again awakened the most xenophobic and ignorant sections of the European political tribe. They have been rushing to find ways of stopping this take over, mainly due to the colour of skin of the bidders owners.

The bid has sparked objections from the governments of France, Luxembourg and Spain and from labour unions, who are worried about job losses even though Mittal has assured that no worker would lose job and cited all his operations in various countries had not resulted in retrenchment.

So there can be no real reason to try and stop the bid, other than economic nationalism and Xenophobia.

The Government of Luxembourg, a shareholder of Arcelor, will soon rush through a bill aimed at thwarting Mittal's hostile bid. Luxembourg's finance minister Luc Frieden has said the bill adopted an amended version of a EU takeover directive that will allow a besieged company board to take drastic action to repel a hostile takeover without seeking prior consent from shareholders.

Readers will recall that the Government of Luxembourg is beyond reproach, a fervent believer in a Greater Europe, and backer of the defunct constitution. They are always quick to denounce those Xenophobic Eurosceptics. They only have good intentions, I am sure.

EU promotes classroom entrepreneurship’

When I read this headline, I suppressed a great urge to guffaw. The EU to promote entrepreneurship?

Europe’s children need entrepreneurship lessons to help the EU compete in the world economy, the European commission said on Monday.

Just two recommendations on this idea.

1. Give entrepreneurship lessons to those working in Brussels, including Commissioners
2. Focus education on actually teaching kids to read.

What next, Syria to give lessons on freedom of speech?

What To Do With 4 Billion Bottles of Wine?

The phrases “piss up” and "in a brewery” come instantly to mind.

The European Commission is convening an emergency wine summit to tackle the European Union's surplus of four billion bottles, which swallows up €1.2 billion to €1.6 billion (£810 million to £1 billion) of taxpayers' money each year.

How anyone can have a problem with too much wine is difficult to understand. But the issue is that subsidies have created incentives for producers to make wine that even students wouldn’t drink.

The growing popularity of "new world" wine is another blow to European growers when consumption is falling in most of the EU, except Britain. Yet Union farmers seem determined to produce poor-quality wine.

So apart from the obvious and logical answer, stop subsidies, what is a Eurocrat to do? How about sending a few cases of the stuff to all of the unmarried or married but currently childless couples in the EU. That way we get rid of the stuff and hopefully partly solve the demographic problem at the same time.

EU Gives Up on Freedom of Speech

Following the extreme and violent reaction across the Muslim world, to the publishing of the cartoons, the EU has decided to act. Will they ask members to withdraw ambassadors from Syria, will they freeze aid to countries that condone violence, and will they stand up for freedom? Of course not, this is the EU.

The European Union may try to draw up a media code of conduct to avoid a repeat of the furor caused by the publication across Europe of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.

If in doubt, muzzle the press.

The code would be drawn up by the European Commission, the EU executive body, and European media outlets. It would not have legal status.

Like all the other ideas that emanate from Brussels. It will not have legal status until everyone has been strong armed into agreement. In the EU, the concept of fundamental rights includes the “right to union representation” but not apparently, the right to free speech. Also posted on Rightlinks

Harmful Tax Competition

The EU seems to be bullying Luxembourg once again, over the issue of tax.

European Union regulators said on Wednesday that they would investigate Luxembourg's tax exemptions for multinational companies, saying they might offer a disguised subsidy to attract foreign investment.

What next, they will investigate whether not forcing workers to work less than 40 hours per week is a subsidy. Look for investigations into the wags paid in Eastern Europe, a clear subsidy if you ask me. Why can they not just accept it? Low taxes make sense.

A Loaded Question

Over at Conservative Home, Martin Sewell asks a loaded question:

Does a country with access to a national and international heritage of culturally sensitive Common Law still need to be tied to a European Standard? Is not the sub-text that we cannot be trusted to protect our own people’s rights without supra- national intellectual oversight?

Judging by recent performance, I'd say our leaders can be trusted, but giving that power over to a supra national body brings the words, pan, out of, fire, into or something like that.

Family Business

Some of those who are ardent Europhiles, have undoubtedly come under the spell of some idiot potion or other. The others, are just out to get what they can:

Not so long ago, Neil and Glenys were arch critics of Europe. Not any more now Lord and Lady Kinnock have more reason than most to thank the Euro dream because, in one way or another, the entire family is being financially supported by it.

Despite now sitting in the House of Lords, Neil Kinnock is still required to support the EU, to protect his, £63,900-a-year EU pension. His wife Glenys, makes £57,000 a year as an MEP and can claim around £100,000 in expenses. Their Daughter in Law, Helle, an MEP and leader of Denmark's social democrats. at Brussels, earns £40,000, as well as the same allowances as her mother-in-law. Finally, Rachel Kinnock, their daughter, has recently joined her mother’s staff. Son Stephen prefers to milk the taxpayer more directly, in his job with the British Council. So is it any wonder that they are Pro European? (Details taken from the Daily Mail, which requires subscription)

Screwed Up Immigration

We are all familiar with the stereotype of the Indian doctor. But, the unemployed Indian doctor? That's a new one.

At the last count, there were over 6,000 overseas doctors who had come to Britain in the past five years in response to calls by the National Health Service (NHS) for foreign medical staff. But most of them are still unemployed.

Do we doubt that the country could use 6.000 extra doctors, all of who have passed language and competence exams? I certainly don't. So what has gone wrong?

Preference is now given to doctors from the European Union and since its enlargement, a large number of them continue to come here.

So we shun those already here and instead encourage more to come. Somehow I don't find that very logical.

Too Big to Move

Europhiles are always complaining that letting countries keep vetos in certain areas leads to inertia. The EU is unable to develop. Take those Poles for instance:

Last week Poland reinforced the worst fears of the EU’s founding members, as it fought a week-long and ultimately successful battle to secure special value added tax arrangements for its building sector.

No word whatsover on why we should all charge the same VAT on everything. Europhiles don't consider such things.

There is frustration at the unwieldy decision-making process in the EU, especially where the rule of unanimity applies, including tax, the EU budget and foreign policy.

Simple solution. The EU steers clear of those areas. We don't need to harmonise them at all.

Our Dear Leader Changes His Mind

Man of integrity and truth that he is, it would be wrong to question Mr Blair’s motives. But what could make him change his mind on the Constitution?

In a moment of candour looking back on his eight years as Prime Minister, Mr Blair effectively disowned the treaty which he signed up to along with other European Union leaders, claiming that it failed to address the concerns of European citizens.

Why that would worry a politician is a puzzle. They make careers out of failing to address the concerns of ordinary people, a problem which is at its worst at European Level.

He said that on both the single currency - which Britain did not join - and the constitution, which was effectively killed off by voters in France and the Netherlands last year, the EU had put a "political decision" before getting the economics right.

But there in lies the problem. Getting the economics right, simply means free trade, something which can happen without the malign influence of the EU. But then the EU never was an economic project, was it? Not that Our Dear Leader will change his mind on that. Like all our spineless politicians they prefer to stick to the lie that the EU is about economics, unlike their counterparts elsewhere who are more forthcoming.

Subsidies For Sale

From Open Europe:

On 20 January a ground-breaking "auction" of EU CAP subsidy entitlements was held in Inverurie in Scotland. The auction attracted over 400 people, with a further 40 people buying or viewing online. The auctions look set to become a regular event with two more planned for 3 and 17 February.

The rules for subsidies are now so stupid, that it is possible for people who have nothing to do with farming, to buy the right to them. This is the unseen result of cutting the link between production and subsidy.

Farmers who have retired or moved abroad since 2002 can still claim subsidies - often up to tens of thousands of pounds - provided they rent a hectare of land and meet the European definition of a "farmer" at the time of transfer.

It doesn’t matter how you change the system, free money attracts vultures. The only option is to scrap the whole thing.

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French Naval Vessel is Hazardous Waste

The French government is to feel the weight of the EU and its protectionism environmentalism. Brussels is investigating France’s decision to send the ageing Clemenceau aircraft carrier to be scrapped in India amid concerns that the move contravenes European Union waste shipment legislation. Ships are ripped apart by hand in India and Bangladesh, a dirty and dangerous business, but a welcome source of jobs for the poor souls that do it. But the EU is not pleased: Those rules stipulate that it is forbidden to export EU waste for disposal in third countries to protect the environment of those countries. Imperialism at its best. Shouldn’t the recipient countries be making that choice?

Daft and Ideologically Ridiculous

The Conservative Party leadership says it is determined to press ahead with leaving the European Peoples Party, despite resistance from some MEPs.

The former leader of Tory MEPs, Edward McMillan Scott, has dubbed the plan "daft" and "ideologically ridiculous"

That sounds like fighting talk to me. It also sounds something like the blathering of a loony. What is ideologically ridiculous is the idea that a party whose members are predominantly suspicious of the EU, can be part of its biggest fan club. But the Quisling continues:

Mr McMillan-Scott said earlier: "Withdrawing from the EPP is not only daft, but it would break a Conservative manifesto pledge to maintain the link until 2009, so Mr Cameron is in effect threatening to deselect those amongst us who would honour the manifesto by refusing to leave the EPP."

Because we all know that every Conservative Voter was going to vote for another party until they heard about the EPP. “They are federalists? Excellent, I never liked my Country in the first place”. In addition the Wonder Boy is apparently being extreme:

He accused Mr Cameron of only pushing for the break to appease eurosceptic supporters on whom he relied for election and said the new Tory leader appeared to be "working towards the centre at home and yet moving to the extreme right abroad as fast as he can".

Because wanting National Independence is extreme right I assume. Funny that back in the 1940s, extreme right was what supporters of national independence were fighting against. Clearly Mr McMillan-Scott is someone whom we should do our best to get deselected at the next opportunity. In the meantime, you can send him a mail as part of the Right Links campaign. For a suggested message and his and other MEP’s details, Go here.

Who’s The Boss

Many Europhiles like to claim that we hairy backed, calloused knuckled Eurosceptic exaggerate the level of control that the EU has on us. Well in the area of financial services, we are most certainly doing no such thing. From a conference brochure:

Over 80% of UK regulations emanate directly from Europe and with the Financial Services Action Plan bringing harmonised regulations across the European Union, no firm in the UK can ignore its impact.

Europhiles, will no doubt continue to ignore its impact, claiming something or other, backed up by a few meaningless clichés.