Selfish, ignorant, dangerous: Europe's verdict on Cameron speech
If Britain wants to leave Europe we will roll out the red carpet for you - French Foreign Minister
Britain's European partners told David Cameron today that his demand for radical reform of the EU and an "in-out" referendum on UK membership showed a selfish and ignorant attitude.
France went so far as to call Britain's bluff and say it was free to leave. Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said he had told a recent meeting with British businessmen: "If Britain wants to leave Europe we will roll out the red carpet for you."
That was a riposte to Cameron who last year used the same phrase to welcome wealthy French tax exiles to Britain.
EU politicians turned to culinary and sporting metaphors to vent frustration at the prime minister's promise to renegotiate Britain's already semi-detached membership of the EU and put it to a popular vote if he wins re-election in 2015.
"Cherry-picking is not an option," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said. Two French cabinet ministers accused Cameron of treating Europe like an "a la carte" menu from which Britain thought it could pick and choose.
Peter Mandelson, a former EU trade commissioner and veteran British Labour government minister, called it a "schizophrenic" speech and said Europe would not respond positively to being treated as a "cafeteria service where you bring your own tray and leave with what you want".
Fabius said it was as if Britain had joined a football club and then suddenly said "let's play rugby".
Martin Schulz, the head of the European Parliament which with the European Commission was the butt of Cameron's criticism of "sclerotic" EU decision-making, was just plain angry.
Britain was pointing the finger but was "overwhelmingly to blame for all the delays in Europe", said Schulz. "He just wants change in the single interest of Britain and that's not fair."
In Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative sympathies for Cameron's party are overshadowed by anger at their exit from the centre-right EU bloc and veto of her fiscal pact, the view is that the UK premier has painted himself into a corner.
German politicians face eurosceptic pressures of their own but say Cameron pays too much attention to a loud minority who play up what he called disillusionment "at an all-time high".
"Cameron is using EU membership as a tactical tool for domestic politics," said Manuel Sarrazin of the German Greens.
CRITICISM NOT UNANIMOUS
Even if opinion to Britain was warmer, it is far from clear how it could initiate and successfully pilot a treaty negotiation, EU officials said.
Guy Verhofstadt, former Belgian prime minister and now leader of the liberals in the European Parliament, said the British premier was "playing with fire" by trying to renegotiate Britain's EU membership and put it to the vote.
"His speech was full of inconsistencies, displaying a degree of ignorance about how the EU works," said Verhofstadt.
Verhofstadt and others said there could be "no question" of granting Britain wholesale opt-outs from common European rules and regulations, saying this risked precipitating an unravelling of the EU and its internal market
The alarm is not confined to Europe. Britain has also been warned by the White House and a host of business leaders it would lose global influence if it left the EU.
"In the larger context of history, Europe is an enormous success and a Europe with Britain in it is much more powerful and important than without it," said Joseph Nye, a former U.S. defence department official and professor at Harvard.
President Barack Obama "very much wants Britain to remain in the EU", Nye told a panel at the Davos World Economic Forum.
But the response to Cameron's long-awaited speech was not uniformly negative. Finland's Europe minister, Alex Stubb, said he did not think Cameron wanted to quit the EU.
"He wants to get this discussion done and clarify Britain's position in the EU once and for all. In that sense I do respect his line," he said.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas, whose government was the only one other than Britain's not to sign the EU's fiscal pact, told a news conference: "We share the view with the United Kingdom that Europe should be more flexible, more open, should strive more for confidence among its citizens.
"We have no interest in Britain's departure from the EU, on the contrary, we have interest in a European future for the United Kingdom."
Cameron gave some EU leaders advance warning of the content of his speech and some, even if they did not like what they heard, agreed with the premier that it was high time for an honest debate about reform.
Dutch premier Mark Rutte, who shares Cameron's concerns but does not want an opt-out, called it a "strong speech" with good reform ideas.
Talk of tragedy might not sway Cameron, who began his speech by saying Britain's approach to Europe was "more practical than emotional". But EU diplomats said that on a rational level too his analysis was flawed and contradictory.
"Basically it boiled down to: 'Let's re-elect me, let's then change our ties with Europe, and then let's have a referendum on something that's not defined yet'," said one EU diplomat.
Jolyon Howorth, a British scholar of European politics, said it might be better if Britain left as the EU would then be free to work towards its vision of a federal Europe, "unhampered by the brake-man on the caboose".
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Alfred J. McEwen
Mar 21st, 20:08
Cameron is perfectly correct of being critical of the EU, Malta should seek a semi detached policy at the least or better still, a complete breakaway from the EU at best. It has no sense of accountability, and it`s policies are simply wrecking the member states and will be seeking of ways to wreck this country with their idiotic over bureaucratic bungling.
Vincent Bezzina
Mar 8th, 07:10
This is a reminder that EU money is Tax money. Here in Malta we are always talking about EU money but there is no mention of the same money we send to the EU in the first place. Money does not grow on trees you know. Britain is right because it has a strong culture of accountability that is missing in almost all the rest of EU.
Vincent Bezzina
Mar 8th, 07:05
The EC as a business community was a great idea. The EU as a political entity is a big ugly corrupt monster. In particular the EU finds its very easy to dictate in the minutest details the life of its citizens, but then totally fails to set any standard or accountability for the political elite with regards to corruption, conflicts of interest and abuse of power.
Vincent Bezzina
Mar 8th, 07:03
Selfish, ignorant, dangerous? What's next? Threaten military action. There is something seriously wrong with the EU and how its views itself.
M. Degiorgio
Jan 24th, 08:50
Britain will not leave the EU. Somebody once said "The only unions that last are unions based on interest".
It is the common interest of Britain and the E.U that Britain stays in the union!
In my humble opinion I think this is only a clever internal politics manoeuvre from Cameron to tackle several issues simultaneously.
Terry COURTNADGE
Jan 24th, 11:41
Cameron firmly believes that this promise of a referendum will deliver him victory at the next General Election.
Andrew Cutajar
Jan 23rd, 19:59
I thought it was about democracy - Cameron negotiates and finds out what EU will look like ... informs the British people ... then let them choose.
If the EU is so great, benefits will outweigh constraints of membership and Britain will stay ... so no problem.
Why is EU worried? All they need to ensure is that British public has access to truthful information
Peter Murray
Jan 23rd, 19:25
SELFISH,IGNORANT and DANGEROUS!Why if they had added ARROGANT MEGLOMANIACS they could have been describing the EU hierarchy themselves !
Albert Farrugia
Jan 23rd, 17:58
Seems like Fabius and his likes have forgotten that the EU is made up of 27 Member STATES and not Member GOVERNMENTS. Labour Leader Milliband is against holding a referendum and against the whole process of re-negotiating the treaties. As has Cameron's partner in government, Nick Clegg. So let us not confuse Cameron with Britain Cameron's chances of al outright victory are anyway very slim.
Kevin Muller
Jan 23rd, 17:45
Yes, let them finally leave the EU and see how fast the british industry will go down the drain. Ok there is not a lot of products they can export anyhow and if so it's of such poor quality, nobody on the continent want's to buy that crap. For the EU it will be a good decision, cos the biggest partypooper is out - on a red or blue carpet, who cares about such a selfish nation?
John Grima
Jan 23rd, 18:26
I may be mistaken but probably the German people will want Britain out of the EU as it is the only nation with enough guts to stand up to Germany and stop her dominating the continent. Something that it tried to do during the last century which ended up with two great wars and the only country that stopped them achieving that goal was Britain.
Kevin Muller
Jan 23rd, 19:25
@John Grima Sorry to say, but your thoughts are from the past and you seem not having realised that we are in 2013 ! Nobody in Europe want's to dominate anybody anymore, we have different problems to sort out. The idea of the EU is the reason why this kind of thinking is past. Keep in mind : if you look too often in the back mirror, you don't see what is going on in front of you.
Steve Mifsud
Jan 23rd, 19:43
At Kevin, I think you are guilty of two silly errors: your claim that UK trade would go down the drain and also that you would be thrilled to see the UK out of the EU. It is clear that your dislike of the UK has clouded your judgement and and has also impeded your ability to comment sensibly. The Germans and the French can see the importance of an EU with the UK, but no, not our Kevin.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jan 23rd, 20:21
Kevin-
Don't fly on any Airbus plane as the wings are made in the U.K. - who knows, they may drop off!
John Grima
Jan 23rd, 21:29
@Kevin Muller
part 1
Do you deny that Germany dominates the EU and what Germany wants usually Germany gets. If you look at the back mirror as you call it you will see that the EU was supposed to be a trading community called the Common Market which is what Britain joined and which the French did their damnest to keep out.
John Benner
Jan 23rd, 22:08
The UK products are such crap yet 1 in 5 of all investment in Europe is with the UK , a fifth of all investment in the 27 countries , that's the kind of crap business likes Mr Muller and long may crap like that continue .
Pippo de Marco
Jan 23rd, 17:44
Just listening to a live vote on UK talk radio station 'Talk Sport' - current voting gives 90% of UK voters in favour of the Britain remaining IN the EU.
As ever, Cameron is totally detached from everyday people. .
Peter Murray
Jan 23rd, 19:31
Complete nonsense claims of 90% UK voters in favour of remaining in the EU -90"% of how many respondents?More thorough and comprehensive surveys and opinion polls were conducted than this "Talk Sport " purported live vote(how can you take that seriously?) such as the DAILY EXPRESS newspaper poll whose respondents totalled over a quarter of a million with 72% wanting to LEAVE THE EU.
Pippo de Marco
Jan 23rd, 20:12
Peter,
Nonsense is it ?
So you will know that The Daily Express poll came after its OWN CAMPAIGN for the UK to withdrawn from the EU. - So, not surprisingly, most EXPRESS READERS voted to pull out, which was surprising as a Daily Mail poll showing that the majority of its readers vote Conservative !
UK newspaper polls are not representative of the population, but then you know that too.
Herman Mercieca
Jan 23rd, 17:25
IL-kbir Dr.Alfred Sant. Darba qal li l'ewropa trid tinqasam u jien nahseb li waslet ghax jekk tohrog l'ingiltera tohrog Cipru biex tifranka id-dejn u min jaf lima pajjiz ha johrog
John Grima
Jan 23rd, 17:19
The referenda were completely against the constitution./ Unfortunately the EU is more for the politicians and the bureaucrats working for it then for the general public.
Mary Pace
Jan 23rd, 18:05
Agree! People begging in the streets and poor families increasing across the EU!
Lawrence Fenech
Jan 23rd, 17:19
How arrogant and bad educated for a Minister to call the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in that way. He should be sacked for these comments but ofcourse Barrosa picked on little Malta to get rid of John Dalli.
I trust that the British Foreign Minister will react to these uncalled for comments.
E Camilleri
Jan 23rd, 19:56
you and others are right to comment on the "red carpet" issue as REUTERS did not report well. He said " The other day I was at a meeting with lots of British people, in particular businessmen, and I told them that if the UK decides to leave Europe we will roll out the red carpet"... to attract them - in the same sense of what cameron said to French businesses last June due to fiscal changes in fr
John Grima
Jan 23rd, 17:16
I guess the real test would be ifd all the countries of the EU, especially the original members, were to give an in/out referendum to their population as Cameron has promised. Of course this will not happen as the membership will be refused by the general population. See what happened when they had 2 referenda in France and Holland about the constitution.
C Magri
Jan 23rd, 17:05
I think the Brits would be more than happy to tread the red carpet. At least their leader has the guts to recognise that EU might not be working.
Kurt Guillaumier
Jan 23rd, 17:02
Any leader worth his salts should always keep in mind, that the national interest should always come first.
P Sciberras
Jan 23rd, 16:49
It will be interesting for the France Foreign Minister to tell Britain if it prefers the same red carpet that France Charles De Gaulle laid for Britain when Britain was trying to join the EEC,To day,s EU. At that time France blocked Britain.s entry twice,and stopped Britain from being a member. This is all history,but still interesting to remember.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jan 23rd, 17:55
The joke about the red carpet is what Cameron said he would lay for French entrepreneurs going to Britain, as many have already done.
Joe Bonanno
Jan 23rd, 16:39
Perhaps the British are seeing the writing on the wall that many don't or won't see. If it does happen at least the EU could comfort itself that Albania, with its vast riches, would very ably take the place of the U.K.. Perhaps Malta should ask itself where the Eastern European multitude presently in Britain will head?
Martin Webster
Jan 23rd, 16:34
What would be the most appropriate attire when jumping onto a red carpet?
Charles W. Sammut
Jan 23rd, 16:11
I don't know who's bluffing here, but a bankrupt and corruption ridden club that is forever bickering, can hardly be taken too seriously. With France next on the bail-out list, discretion would be the better part of valour for its Socialist government.
Steve Mifsud
Jan 23rd, 16:34
well said
Mr Danny Apap
Jan 23rd, 16:05
How many Germans, French, Italian Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish and the rest of the EU really want to be part of Federal Europe? Who really want to se their Nation lose its identity! And will the French roll out the red carpet for the R.A.F. for helping them in Mali. I see soon they came knocking on the UK door for help just like in the past.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jan 23rd, 17:57
As the Americans said about the French, "They're always there when they want you"!
Joe Scicluna
Jan 23rd, 15:52
I think it would be a very unfortunate matter should the UK leave the EU. The British intervention in the Arab Spring has helped stabilize our Mediterranean world. They are able to stand up to the other big EU states and would not allow them to treat smaller states shabily. We would lose an old friend and close ally. Finally, how can the individual EU states possibly compete with China or America?
George Joseph Cauchi
Jan 23rd, 16:12
What that's got to do with it. UK would still form part of NATO !!!!!
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Jan 23rd, 15:36
What influence would a country of just 60 million people have on the global scene when it is no longer that powerful in terms of resources and economy, outside the EU?
Britain has a voice on world affairs because it forms part of the EU, otherwise its voiceless!
Will it perhaps become the 51st. state of the U.S.A.?
Would that be an achievement?
JC.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jan 23rd, 17:58
It still is the 5th. richest nation on earth, however.
M. Degiorgio
Jan 23rd, 19:50
@ Mr. Tony Gatt
According to this site it seems to be more like the 23rd!
M. Degiorgio
Jan 23rd, 19:50
http://www.gfmag.com/tools/global-database/economic-data/12148-the-richest-countries-in-the-world.html#axzz2IpFXsDkh
C Cassar
Jan 23rd, 14:21
The UK always think they know best. Let them leave and they will suffer both economically and as a world influence if they leave the EU. The UK has one of the worst economies in Europe so for them to lave over the next 5 years would be a benefit to everyone else.
carlos ellul
Jan 23rd, 14:33
You're joking aren't you? England is one of the richest countries in Europe and the second biggest net contributor, It seems that the great EU dictatorship is being shaken to the core. Lets see what happens
Steve Mifsud
Jan 23rd, 14:44
C Cassar.......I get tired of reading sweeping comments from people like you. "The UK thinks this, the UK thinks that....bla bla bla". The Brits are no more opinionated than any other people and probably less so than us Maltese. Sorry, but what is wrong with a country taking a look at itself and possibly coming to the conclusion that it (EU membership) may not be working the way it had hoped?
Mr Tony Gatt
Jan 23rd, 15:15
@ C.Cassar
There are few cities in France which have a bigger French population than London. Why? Because these French people see England as a great place to do business.
The EU stifles free enterprise with its regulations. As for one of the worst economies in Europe- dream on.
Pippo de Marco
Jan 23rd, 15:34
@ C. Cassar .
Once again you are typing without engaging your brain. - iIf you think that the UK leaving the EU would not have serious repercussions for the rest of Europe, then you know even less than you have demonstrated thus far.
Charles Cremona
Jan 23rd, 15:37
C.Cassar: As a well known anti Brit you are again wrong on this one as always, the EU will lose £15 billion in UK contributions alone, if they left who is going to support the poor countries of the EU in future and remember there is a lot of them especially from eastern Europe. Britain can see that there is no future in an EU that is in terminal decline and mired in crises.
Raymond Sammut
Jan 23rd, 14:09
Cameron shows he is a good leader in 3 ways: prepared to take risk, confronts reality by challenging Brussels to negotiate, and gives Britons the opportunity to think hard and play a direct role in a referendum.
Consider now Labour leaders: Wilson quit prematurely, Blair still persues in vain personal glory, while Callaghan and Brown never knew what to do with a PM office they had inherited.
Anton Zammit
Jan 23rd, 14:09
I cannot understand the whole issue that is being made out of this. Its not as if Britain was ever a very enthusiastic member of the EU. One has to remember that the EU is not of their doing (such as the Commonwealth) so that there was always a certain degree of reluctance and mistrust of the institution. They joined more out of convenience than because they believed in European integration.
Joe Fenech
Jan 23rd, 13:53
But make sure that the EU is not allowed to benefit from EU advantages like the Swiss or the Norwegians. You leave, you go your own way!
Adrian Zahra
Jan 23rd, 14:16
The Swiss and the Norwegians pay a contribution to the EU as part of their agreement with it (as EFTA nations) to enjoy the single-market privileges. If the UK exits the EU in favour of such an agreement, why not? I fail to see your logic: an agreement is an agreement.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jan 23rd, 13:37
"French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius quipped: "If Britain wants to leave Europe we will roll out the red carpet for you."
I don't think he will be laughing as much when France's take of the CAP plummets if the U.K. pulls out.
C Cassar
Jan 23rd, 14:23
The UK also receives funds under CAP. The overall UK contribution to the EU after receiving funds is relatively small and is only used by the media and uninitiated as a headline.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jan 23rd, 15:18
@ C. Cassar
Britain's net contribution to the EU is about 5.4 billion. This is the second-biggest, after Germany. If you think that's small beer you must be very rich.
John iNGUANEZ
Jan 23rd, 15:23
Dont forget that the UK is still reaping millions of money negotiated by Thatcher.
Pippo de Marco
Jan 23rd, 15:43
Tony,
You are so right. This is nothing but BS and bravado from the French FM.
As well as acquiring a whole load of eastern European migrants, France would stand to lose more than most if the UK does eventually pull out, in which case the carpet would be more brown than red.
Mr Tony Gatt
Jan 23rd, 18:04
@ John Inguanez
The 'millions' negotiated by Thatcher were because the French had skewed the CAP in favour of themselves. Britain still ends up paying in more than France, in spite of all the French bombast.
Please choose the reason of your report below: