EU President has the charisma of a damp rag

[Louis VI the Fat]

The Brits are taking over!

In stark contrast to Van Rompuy's understated and professional performance, Baroness Ashton's performance thus far has been weak. That's what you get for an inexperienced personal trustee of Brown as foreign minister.

The one thing she has accomplished, is to appoint Britons and personal trustees to all key foreign positions.

As usual, behind the nagging and complaints, Britain knows just how to use the EU for its own gain.

• Confidential German ministry document reveals objections
• Alarm at Ashton’s multiple appointment of British officials


Germany is planning to stop what it sees as a British campaign to dominate European foreign policy-making under Lady Catherine Ashton, the Guardian can disclose.


Amid growing criticism across the EU of the performance of Baroness Ashton of Upholland, the EU’s new high representative for foreign and security policy, Berlin and Paris are alarmed at the prominence of British officials in the new EU diplomatic service being formed under Ashton.

http://www.businessgaze.com/germany-...ve-eu-powers-2

Away with British corruption and self-serving cliques and another Belgian for foreign minister too!

[Beskar]

Sir Humprey Appleby was right, France is the real enemy of Britain.

[bobbin]

As usual, behind the nagging and complaints, Britain knows just how to use the EU for its own gain.

cough..cough..Common Agricultural Policy..cough..cough

Don't worry about UKIP they are about as unpopular is the UK as they are in Europe. A bunch if "little englander" idiots in my opinion.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

The Brits are taking over!

In stark contrast to Van Rompuy's understated and professional performance, Baroness Ashton's performance thus far has been weak. That's what you get for an inexperienced personal trustee of Brown as foreign minister.

The one thing she has accomplished, is to appoint Britons and personal trustees to all key foreign positions.

As usual, behind the nagging and complaints, Britain knows just how to use the EU for its own gain.
Away with British corruption and self-serving cliques and another Belgian for foreign minister too!

End the CAP, then we can talk.

I mean END, by the way, not reduce; we already gave up the rebate.

[Louis VI the Fat]

The CAP is the means by which Britain - damp and bleak - is granted a share in the glory of France and the divine fruits of her blessed lands, and call it a bit theirs.



I thought you'd all be a bit more grateful.

[Beskar]

I think we should have a Common Agricultural Policy, as in a actual policy, but I don't believe we should have a "Compulsory Charity for Lazy French Farmers"

[Louis VI the Fat]

I think we should have a Common Agricultural Policy, as in a actual policy, but I don't believe we should have a "Compulsory Charity for Lazy French Farmers"

French farmers are not lazy. The soil is simply that fertile that one sows in March, then sits in the sun reading philosophy and poetry all throughout a glorious sun-filled summer and then reaps a bountiful harvest over two days in September.

The Briton by contrast has to slave like an ox all year round only to still reap a the most meagre of harvests.

That's why its better to invest in French agriculture - better return on investment, plus it leaves even the French peasant so cultured that French arts and literature flourish as much as the land itself, allowing a double harvest of agricultural and intellectual culture so rich that the whole of Europe can bask in its glory.

[bobbin]

[Seamus Fermanagh]

French farmers are not lazy. The soil is simply that fertile that one sows in March, then sits in the sun reading philosophy and poetry all throughout a glorious sun-filled summer and then one reaps a bountiful harvest over two days in September.

The Briton by contrast has to slave like an ox all year round only to still reap a the meagerest of harvests.

That's why its better to invest in French agriculture - better return on investment, plus it leaves even the French peasant so cultured that French arts and literature flourish as much as the land itself, allowing a double harvest of agriculture and intellectual culture so rich that the whole of Europe can bask in its glory.

Clearly the French are skilled with fertilizer......

[Aemilius Paulus]

Clearly the French are skilled with fertilizer......

Not as much as the Chinese

[Tristuskhan]

I think we should have a Common Agricultural Policy, as in a actual policy, but I don't believe we should have a "Compulsory Charity for Lazy French Farmers"

Oh no, not from you, Beskar... not you please. Have a look at the reality: 80% of CAP subsidies to french agriculture goes to the 20% biggest farmers. Old school french farming tries to survive by itself and owes nothing to you.

[Boohugh]

Oh no, not from you, Beskar... not you please. Have a look at the reality: 80% of CAP subsidies to french agriculture goes to the 20% biggest farmers. Old school french farming tries to survive by itself and owes nothing to you.

So what you're saying is most of the money goes to the farmers who should be most commercially viable. Remind me of the logic of why France supports CAP for the good of the small farmers again? If anything, this is just further evidence the system is broken and needs a total overhaul...something the UK has been pushing for a long time now.

[Tristuskhan]

So what you're saying is most of the money goes to the farmers who should be most commercially viable. Remind me of the logic of why France supports CAP for the good of the small farmers again?

"Small farmers" supported by the current french government? If I remember well the most important benefactors are Doux http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupe_Doux and His Excellency Albert II of Monte Carlo http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Grimaldi. Spit on them as much as you like.

If anything, this is just further evidence the system is broken and needs a total overhaul...something the UK has been pushing for a long time now.

Lessons of agriculture coming from the United Kingdom? Like acknowleging cows shoud obviously be fed with sheep? I'm the first one to admit CAP must be dramatically overhauled, but aiming at the wrong target is definitely useless and insulting.

[Beskar]

Oh no, not from you, Beskar... not you please. Have a look at the reality: 80% of CAP subsidies to french agriculture goes to the 20% biggest farmers. Old school french farming tries to survive by itself and owes nothing to you.

Thanks to helping me with my point, French-Beskar, as Boohugh pointed out.

[Kralizec]

I think we should have a Common Agricultural Policy, as in a actual policy, but I don't believe we should have a "Compulsory Charity for Lazy French Farmers"

I agree...there should be a common agricultural policy, just not this one. Most states would have funded their own farmers in some degree anyway, might as well ensure some uniformity to combat unfair competition.

My approach would be to completely phase out the subsidies over a period of 10 years or so, and simultaniously raise tarriffs for agricultural products from countries wich still subsidize their own farmers like the USA.

[bobbin]

End the CAP, then we can talk.

I mean END, by the way, not reduce; we already gave up the rebate.

No we didn't, it got reduced by 20% but it's still there.