Photo: DPA

Merkel attacks British eurosceptics

Published: 11 May 09 08:06 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20090511-19193.html

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made a thinly veiled attack on Britain's eurosceptic main opposition Conservative Party, who are currently riding high in opinion polls.

"We refuse to stretch out our hand to those who oppose the (EU) Lisbon Treaty... but at the same time talk about enlargement," Merkel said. "Those who want more (Europe) have to cooperate," Merkel said in Berlin at a campaign meeting for European elections in June attended by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday.

Merkel named no names, but a French MP listening to the speech said it was clear that it was the Conservatives' leader David Cameron who was in her sights, with what he called his "disturbing" euroscepticism.

Britain has ratified the EU's reforming Lisbon Treaty but Cameron wants to hold a referendum on it if elected. At the same time he supports Turkey joining to the EU - something opposed by both Merkel and Sarkozy.

After the European elections the Conservatives plan to quit the European Parliament's main centre-right grouping that includes Sarkozy's UMP party and Merkel's CDU, the European People's Party/European Democrats (EPP-ED).

"Angela Merkel is right," Sarkozy said. "With Angela Merkel we want a Europe with institutions worthy of the name."

A BPIX/Mail on Sunday poll put backing for Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party at a record low of 23 percent - 22 points behind the Conservatives. The next British general election is due before June 2010.

AFP (news@thelocal.de)

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#1
16:30 May 11, 2009 by astonysh
Strangely I am beginning to agree occasionally with Frau Merkel. Firstly came her intelligent response to the irresponsible behaviour of banks which caused the international financial crisis. Now there comes this intelligent analysis of the Europhobic British Tories. If the CDU were not likely to ally themselves with the FDP in the next German elections, I could even offer them some moral support.
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#2
23:01 May 11, 2009 by PenName
Germany is one of those rubberstamp countries that doesn't allow its citizens to vote on the Lisbon Treaty. If it did, there might be a shock (to the establishment) as in France in 2005 and Holland. Only with such a vote can it be said that Merkel represents a sound consensus in favour of Lisbon.
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#3
08:47 May 16, 2009 by Elfringhausen
Mrs Merkel is against everything which could endanger her United States of Europe dream.

As long as the EU was just a free trade zone, it was benificial to all states.

The british have realised that the EU would take away it's soverignty and when Brussel dictates what happens in Europe and the german parliment is dissolved effectively, the german public will wake up too.

I think that in 5 years we may see many more anti EU parties like the british UKIP in all european states.
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#4
15:01 May 17, 2009 by Avital
We must support the Unites States of Europe, otherwise we are just one small voice in the world. Yes and British must give up their suverenity as the other states are doing or be small point in all world.
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#5
11:44 May 18, 2009 by Exile
The reason parties like UKIP exist and are supported is because a large chunk of the British public have not come to terms with post war political realities. How many UK people living over here really want to give up their EU citizenship?
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#6
11:58 May 18, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
Europhiles who blindly give up sovereignty to a non-democratic, non-accountable body run by autocrats on the Brussels gravy train also haven't come to terms with EU reality.

I'll vote for an EU if and only if the executive and legislative branches become truly democratic and accountable to the people. I'm glad that there are parties out there who question the "dream".
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#7
12:48 May 18, 2009 by parnell
Accountability , gravy train... uh wasn't there something recently in the British press about some minister's husband having his porn paid for by the British exchequer?

None so blind...
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#8
12:56 May 18, 2009 by Exile
UKIP and Tory Eurosceptics don't want a democratically accountable EU, they want a UK that is run by and for big business.
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#9
12:57 May 18, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
yes, and the British MPs are accountable to the public and the worst offenders will be voted out, no doubt, come the next election or not re-selected by their local constituency parties. You can't say the same of the Commission in Brussels. And the european parliament is a powerless talking shop.
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#10
13:15 May 18, 2009 by parnell
@OG

You say in post #8 that "I'll vote for an EU if and only if the executive and legislative branches become truly democratic and accountable to the people"

If waiting for the next election is accountability then I don't know what to say to you. Try doing the same with your company expenses and you might get a clearer idea.
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#11
13:20 May 18, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
the point is that the commission are not accountable to the voting public, which national governments are. If they up, no one can vote them out. it is not a hard concept to grasp.

And your point of the expenses kind of proves my point. Some MPs have claimed things they probably shouldn't have (even though the rules allowed them to) and are being exposed. They are being held accountable. That is how a democracy works. The commission doesn't work on the basis of democracy and accountability.
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#12
13:25 May 18, 2009 by lazybum
UKIP and Tory Eurosceptics don't want a democratically accountable EU, they want a UK that is run by and for big business.
Well said...
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#13
13:25 May 18, 2009 by Exile
So you are for a pan EU elected body with real power or not?
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#14
13:33 May 18, 2009 by Owain Glyndwr
yep, i want a directly elected president with an executive made up of members of the european parliament. I also want a constitution which firmly and explicitly limits the areas that the EU is responsible for following a principle of subsidiarity. Until that happens I will remain firmly anti-EU.
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#15
15:27 May 18, 2009 by cb6dba
@OG - I agree with you in principle regarding MP's being voted out.

However in practice lets see how many of them that have been on the expenses fiddle lose their seats at the next general election.

A democratically elected EU parliament with powers like the sovereign countries would never work, not yet at least.
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