EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Support for the EU among the bloc's citizens has risen to the highest level since early 1990s with two thirds favouring the concept of a European constitution, but a state-like EU charter is opposed most strongly in Britain, Denmark and Sweden. According to a fresh Eurobarometer survey, to be published on Wednesday (20 June), a feeling of optimism about Europe has spread across the member states. Fifty nine percent of respondents said they consider EU membership as beneficial for their country - the highest percentage since 1991, while overall support for the union stands at 57 percent, at its highest since 1994. The Dutch (77%), Irish (76%) and Luxembourgers (74%) are the staunchest supporters of the EU, while the biggest drop of positive sentiment was recorded in the Czech Republic (from 51 percent in autumn 2006 to 46%) and in Latvia (from 43% to 37%).
Two days before the crucial summit on the EU treaty to replace the stalled constitution, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is digging in his heels. Britain, he says, will not give up any sovereignity. But he may be making life difficult for his successor. Tony Blair is playing hard ball on the EU treaty. While Europe focuses on Warsaw's intransigence over the new draft treaty to replace the failed European Union constitution, another source of dissent is coming from the other end of Europe. Britain continues to say that it is willing to block any treaty that smacks too much of a constitution and that transfers too much power to Brussels. While Poland's beef with the draft treaty is a new voting system (more...), which it claims decreases the influence of smaller countries, Britain has a whole list of key areas that it will not compromise on. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel may now have to fight the battle on two fronts if she wants to succeed in pushing through the treaty at the summit of EU leaders that begins on Thursday in Brussels.
Two days before the crucial summit on the EU treaty to replace the stalled constitution, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is digging in his heels. Britain, he says, will not give up any sovereignity. But he may be making life difficult for his successor.
Tony Blair is playing hard ball on the EU treaty. While Europe focuses on Warsaw's intransigence over the new draft treaty to replace the failed European Union constitution, another source of dissent is coming from the other end of Europe. Britain continues to say that it is willing to block any treaty that smacks too much of a constitution and that transfers too much power to Brussels.
While Poland's beef with the draft treaty is a new voting system (more...), which it claims decreases the influence of smaller countries, Britain has a whole list of key areas that it will not compromise on.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel may now have to fight the battle on two fronts if she wants to succeed in pushing through the treaty at the summit of EU leaders that begins on Thursday in Brussels.
Optimistically, including the former Soviet bloc countries is a long term play. It's possible that the plan is for them to shift towards closer integration politically over a decade or two, at the expense of some aggravation now - rather than like East Germany.
Less optimistically Brussels was tricked into expansion by the US.
Realistically I'd guess a mix of both motivations is likely.
