How would you put it in English?

I also think we should mention social issues:
"Rather than move European integration forward, the former British Prime Minister set a series of so-called red lines during the Lisbon negotiations, with the intent of blocking any progress in <b<social issues and tax harmonisation as well as common defence and foreign policy.</b>"

What do you think?

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet