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From the press release:

New report highlights EU's 'heroes and villains', The Parliament.com, 10 March 2008

It gives an overall performance rating of just C-plus and the message is that member states "must do better".

Barroso said, "Most parents do not want their child coming home with a C-plus but I accept that countries must do better.

"The economic performance of member states has been uneven and some have shown more commitment to economic reform than others.

"Indeed, over the last 12 months there has been evidence of reform fatigue."

You'll think I'm obsessively critical, but is this infantilisation the level we should expect from political leaders and serious analysts? (I'm including the "heroes and villains" bit in this)?

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Mar 14th, 2008 at 05:00:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]
No, I won't think anything of the kind -- matter of fact, I believe it's necessary to be critical. There are points in that report that definitely need to be raised and discussed.
by The3rdColumn on Fri Mar 14th, 2008 at 05:07:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]
If I weren't feeling too lazy (drained is more like it), I could actually write a report of the discussion that followed the launch -- there were interesting issues raised during the question and answer time and the commenters were fairly critical of the agenda recommendations.

I guess it will have to be for another day (the last few weeks have left me mentally and physically exhausted.)

by The3rdColumn on Fri Mar 14th, 2008 at 05:16:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Do get some rest - I have no time ahead of me to dig further into that report, anyway... :-)
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Mar 14th, 2008 at 05:43:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Thanks, will do although next few days will be hectic -- a journalist friend from the US is arriving tomorrow on a holiday and will be staying at home. Have planned outings (and meetings with friends per his request, talk of a holiday - heh); I have a suspicion he'll be filing stories daily during this supposed holiday of his...
by The3rdColumn on Fri Mar 14th, 2008 at 07:13:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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