It's van Rompuy and Ashton | 105 comments (102 topical, 3 editorial, 0 hidden)

Why a Brit? (4.00 / 3)

It looks like the trade off is that Michel Barnier will be getting the Commissioner for the Internal Market and Financial Regulation

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Thu Nov 19th, 2009 at 03:44:25 PM EST

Re: Why a Brit? (none / 1)

sounds like a good deal for France.

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Thu Nov 19th, 2009 at 03:45:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why a Brit? (none / 1)

Is it for the EU, too?

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Nov 19th, 2009 at 03:48:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

possibly (4.00 / 5)

a Brit in charge of financial regulation would ensure that nothing is done. With Barnier getting the job at Sarkozy's behest, it's at least an open question;
given her lack of foreign policy experience, it's hard to know how Baroness Ashton will turn out in the job. Will she be driven by Foreign Office guys, or by Brussels bureaucrats? No idea, but at least an open question - and with a social/anti-nuke background, there's some seeds of hope...

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Thu Nov 19th, 2009 at 03:52:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Oh, but you forget (4.00 / 4)

the most important question: Will Baroness Asthon stop the traffic?

Seriously: it looks like we don't know much about her politics and future plans for the job, so I guess we'll have to reserve judgment and hope she doesn't turn into She-Blair.

by Bernard (bernard) on Thu Nov 19th, 2009 at 04:05:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh, but you forget (4.00 / 2)

At the moment I'm seeing Foreign Minister as a largely ceremonial post - although only slightly more ceremonial than President.

She won't turn into She-Blair, but she may turn into nothing much.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Thu Nov 19th, 2009 at 04:59:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Oh, but you forget (4.00 / 3)

One original concern was that the first occupants of the new offices created by the Lisbon Treaty would shape the office for the future. It would seem that this might be less of a damaging imprint that might have been. Having a role in deflecting events from the most dangerous likely course is a signal accomplishment for ET. Remaining is the larger task of moving the debate onto grounds that might be productive of future improvements.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Thu Nov 19th, 2009 at 05:34:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why a Brit? (4.00 / 3)

I don't like Barnier, but he's an undoubted pro-European.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Nov 19th, 2009 at 04:00:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's van Rompuy and Ashton | 105 comments (102 topical, 3 editorial, 0 hidden)

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