EU President Barroso slams Germany for undermining EU institutions

[seer]

EU Commission President Ruffles German Feathers with Critique

An interview with the head of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, set sparks flying in Germany after he criticized Berlin's EU policy and overall attitude to Europe in what some called an election ploy.

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Germany addressing own interests


Germany's "plea to leave power where it can be exercised closest to the citizen ... is really aimed against the European institutions," Barroso said in an unusually direct statement.

In addition, Germany's apparent reluctance to support reforms to the EU's energy market and to divert unused agricultural funds to pay for the Galileo satellite-navigation system is "worrying," he added.

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http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2813225,00.html


I thought EU and German interests are the same. p-)

[Horizon]

He's acting like the king of Europe, lecture the Presidents of the most powerful states, and has only been the prime minister of an insignificant country for the construction of Europe.The 1984 scenario is before us, if states don't remove such a position "EU President" that conflicts national interests.

[Kilo]

.... has only been the prime minister of an insignificant country for the construction of Europe.T

that´s because we didn´t need "Europe"

since the foundation of our country, in 1128, we were always more interested in the oceans, in Africa, in Asia, in Brazil....


the creation of the "Europe Union" was to avoid that you, the french, and the germans in starting another war, like you started the first 2 world wars

http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/459/cc381r00011p24cr00728cfkl4.jpg

[Sharp]

France started the WW2 ? Well, it's "de mieux en mieux" !

[johanness]

France started the WW2 ? Well, it's "de mieux en mieux" !

YOU declared war to Germany 1939?

Yes ;)

[joka]

He's acting like the king of Europe, lecture the Presidents of the most powerful states, and has only been the prime minister of an insignificant country for the construction of Europe.The 1984 scenario is before us, if states don't remove such a position "EU President" that conflicts national interests.


The entire point of the Commission is to pursue the interests of the whole EU. You know, sort of like any executive body of any organization.

[Mastermind]

Yes...very unsettling of the EU President to act like a petty dictator...I would think the EU needs Germany much more than Germany needs the EU...Clearly, he should be a bit more diplomatic. What ever happened to that infamous EU Constitution? last I heard it was on the scrap heap. I had also heard that, in light of the last failure, the EU did not need a people's referendum to enact the onerous, all emcompassing Consitution...that it could be enacted merely by acts of the individual member nation's leglislators. A rather convenient alteration of the rules, isn't it?

[Vandervahn]

There´s not much urgency behind that interview. Barroso just was expected to speak up against one of the big EU boys to satisfy the representatives of the smaller countries prior to the next election. He chose germany, but he could have chosen anyone.

Barroso was treading carefully here. His choice of medium is also important. He sang his tune in a 2nd line flemish publication - had he really aimed for some impact, he would have chosen different means.

[little icebear]

Germany's "plea to leave power where it can be exercised closest to the citizen ... is really aimed against the European institutions," Barroso said in an unusually direct statement.

This is a good thing. The EU does not need to take care of everything. I´m not a fan of centralism.

[Bert]

Thank you for this powerful insight, Mr. Unelected Chief. I guess things work better when centrally controlled from Brussels. You can ask the Russians what they think of centralising everything in the capital, I'm sure they have some valuable insight. At least their rulers bothered to rig up some fake elections before acting like a King.