As Julien Frisch correctly points out in fact it is not the position of EU President that Blair would be running for in any case – indeed quite a cock-up for Le Monde.
It's not suprising that the UK flag is all the way in the back corner...
In any case, Charlemagne over at the Economist has rushed to inform of that Glenys Kinnock, the new Europe Minister of the UK “fucked up” and got a little over-excited with a possible Blair candidacy.
Her mess-up however is unimportant – and here’s why – Europe does not need a President of the EU European Council who comes from a country that is not in the EMU (does not have the Euro as its currency) and is Eurosceptic. Furthermore, the first President of the (European) Council under the Lisbon Treaty will get a significant position in shaping the role. This is not quite what we want Blair to do as Europeans – especially when – as Euractiv writes: The New Parliament seen retreating from Anglo-Saxon model.
It comes down to a simple question – what Europe do we seek? (plagiarised from the New Europe editorial this week)?
It just seems to me that the Union could only regress under British leadership.
Perhaps we’ve got enough of Britain represented in Europe as it is…
Filed under: Eurotalk, Politique | Tagged: Berlaymonster, Brussels, Economist, EU, European Parliament, European Union, Julien Frisch, politics, Tony Blair, Treaty of Lisbon, UK |
Child of Europe Blog 
Sorry for being over-correct, but it is the President of the European Council, not the president of the “EU Council” or “the Council”. They are different organs, and listed separately under the Treaties (in fact, the first only becomes an official organ under Lisbon).
There is no such thing as over-correct and you are quite right! It’s easy to get lost in the details of terminology…
Child of Europe,
You are quite right, search for the right person among member states and leaders with strong European credentials.
As if I didn’t have enough things to make me ashamed to be British 😉
Still, I suppose having a war criminal as President would make an interesting statement to the world about what sort of organisation the European Council is; not a statement *I’d* choose to make, but I can’t presume to speak for the motivations of people who might think Blair was a good candidate.
Stop this wicked narcissistic and self serving hypocrite from ever being in public office again.Go to http://www.stopblair.eu/ over 1500 new signatures in the last 2 days. Tell your friends – stop this travesty from happening. While you are at it you could sign this one too and press for him to be brought to the Hague http://www.petitiononline.com/BWCF/petition.html
Great post!
Как сказал один мудрый еврей – и это пройдёт…
Всё верно – у нас это не только развлечение, но и работа, следовательно – на моря!!! 🙂
[…] to which he has networked after that period, his identity is rather beyond British politician, (in spite of some views) he is a world politician. If anything, would not this presidential position be a step down for […]
[…] to which he has networked after that period, his identity is rather beyond British politician, (in spite of some views) he is a world politician. If anything, would not this presidential position be a step down for […]
Ok, so Ireland finally give Brussels the heads up and the yes they are so desperate for. Does that mean its now time for us here in the UK to perhaps begin to contemplate the chance that maybe, just maybe we should be looking at the plans on the table once more and reconsidering our place in Europe? It poses and interesting debate, one which I am sure will have many people hot under the collar. Have a look and read of some of my thoughts on the Future of the Euro Zone, the UK’s position, and what the EU should mean for each of us. http://wp.me/pyq3l-47
I think position would be President of the EU because it would be a figure head for the whole (not just chairing council meetings). good post!