Comments on: The EU can’t have its cake and eat it when it comes to relations with the USA http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:28:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: robert http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-125834 robert Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:30:56 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=3146#comment-125834 > The Americans cannot possibly really want to deal with 27 different countries on this? No, what they like doing is picking off individual countries and doing deals with them and, in a way, setting them against the other countries so the EU becomes divided. Seeing as threats may well play a part on these 'negotiations', the various European countries should realise it's easier to stand up to such coercion as a single, unified body. > The Americans cannot possibly really want to deal with 27 different countries on this?

No, what they like doing is picking off individual countries and doing deals with them and, in a way, setting them against the other countries so the EU becomes divided. Seeing as threats may well play a part on these ‘negotiations’, the various European countries should realise it’s easier to stand up to such coercion as a single, unified body.

]]> By: Jeremy Hargreaves http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-125832 Jeremy Hargreaves Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:02:17 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=3146#comment-125832 Surely they are bluffing? The Americans cannot possibly really want to deal with 27 different countries on this? Surely they are bluffing? The Americans cannot possibly really want to deal with 27 different countries on this?

]]> By: Brusselsblogger http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-125815 Brusselsblogger Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:33:36 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=3146#comment-125815 One more comment on this: now (and probably already in the recent phone calls and othe rinterventions) the US administration threatens to bypass the EU level (and its institutions) by saying that in case of a no they would pressure each and every EU member state to make a bilaterial agreement. The is beyond normal lobbying and should be rejected. Everybody can bring forward arguments for his/her case. But threatening to ignore the European Parliament as such (and pressuring mainly one country - Belgium) is not acceptable. See also my summary here: <a href="http://brusselsblogger.blogactiv.eu/2010/02/07/banking-data-why-meps-must-say-no-to-swift-agreement/" rel="nofollow">Why MEPS must reject the SWIFT agreement</a> One more comment on this: now (and probably already in the recent phone calls and othe rinterventions) the US administration threatens to bypass the EU level (and its institutions) by saying that in case of a no they would pressure each and every EU member state to make a bilaterial agreement.

The is beyond normal lobbying and should be rejected. Everybody can bring forward arguments for his/her case. But threatening to ignore the European Parliament as such (and pressuring mainly one country – Belgium) is not acceptable.

See also my summary here: Why MEPS must reject the SWIFT agreement

]]> By: Brusselsblogger http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-125806 Brusselsblogger Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:05:29 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=3146#comment-125806 Jeremy, we are in full agreement :) By the way, the EP's own web TV now <a href="http://www.europarltv.europa.eu/yourParliament.aspx?action=viewVideo&packageId=bbbd5e56-6722-4279-b42f-6eb056886ce1" rel="nofollow">confirms the call</a> Jeremy, we are in full agreement :)

By the way, the EP’s own web TV now confirms the call

]]> By: Jeremy Hargreaves http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-125805 Jeremy Hargreaves Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:33:06 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=3146#comment-125805 Hi - in that case I think what you're really saying is that you disagree with what she had to say to him. I'm with you on that, but I'm not sure it's quite fair to limit politicians of different countries to talking to each other only when I agree with what they're saying... If Buzek is now denying this happened I agree that is quite bizarre. I'm not really up on what the health requirements for the job of being EP President are, but if the current incumbent is really suffering from delusions that the US Secretary of State is ringing him up and tweeting about it before realising his mistake, then I think we may have a problem... Hi – in that case I think what you’re really saying is that you disagree with what she had to say to him. I’m with you on that, but I’m not sure it’s quite fair to limit politicians of different countries to talking to each other only when I agree with what they’re saying…

If Buzek is now denying this happened I agree that is quite bizarre. I’m not really up on what the health requirements for the job of being EP President are, but if the current incumbent is really suffering from delusions that the US Secretary of State is ringing him up and tweeting about it before realising his mistake, then I think we may have a problem…

]]> By: Brusselsblogger http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-125803 Brusselsblogger Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:38:44 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=3146#comment-125803 Jeremy, I think it really depends on the context. While (in principle) I have absolutely no problem at all when Clinton calls Mr Buzek I do not appreciate it that she did it in this case (for the reasons stated above). And the fact that Mr Buzek is denying such a call increases my fear that opinions in the EP are being distorted. Banking data and hunting its own terrorists is Europe's own business. It must not be outsourced to another country. Jeremy, I think it really depends on the context.

While (in principle) I have absolutely no problem at all when Clinton calls Mr Buzek I do not appreciate it that she did it in this case (for the reasons stated above). And the fact that Mr Buzek is denying such a call increases my fear that opinions in the EP are being distorted.

Banking data and hunting its own terrorists is Europe’s own business. It must not be outsourced to another country.

]]> By: Jeremy Hargreaves http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-125802 Jeremy Hargreaves Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:56:51 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=3146#comment-125802 I am not sure whether the idea that senior government / legislative officials from different countries should not talk to each other is worse because of its illiberalism or impracticalness - but it certainly is both... I am not sure whether the idea that senior government / legislative officials from different countries should not talk to each other is worse because of its illiberalism or impracticalness – but it certainly is both…

]]> By: Julien Frisch http://www.jonworth.eu/the-eu-cant-have-its-cake-and-eat-it-when-it-comes-to-relations-with-the-usa/comment-page-1/#comment-125799 Julien Frisch Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:22:05 +0000 http://www.jonworth.eu/?p=3146#comment-125799 @robert When the USA deals with the European Union, it will have to deal with whatever complex situation it will find, with whoever is responsible for the particular issue at stake. The only problem is that some of these responsibilities are not yet sorted out... @robert

When the USA deals with the European Union, it will have to deal with whatever complex situation it will find, with whoever is responsible for the particular issue at stake. The only problem is that some of these responsibilities are not yet sorted out…

]]>