Wednesday 1 April 2009

Social MEP complains that Obama doesn't come to the European Parliament

Antonio Masip Hidalgo, Spanish MEP for the Party of European Socialists complains in his blog that Obama comes to Strasbourg but does not pay a visit to the European Parliament.

Hidalgo suggests that there could have been an extra session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, just for the President's visit.

Congratulations for the egocentric approach, Mr Hidalgo. You've maybe already forgotten that Ms Clinton just spent some time in the European Parliament? Do you really think that an extraordinary session should have been organised for Barack Obama?

And: Do you think that the American President who is rushing from meeting to meeting these days needs to spend time in an assembly that is not even regarded important by its own constituency - the EU citizens? Did you expect Mr Obama to bring more importance to the European Parliament than it can get by its own actions?

Or: Maybe Mr Obama did not want to go to a possible session in Strasbourg, because he'd prefer that there is just one seat of the European Parliament - in Brussels - to save the European taxpayers a lot of money...?!

But maybe you just did not have anything substantial to say, so you preferred to surprise us with some insubstantial Obama-bashing. Congratulations anyway!

2 comments:

Ralf Grahn said...

Calling the lack of a visit to the European Parliament a historic mistake might be correct during the visit of the 104th US President, by the speed the European Union and its democracy are developing.

The 44th President of the United States has enough on his plate to deal with bunches of Europeans, but with no Europe.

Julien Frisch said...

First: There is nothing that says he will never go to the European Parliament. It's just is very first visit in very hectic times. Second: How many important leaders have come to the EP so far? Third: Obama is meting Europe, because on Sunday there is the EU-US Summit. This means he meets the Council and the Commission, those institutions responsible for the foreign relations of the EU.