tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post4510393350819739891..comments2023-09-09T14:46:37.354+02:00Comments on Julien Frisch: The new EU: First analysesJulien Frischhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18167141111642456560noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post-81257501087385923742009-11-24T02:17:04.976+01:002009-11-24T02:17:04.976+01:00I think the choice of Van Rompuy and Ashton are po...I think the choice of Van Rompuy and Ashton are politically brilliant choices in the sense that the expectations for Van Rompuy and Ashton are now so low that any measure of success for either of them will be a coup for the EU. If the heads of state had picked a strong personality like Blair and Blair failed then the image of EU would be tarnished. Besides which, no one had ever heard of Barack Obama before his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. I think it is prudent to give Van Rompuy and Ashton space to define their respective roles in the Leviathan that is the EU.Jason D. Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01428542520078864093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post-16747590693847423672009-11-20T17:59:09.197+01:002009-11-20T17:59:09.197+01:00Only time will tell. I know only rumors as well.
...Only time will tell. I know only rumors as well. <br /><br />Another rumor says however that Mrs Clinton is getting along pretty well with her and some chief trade negotiator of the US is said to respect her very much. There are rumors that she is charming but also tough in negotiations. <br /><br />As I have said, just rumors. We'll see if they are true.Slartibartfasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post-83880141033815468302009-11-20T17:05:08.985+01:002009-11-20T17:05:08.985+01:00I hope you're right about Baroness Ahston, sla...I hope you're right about Baroness Ahston, slartibartfas. I do wonder how she's going to handle Putin on energy supplies, or China in direct negotiations on climate-change, etc. Not as easy as delivering judgements from Brussels - this will be hard-nose politics.french dereknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-492174345240444269.post-51074349617605700112009-11-20T13:16:44.793+01:002009-11-20T13:16:44.793+01:00I am cautiously optimistic about the appointments....I am cautiously optimistic about the appointments. That may have to do that I as a federalist am not happy about the Council trying to push back the supranational part of the EU. With Blair such a risk would have existed (or alternatively his ego would have lead to a deadlock within the Council)<br /><br />Van Rompuy seems to be rather a federalist as well, sees his job as one of a chairman so will help the Council to run smoother without undermining the other institutions. <br /><br />Mrs. Ashton may be a mysterious figure yet, but my opinion about her improved quite a bit when I heard, that in the short time as a trade Commissioner she did not only strike out a free trade deal with south Korea (something that made news even in US papers) and China but she has very good chances of bringing the decade old banana trade war to an end. That does not only sound like she been involved already in foreign relations pretty heavily in this short time, but also that she could be a skilled negotiator. <br /><br />Last but not least, I agree with you. This was a very good day for Barroso, I think one could see it in his eyes. I actually like that he seems to be actually the winner of the game. He has the strongest democratic legitimation of all these three offices and is the most indpendent from the Council. This also is good news for the Parliament as well.Slartibartfasnoreply@blogger.com