From: livesey@solntze.wpd.sgi.com (Jon Livesey)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.french,alt.politics.ec,alt.politics.europe.misc
Subject: Re: Maastricht... Birmingham (an alternative agenda)
Keywords: EC-leaders in Birminham , the agenda
Date: 15 Oct 92 03:32:25 GMT
Organization: sgi
NNTP-Posting-Host: solntze.wpd.sgi.com

In article <1992Oct15.011837.9477@daimi.aau.dk>, simonl@daimi.aau.dk (Simon Laub) writes:
|> 
|> a) Spain, Portugal & Greece has already said ,
|> that they want the commission to stay as it is.
|> Changes here are on that background rather naive.
|> - Just another complication in
|> the 'more federalism , less centralism' debate.

Sorry, Mr Laub, but I can't parse this.   Please spell it out.

|> 
|> b) A solution to the democratic deficit , with the
|> introduction of a credible (small) EC-parliament ,
|> that elects the commission

Sure, I'm in favour of the central decision-making being more
answerable to a European Parliament.   But I'm also in favour
of the areas in which such a Parliament acts being limited by 
a strong principle of subsidiarity.

|> Talking money ought to be the issue in Birmingham.

As long as you mean talking about money, I'm sure it will be
the issue.

|> Still its not really clear , how to make Europes economy grow 
|> and improve in the coming years.    So certainly the subject 
|> has not still been getting enough attention ( even if some 
|> think so).

This statement is either meaningless or wrong.   Governments
talk incessantly about this problem.   Maybe what you mean is
that they don't say exactly the things that suit you?

|> A scheme to approach Eastern Europe.

Never mind about approaching Eastern Europe.   They'll be
approaching the EC sooner than any of us need them. 

|> Deal with the neverending Italian crisis (and solve it). 

The Italians need a new Constitution.    Maybe the best
way to focus their attention on that is to say that the EC
will *not* solve Italy's problems for them.   Let them solve
their own problems, and then come back.

|> d) A PAC-plan , that doesnt send half the european farmers 
|> out on the streets in protest, and a future environment 
|> plan for europe, with scope and insight.

The farmers may as well plan to spend some nights on the
street, since the UK and Germany are not going to pay
subsidies to French, Spanish and Italian farmers for ever,
especially if it spoils relations with the US.    The US
is still more important to Germany and the UK than Italy
and Spain are, EC or no EC.

As for the environment, ask the Germans what they are doing,
and copy them.

|> 
|> e) A living_together plan for Europe.

Yeah, sure.   No-one ever thought of that.  Thanks for reminding
us.   We'll get right on it.

|> f) No Napoleonic aspirations in the shape of 'humanitarian help', 
|> WEU or otherwise. Peace and the end of the Yugoslavian conflict

Brilliant.   A complete contradiction.   Bring the Jugoslav
conflict to an end, but don't use any existing Treaty
arrangements to do so.    What should we do, then, send the
Boy Scouts?

For what it's worth, since there are British and French 
troops there already, I don't see why you put this in the
future tense.   It's already happening.

jon.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.french