Euromedia

European media reaction to trilateral summit

There are numerous editorials and columns in the European press about the unofficial meeting between Shroder, Chirac and Blair. This Guardian link provides a sidebar full of stories and commentary, so do check it out.

It seems that Europeans are saying on the one hand, this is an ill-fated menage a trois or not so alarming, while others are bristling nonetheless and calling the meeting a threat to EU unity. As one Financial Times columnist noted though, the so called directoires will not agree enough ... so those who support them should worry that they won't be able to lay down the law too much.

I think I agree. There are fundamental differences between these partners. Where two agree on Iraq, one will disagree, and where another pair agree on EU immigration policies, a third dissents. Interestingly, an Independent editorial notes that, at the end of the day, their national interests will supercede a common EU position.

The Guardian, Press Roundup of "Big Three" Summit

'Those not invited will begin to howl'
The 'big three' are determined to lead the union

Thursday February 19, 2004
The Guardian

Julian Lindley-French
Wall Street Journal Europe, February 18

"Britain, France and Germany [met yesterday] in the latest attempt to kick-start a new power hub for Europe, a 'trirectoire'. The fact that the meeting is taking place at all represents a failure of Franco-German attempts to lead Europe and a tacit recognition that such 'leadership' is unrealistic these days without the British ... Even the suggestion of a British-French-German power hub hints to the US of an alternative to the special relationship ... [But] it will be a long time before the British forsake the reflected glory of the special relationship. First, because other Europeans are at best ambivalent about Britain in Europe. Second, because the loss of the special relationship would end once and for all Britain's view of itself in the world."

Grard Dupuy
Libration, France, February 18

"The meeting in Berlin reflects the stand the three leaders have taken on Europe - starting with their common refusal to see their influence diluted by the arrival of new members. The summit also corresponds to [the French president] Jacques Chirac's idea of having pioneering coalitions within Europe, linked by a common affinity (for example, the military).

"The three men who had a rendezvous in Berlin may not see themselves as the natural leaders of Europe, as some accuse them of doing. But the circumstances of their meeting back up that interpretation."

Angelo M Petroni
Il Sole 24 Ore, Italy, February 17

"The true, dual novelty here is, on the one hand, the inclusion of Britain in the renewed alliance, and on the other, the fact that the Franco-German claim to superiority is being staked at a time when the EU is getting set to face a constitutional moment unprecedented in its entire history ...

"The fact that France and Germany have decided to proceed down this path ... shows just how fragile their Europeanism really is, and how their national interests prevail over the ideology of a united Europe ... The price for satisfying these national interests is going to be very high for Europe."

Der Tagesspiegel
Editorial, Germany, February 18

"Berlin cannot escape the eternal problem of European politics. If you wait for consensus among the 15 member states, you will be waiting forever ... But if Germany begins an initiative with fewer EU partners, those who are not invited will begin to howl ... The widening of the Franco-German partnership to include Britain should be valuable not just to the struggle over European economic reforms, but it should also dispel mistrust over the 'Schrder-Chirac duo'."

Independent
Editorial, February 18

"For all the honeyed words in Berlin, this is a marriage of convenience. France and Germany need Britain if they want to achieve anything on foreign policy, and Britain needs both, especially after Iraq. For now, they are at one in demanding such things as a cap on EU spending. But it will surely not be long before national interest rears its head once again."

El Pas
Editorial, Spain, February 18

"The Spanish prime minister, Jos Mara Aznar, has gone back to behaving like a battering ram striking at the heart of Europe ... The motive [this time] is the stability and growth pact ... and its purpose is to underline his disagreement with the meeting in Berlin signalling to France and Germany, that their failure to stick to the deficit agreement did not incur sanctions, unlike Portugal ...

"It is not clear whether Mr Aznar is pursuing these kind of initiatives to spread division within the EU and to pay them back for not taking him into account. But it does not help with the construction of Europe nor does it increase Spain's influence in it."

Posted by Roya Aziz at February 18, 2004 10:55 PM