The Crisis in the Gulf has created a split between the ‘big three’ (UK, Germany and France) of the European Union. On the one side there are thousands of British troops in or heading for the Persian Gulf, and on the other you have the hostility of the German government, and France also (for the time being at least) to the prospect of war. In two months time we could have the absurd situation of British troops in combat, with Germany and France in direct opposition to that policy. And then you would have Javier Solana the EU Foreign policy spokesperson attempting to draw a coherent line between the two.
Relations between the US and UK are as strong as ever, and yet relations between the US and Germany are at a post-war low.
For me this is one of the many reasons that the UK should withdraw from the EU. European integration cannot work (continental Europe could possibly work though) - this is but a precursor of what could happen if integration goes further. The whole episode will likely fatally undermine any political influence the EU has anyway. The incident in Iraq could in one fell swoop remove two organizations with global influence – the UN and EU. This is not only a trial for the UN, but the EU too.
I’m sure I’m well known as a Euro-skeptic™, I’d be interested to see what others think ....
Excalibur
Aviendha's Englishman
This message last edited by excalibur on 1/24/2003 at 10:04:49 PM.
