Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRUSSELS2440
2005-06-27 10:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:  

Juncker, Blair Debate EU Future

Tags:  PGOV EFIN UK LU EUN USEU BRUSSELS 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 002440 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EFIN UK LU EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: Juncker, Blair Debate EU Future

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 002440

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/ERA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EFIN UK LU EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: Juncker, Blair Debate EU Future


1. SUMMARY: Outgoing EU Presidency Prime Minister
Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg and incoming
Presidency Prime Minister Tony Blair of the UK
outlined different visions for Europe and
perceptions of the "European crisis" during speeches
before the European Parliament on June 22-23.
Juncker blamed Blair for the failure to agree on the
2007-2013 EU budget at the June 16-17 EU Summit, and
hinted that Blair was against a political Europe.
Blair defended his commitment to the EU as a
political project, but called for an economically
more competitive Europe. MEPs gave Juncker a
standing ovation; cool at the beginning to Blair,
most MEPs warmed up to his vision and engagement,
but stressed that they would await actions to back
up his words. END SUMMARY.

EP AT CENTER OF DEBATE ON EU'S FUTURE
--------------


2. The EP was at the center of Europe's political
and media attention on June 22 and 23 when Juncker
and Blair made passionate addresses to MEPs. This
debate came after the failure of the European Summit
on June 17 to agree on the EU budgetary framework
for 2007-2013, following the two "No" refernda on
the EU Constitution in France and The Netherlands,
and after an extraordinary few days of public
sniping between London on the one side and Paris,
Berlin and Luxembourg on the other.

JUNCKER BLAMES BLAIR FOR SUMMIT FAILURE
--------------


3. In his speech on June 22, for which he received a
long standing ovation, Juncker launched a blistering
attack on the British Prime Minister, blaming Blair
(without ever mentioning his name) for the failure
to agree on the 2007-2013 EU budget framework at the
June 17 EU Summit. In an hour-long account to MEPs,
Juncker accused Blair of using false arguments about
the scale of farming subsidies and misleading the
public about the Luxembourg Presidency's proposals
to try and forge a deal. MEPs strongly welcomed
Juncker's "honest and frank" account. One MEP noted:
"in 26 years in this chamber, I have never heard
such open explanations of what really went on behind
the closed doors of the Council negotiations."

JUNCKER'S VISION OF A SPLIT EUROPE
--------------


4. "Europe is in a state of deep crisis" said
Juncker, adding that "those who bear the
responsibility for this will tell you that it is not
true -- but they are wrong!" Juncker said there
were now two opposing viewpoints in the EU: "those
who believe that there is too much Europe already,
and those who believe there is not enough of it."
He added, "I belong to the second category."

BLAIR CALLS FOR RENEWED EU LEADERSHIP
--------------


5. On June 23, Blair responded by outlining his
vision for the upcoming UK Presidency of the EU. He
underlined his commitment to a strong EU: "I am a
passionate pro-European and I have always been." He
continued: "I believe in Europe as a political
project. I believe in Europe with a strong and
caring social dimension. I would never accept a
Europe that was simply an economic market." Blair
stressed that the problems faced by Europe were
caused by "a lack of political leadership," adding
"the purpose of political leadership is to get the
policies right for today's world." He promised to
launch a broad political debate to try to reach a
consensus to move Europe ahead. "It is time to give
ourselves a reality check. To receive a wake-up
call. The people are blowing the trumpets around
the city wall. Are we listening?" he said.

BLAIR: EU MUST REFORM FOR THE FUTURE
--------------


6. In answer to Juncker's accusations, Blair made
clear that he was the first UK leader who was
willing, under the right conditions, to re-negotiate
the UK rebate. He said he "never asked to
renegotiate the Common Agricultural Policy
overnight." He called for giving the EU the right
budget to invest in knowledge, active labor market
policies, science and innovation, urban regeneration
and help for small businesses. He also called for
modernizing the EU budget before 2013. Many,
including Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso,
expressed doubts that Blair could achieve this while
pushing for budget reductions.

BLAIR CALLS FOR STRONG EU FOREIGN POLICY
--------------


7. Blair also called for enhancing European defense
capabilities to "prepare for more missions of
peacekeeping and enforcement as a necessary part of
an effective EU foreign policy." He welcomed the
agreement to double the aid to Africa and called for
an increased EU role in the debate on climate
change, promoting multilateral agreements and
advancing the Middle East Peace Process. He said:
"A strong Europe would be an active player in
foreign policy, a good partner of course to the
U.S., but also capable of demonstrating its own
capacity to shape and move the world forward."

MCKINLEY