Thursday, July 31, 2008

Belgium split threatens Europe not just the EU and the Lisbon Treaty!

We watch in amazement as events unfold which cry out for a statesman of stature to step forward and cry "ENOUGH" Look at this poll from Belgium as reported in EU Observer, linked here. Consider these statements: 1. Forty nine percent of people in the south-lying Belgian region of Wallonia said they would support "rattachment" - a re-joining - with France in the event of a break-up with the northern Dutch-speaking region of Flanders. 2. On the French side, 60 percent of respondents would like to join-up with their Belgian neighbours, up from 54 percent in previous surveys. The majority in favour is even higher in bordering regions such as Pas-de-Calais. A re-negotiation of the Lisbon Treaty is surely the least significant result of any such break-up. Touch one border within Europe and a dreadful precedent will have been established. The results will be internal as well as external. France, for example, will be impacted as the balance of the country will have been altered, reducing the weight of the South and West in favour of the North and East, as clearly already understood in the quoted paragraph numbered 2 above. Within the EU the balance of MEP seats and EU Council weighting votes will be a matter of concern to all. The relative balance of power between France and Germany will shift and relief might be sought elsewhere such as in the Alsace. What will be the result for the Belgian monarchy? Queen Elizabeth II of Britain would do well to reflect on possible outcomes as the United Kingdom now looks likely to follow the fracturing example set by Belgium. The loss of a national currency must be one sure cause of this disaster. No state could have drifted into this situation over so many months had its currency reflected the growing crisis. Britain's totally incompetent governance gives no confidence that the continuance of the pound sterling will prove a barrier to a similar split given the dreadful indebtedness incurred by Gordon Brown. How can this collapse into chaos be halted? One solution would be to unanimously and immediately abandon the Lisbon Treaty and propose an urgent preparation of a constitution based upon a pillar of direct (possibly IT based technology) and subject to a simultaneous pan-EU referendum. Each day that passes with yet more dodgy ploys appearing to get the Lisbon Treaty approved costs ever more in the reputation and authority of the EU's present political leaders, particularly those of the present rotating President and his Commission counterpart.

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