A gesture of solidarity my arse

[TMC]

In an attempt to divert attention away from the collapse of the constitution Chirac and Schroder are trying to grab Britains £3bn EU annual rebate.

Chirac said the time has come for our British friends to understand that they must now make a gesture of solidarity.

What he didn’t say is that Britain over the past 10 years, even with the rebate, has been making a contribution into Europe two and half times that of France even though our economies and population are comparable. Without the rebate, it would have been 15 times as much as France.

Blair refused unless France agreed to reform hand-outs from the costly Common Agricultural Policy. (French farmers receive around £6bn a year from the CAP).

The hypocrite Chirac opposed any reform of the CAP saying "I am not willing to compromise" on this issue, and that the 2002 agreement (that he and Schroder cooked up in secret) should be implemented.

Well that's the French for ya.

[spot]

Indeed so. May their already miniscule private parts shrivel and refuse to perform for them, the dogs.

[Bothwell]

ha so now perhaps with the 200 year Trafalgar anniversary due we should take to the seas again and show Chirac the Nelson Touch.

[john8pies]

Please excuse my patriotism on this one, but we could also point out that it`s actually France, Germany and Spain who take out most in the way of CAP subsidies and regional development - the hypocrisy of the frogs is breath-taking!

[Philadelphia Eagle]

When is this increasingly fragile looking European Union 'solidarity' finally going to implode?
The more one reads about the ill-fated 'union', the more one is reminded of the parable of the foolish man who built his house on sand.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Philadelphia Eagle

When is this increasingly fragile looking European Union 'solidarity' finally going to implode?
The more one reads about the ill-fated 'union', the more one is reminded of the parable of the foolish man who built his house on sand.

It’s not going to implode, arguments between Britain and the rest of the EU are the norm, after all the shouting and posturing is done, an agreement will be reached.

[capt_buzzard]

Originally Posted by Bothwell

ha so now perhaps with the 200 year Trafalgar anniversary due we should take to the seas again and show Chirac the Nelson Touch.

Lovely Bothwell

[turbonium]

Stop the derogatory name-calling crap, please. I'm French heritage even though my family has been living in the US and Canada for many generations. After arriving in Quebec, both sides of my family moved to New England. My great grandfather fought for the North in the Civil War. Both sides of my family later were pioneers settling land in western Canada. But the French heritage was still maintained all this time. I'm proud of it, and I would think you should be proud of your own heritage. I don't dis-respect others for their race or lineage, I would hope some of you would do the same.

That's all.

[Galbally]

Ah where would we be without a bit of friendly name-calling, sure is't that what its all about! Anyway its better to be shouting bout budget rebates than dropping bombs on each other? That's what the EU is all about, I know its not the most popular institution in Britain, but I think the good of the EU far outweighs the bad. We actually have the Euro over here in Ireland and the sky hasn't fallen in yet and I don't think the Germans are planning to take over anytime soon! Despite the problems (and god knows there are enough!) I don't think the EU is in any real trouble, I just think that the politicians are moving too far too fast and its making a lot of people (and not just the Brits) a bit uncomfortable. But i think in the long term things will even themselves out and we can get on with the more serious business of the champions league and the Eurovision song contest.

[gmc]

posted by philadelphia eagle

When is this increasingly fragile looking European Union 'solidarity' finally going to implode?
The more one reads about the ill-fated 'union', the more one is reminded of the parable of the foolish man who built his house on sand.

To paraphrase Churchill, there are those, not understanding the nature of a free people, who mistake the sound of arguement and dissension as sign of weakness.

posted by turbinium

Stop the derogatory name-calling crap, please. I'm French heritage even though my family has been living in the US and Canada for many generations. After arriving in Quebec, both sides of my family moved to New England. My great grandfather fought for the North in the Civil War. Both sides of my family later were pioneers settling land in western Canada. But the French heritage was still maintained all this time. I'm proud of it, and I would think you should be proud of your own heritage. I don't dis-respect others for their race or lineage, I would hope some of you would do the same.

I'm afraid that the right to take the proverbial out of the french and germans is one we have fought for, besides they give as good as they get. There is a major difference between being insulting with the intent to provoke and taking the ****. It's subtle but still major.