Saturday, December 20, 2003
Just last February, Jacques Chirac had himself a little tantrum. Enraged that other European countries were espousing pro-American stances on the question of Iraq, he cut loose with a shrill denunciation of governments supporting the Anglo-American position. Showing remarkable powers of projection and transferrence, he called them "badly brought up" as they had "missed an opportunity to stay quiet." Nothing else done by France in this time so thoroughly exposed the egotism and cynicism of its position.
Now the chickens are coming home to roost, with Spain and Poland's decision to defend the voting proportions promised to them. The New York Times examines the popularity of Poland's stance in Poland Takes Pride in Assertive Stance Toward Neighbors. The headline doesn't quite do it justice - Poland is hardly pressing Lithuania or the Czech Republic; the only neighbor it is pressing is Germany, which is hardly innocent of bullying Poland.
Chirac's tirade can only be ranked as a contributing factor to Polish determination - one other factor was undoubtedly disgust at the recent exemptions France and Germany granted themselves from EU budgetary rules. But the chauvinism and arrogance of Chirac was undoubtedly a factor in spurring Poland to assert its rights against Franco-German dominance.
After the meeting in Brussels fell apart, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of Germany bitterly criticized Poland and Spain, though not by name. Two countries, he said, had been "unable to change their way of thinking and acting." They had "left the European idea behind" in pursuit of their own interests.
Sounds like transferrence again.
I used to support EU expansion rather uncritically, but witnessing the Soprano-esque tactics of Europe's self-appointed bosses, I'm none too eager to see countries from Eastern Europe subordinated again by a new set of commissars. The question of vote apportionment would not be so loaded if Poland was in a position to trust the goodwill of France and Germany. If they can't demonstrate their willingness to be bound by their own rules or to truly listen to and respect the views of other European states, this project is going nowhere.
Now the chickens are coming home to roost, with Spain and Poland's decision to defend the voting proportions promised to them. The New York Times examines the popularity of Poland's stance in Poland Takes Pride in Assertive Stance Toward Neighbors. The headline doesn't quite do it justice - Poland is hardly pressing Lithuania or the Czech Republic; the only neighbor it is pressing is Germany, which is hardly innocent of bullying Poland.
Chirac's tirade can only be ranked as a contributing factor to Polish determination - one other factor was undoubtedly disgust at the recent exemptions France and Germany granted themselves from EU budgetary rules. But the chauvinism and arrogance of Chirac was undoubtedly a factor in spurring Poland to assert its rights against Franco-German dominance.
After the meeting in Brussels fell apart, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of Germany bitterly criticized Poland and Spain, though not by name. Two countries, he said, had been "unable to change their way of thinking and acting." They had "left the European idea behind" in pursuit of their own interests.
Sounds like transferrence again.
I used to support EU expansion rather uncritically, but witnessing the Soprano-esque tactics of Europe's self-appointed bosses, I'm none too eager to see countries from Eastern Europe subordinated again by a new set of commissars. The question of vote apportionment would not be so loaded if Poland was in a position to trust the goodwill of France and Germany. If they can't demonstrate their willingness to be bound by their own rules or to truly listen to and respect the views of other European states, this project is going nowhere.
