The Delusions of the Little Known

When those who are elected to that far away place, the European Parliament, time rests heavily on their hands. They twiddle their fingers and try to find ways to become famous on their own parent's breakfast table.

One way to do this is to pretend that people care, another is to write articles for magazines that nobody would ever pay to read. Another is to send press releases that nobody will ever notice.

Something like this,

Important statement from Reginald Tufton-Morrison Esq OBE MEP

United Kingdom ; 7^th Nov 2012- One of the most outspoken British MEPS, and staunch eurosceptic, Reginald Tufton-Morrison Esq OBE ME has spoken out against plans for the European Union to be given greater powers to dictate the administration of the welfare state in each of the member countries...

 The Press release would then include  self serving quote about something that wouldn't interest his mistress, or his press officer if they both weren't being paid.

About Reginald Tufton-Morrison Esq OBE    Reginald Tufton Morrison Esq OBE MEP is a Conservative MEP from the UK who represents Ruralshire. In his long and illustrious career, he has held many noteworthy positions at the highest levels of the British Government and was also Special Adviser to Sir Harry Fortesque who was the Secretary of State for Paperclips during the great Administrative crisis of 1984. Reginald is a vocal critic of the European Union, which he regards as being anti-democratic, economically unworkable and destructive of the historic British identity....

It would then sign off...

About MEP Reginald Tufton-Morrison Esq OBE

Reginald Tufton Morrison Esq OBE is one of the most experienced British MEPS. He is a Conservative MEP and represents Ruralshire. He was first elected to the European Parliament in June 2009, has also been a ministerial advisor and has served at the highest levels of the British Government. He is firmly committed to common sense policies that better the lives of all the people of Britain. He received the Order of the British Empire, from Her Majesty the Queen for services to British Administrative Services in 2004. He is descended on the distaff side from the Tuftons, who came to the UK from the Island of Texel in the 16th Century, and is living proof of the way that immigrants can go on to great things.

Or instead you could read a real one, like this from UKIP turncoat Davd Cambell Bannerman...

Unusual

Unusual indeed

Nice balanced stuff from the European Parliament

We get it, the European Parliament, read the European institutions think that Britain needs to pay them more money.

And of course this is what Martin Schulz, the German socialist president of the European Parliament thinks,

'If Cameron is prepared to give up the British rebate, then we can discuss the reduction of the EU budget'.

Thing is with Cameron's positive statement of his desire to walk naked into the negotiating room, he has signaled that he is happy to do so.

So what is a Non-paper?

It seems to be a reasonable question to ask, so Stuart Agnew has done so.

When is a paper a non-paper? When is a paper a non-paper (e.g. 20120326 Non paper_OTF SI.doc)? Does the Commission understand that, in English at least, this is a linguistic absurdity? (We could perhaps call it an ‘antimoron’ if that is the opposite of an oxymoron.) What is the status of such ‘non-papers’ in law, especially if cited in court?

And the answer is err... revealing,

Answer given by Mr Barroso on behalf of the Commission

Within the Commission, there is no specific rule governing the use of the term ‘non-paper’ in the title of a document. In practice, a document named in this way is generally a technical contribution submitted as a basis for discussion within the institutions of the Union, in international organisations or in negotiations with third countries. It is not an official document of the institution. The use of ‘non-papers’ is a common practice in other institutions and states. Such documents have no legal value.

So a non-paper provides plausible deniability.

Nationwide: The Euro bank?

I wonder if the financial fundamentals of the Nationwide bank are secure. Because otherwise, why would they be so blatantly sucking up to the European Commission.

Choosing your evidence

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons is deliberating the Future of the European Union. As such it is inviting various people to give evidence.

Look who put stuff in,

The Committee has received written evidence from the Liberal Democrat parliamentary party committee on international affairs, Liberal Democrat MEPs, and Nigel Farage MEP on behalf of the UK Independence Party; Jean-Claude Piris, former legal adviser to the European Council and EU Council; thinktanks and campaigning organisations including Open Europe and the European Movement; a number of leading academics and EU specialists; and several senior former UK diplomats and EU officials, as well as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).

And who are they calling for evidence?

The Committee will take oral evidence on 26 June from Sir Howard Davies, former Director of the London School of Economics, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, Deputy Governor of the Bank of England and Director-General of the CBI; and on 10 July from Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform, Mats Persson, Director of Open Europe, and Michiel van Hulten, the Dutch former MEP who has called for the replacement of the current EU with a two-layered structure. The Committee is likely to take further evidence after the summer recess.

Now what is missing from this selection of the great and the good (Not sure in which class I put you Michiel)? 

Now lets think. Pro-EU/Eurozone etc

Howard Davies, Michiel van Hulten, Charles Grant, and after last week's report from Open Europe, Mats Persson.

Yes I know there are subtle difference between them, but they all subscribe to the European Elite's position on the future of Europe, and support the current Government line.

Now let's have a look, who is missing?

Oh yes, Nigel Farage, the only one whose position chimes with a majority view in the United Kingdom, that we want a referendum, and we want out of the EU.

I wonder why they haven't called him?

Cathy Ashton in traditional 'Headless Chicken' routine

And she is the best paid female politician in the world... God help us