NationStates Jolt Archive

As yet another angry row flares between the French and British governments over the EU rebate, it appears quite clear that there is only one person to blame for it. Jacques Chirac. In a cynical attempt to divert attention from his recent embarrasssing failure in the EU constitution referendum, he has brought the UK rebate to the collective attention of Europe. We know that Chirac is an old-fashioned sleazy politican who will do anything to protect his own skin and this just goes to prove it. It seems about time that the French face up to the appaling unfairness of the Common Agricultural Policy before they try to criticise Britain. Let's not forgot that 8% of the EU's entire budget goes to French farmers, which cuts farmers from other EU nations and those in the developing world out of the market. It is about time that Tony Blair developed a backbone and gave Chirac what for.

Fair enough. I'm German and I think the both of them should think about the EU first and about their countries second.
The UK doesn't need any money from Brussels though. It's one of the best-performing EU members right now. France is not. It's stupid to insist that Britain keep receiving funds to help its' economy along when it's unnecessary.

And I can't get over Blair disallowing the referendum. That was just bullshit appeasement politics for all the knobhead right-wingers in the UK.

Fair enough. I'm German and I think the both of them should think about the EU first and about their countries second.
The UK doesn't need any money from Brussels though. It's one of the best-performing EU members right now. France is not. It's stupid to insist that Britain keep receiving funds to help its' economy along when it's unnecessary.

but without the rebate the UK will give a stupidly dispropportianate (sp?) amount of money to the EU

and Britain doesnt receive funds, its one of the biggest net givers.

but without the rebate the UK will give a stupidly dispropportianate (sp?) amount of money to the EU

and Britain doesnt receive funds, its one of the biggest net givers.

It's six of one half a dozen of the other though. The rebate came about in the 80s, when thr UK was the poorest of the big four. Thatcher pushed for it because the UK economy much weaker than France's or Germany's.

Per capita, the UK is the wealthiest large economy in the EU now, so the reason for the rebate (at least in terms of ability to pay) no longer applies.

On the other hand, considering the way the EU budget is disbursed, I think it is fair for the UK to question whether or not in all fairness it should have to contribute more. Doubly so given the amount of agricultural subisdies france recieves. (Apparently 20% of the french work force is still involved in the subsidized agriculture sector, which is ridiculous for a modern state).

(Apparently 20% of the french work force is still involved in the subsidized agriculture sector, which is ridiculous for a modern state).

I think that is becaus of the wine industry, which heavily relies on manual labor

I think that is becaus of the wine industry, which heavily relies on manual labor

Actually, I just checked and I was wrong about the 20%. (you see, it's what I always say, never trust the BBC.) The french only have 4.1% of their labor force in agriculture.

They do recieve a ridiculous amount of subsidies though.

Scrap the Common Agricultural Policy (A move that would improve the EU in the eyes of the restr of the world anyway) and Britain would probably agree to scrap the rebate. Do nothing about the CAP and the rebate will stay as well.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander here.

As yet another angry row flares between the French and British governments over the EU rebate, it appears quite clear that there is only one person to blame for it. Jacques Chirac. In a cynical attempt to divert attention from his recent embarrasssing failure in the EU constitution referendum, he has brought the UK rebate to the collective attention of Europe. We know that Chirac is an old-fashioned sleazy politican who will do anything to protect his own skin and this just goes to prove it. It seems about time that the French face up to the appaling unfairness of the Common Agricultural Policy before they try to criticise Britain. Let's not forgot that 8% of the EU's entire budget goes to French farmers, which cuts farmers from other EU nations and those in the developing world out of the market. It is about time that Tony Blair developed a backbone and gave Chirac what for.This is ridiculous.

Both statesmen are doing what's right to protect their country's interests.

You might think that the UK's rebate is silly, and you'd be right, but Blair wouldn't be a good PM if he didn't use this as a negotiation tool on the agricultural policy.

As for Chirac, well, France is the largest agriculture in Europe and second largest in the world, which makes it only logical that it should receive more subsidies. The common agricultural policy is a great European legacy from the founding days, and it should be expected that France fought for it, even though you might oppose it on principle.