Blair to overhaul EU during British presidency

Blair to overhaul EU during British presidency

	Published : Sun, 03 Jul 2005 07:05 By : Amy Watts Print this Story

LONDON: Prime Minister Tony Blair will use the British presidency of the European Union over the next six months to address the issue of illegal immigrants. According to him the “hidebound” labour markets were in urgent need of a reform.

He announced a special summit to be held in Britain some time in Autumn to debate the future direction of Europe. The announcement is believed to have triggered a conflict between nations such as France and Germany on one side and the UK on the other. France was more in favour of an old-style social model of Europe where workers enjoyed generous benefits and working conditions and free markets; whereas Britain had to face increasing numbers of illegal immigrants in the name of free market.

The current situation in the EU clearly reflects the waning influence of France and Germany. The announcement of a summit lends credence to the accusation that Blair is in favor of an Anglo-Saxon social model for the UK in which workers had fewer rights. Blair confirmed his agenda by saying the meeting would debate the “sustainability of the social model in Europe”.

The model needed reviewing, he said, and clarified that he was not suggesting abandoning it but “updating it and modernizing it”. He agrees that France could strongly oppose his stand, but he anticipates the more receptive German leader Angela Herkel to take the EU helm by October in time before the British summit. He believes Herkel could be more open to his proposals on repatriation agreements with other nations.

He also hopes the debate will also lead to resolving EU’s budget and Britain’s rebate. He also said Britain may even offer to give up its annual EU rebate of £3.2 billion if the French government agreed to a review of the £32 billion farm subsidies it receives from the Union.

Blair’s demand for France’s common agricultural policy (CAP) was met with French farmers offering free farm products to British motorists arriving in Calais. Such sops may not achieve anything significant with the EU but it has certainly improved the image of the French farmers.

It now remains to be seen how Blair orchestrates the EU towards the intended overhaul during the next six months.