[EU "PRESIDENT"] Favourite Van Rompuy (Belgium) against Turkey

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 20:03

Herman van Rompuy (Christian Democrat), favourite to be the first "President" of Europe, is against Turkey's membership of the EU. Van Rompuy in 2004 (in the Belgian Parliament): "Turkey is no part of Europe and will never be." Van Rompuy still underlines "the fundamental Christian values of Europe - a membership of Turkey would undermine these values".

Bad news for Turkey. In a couple of hours we'll know.

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 20:29

Hans - sorry, did not see this message. I put another one on (much less erudite, I must say), basically saying that Tony Blair is apparently well and truly out of the running!



J

rowlo



Joined: 12/10/2008
Posts: 4796

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 21:07

bigger players than belgium will decide on turkeys admission hans .

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 21:11

Most probably the new EU "Minister of Foreign Affairs": Catherine Margaret Ashton, Baroness Ashton of Upholland (born 20 March 1956) is a British Labour politician who is currently serving as the European Trade Commissioner; formerly, she served both as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council. (Bio: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Ashton,_Baroness_Ashton_of_Upholland )

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 21:34

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/eu-leaders-huddle-to-select-first-president-2009-11-19



This is pretty recent,

Paul.

BillBarnacle


Joined: 20/04/2009
Posts: 167

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 21:37

Great



two non entities ............. how typically EU



sooner we are OUT the better

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 21:37

Anyone is better than Blair

mikelapta



Joined: 20/11/2008
Posts: 2186

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 21:44

Hans,right as usual.....maybe new president will become first Belgium to be famous.I am happy he is against Turkey.The longer they stay out,and there Republic here,the happier I am.

Troodo


Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 1002

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 21:59

With this new Lisbon treaty would Turkey hoestly want to hand over it's sovereignty to Brussels and become a state in the EU? Only the daft and corrupt would do that. Oh well, we will have to wait and see.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 23:32

Its now official he is in. We wait and see xx

Troodo


Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 1002

Message Posted:
19/11/2009 23:47

God help us all. So much for Democracy.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
20/11/2009 00:11

Better him than Tony Blair...



When I listened his inaugural speech he mentioned that he was happy to welcome new members, who were prepared to obey the rules of the club..

sporty


Joined: 06/12/2007
Posts: 685

Message Posted:
20/11/2009 00:34

OMG,we're in trouble!catherine margaret ashton looks a lot like edwina currie!!

andre 514


Joined: 31/03/2008
Posts: 1163

Message Posted:
20/11/2009 02:41

rowlo message 3:



they already have

ilovecyprus


Joined: 08/05/2007
Posts: 2880

Message Posted:
20/11/2009 12:01

Well the Germans and French have got their way, this new guys looks like someone they can manipulate to their whim. From what has been said on this thread it looks like the guy lines up with the French and German views on Turkey.



"I remember hearing Helmut Kohl say to a Rhineland audience that a united Europe would best serve German interests, because it would allow Germany to dominate the continent without reawkening fears of German hegemony" Christopher Meyer, former ambassador to DC



At the end of the day a united Europe gives us more power to negotiate with China and Russia on matters of energy and resources etc but it is just too beuracratic.



I also see a need for having a point of contact in Europe, perhaps I have underated this guy but he looks a bit flaky to me. He said he was enthusiastic about taking on the role. He could have tried to look enthusiastic when he said it.

Again this was probaby designed, the big powers do not want to be bypassed by the Americans.

ricky


Joined: 26/01/2009
Posts: 294

Message Posted:
20/11/2009 12:11

Komaan Hans, Van Rompuy heeft wel zijn woord te zeggen inzake agenda, voor de rest is hij de persoon die dit clubje op een coherente manier doet samenwerken.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
20/11/2009 12:21

RE msg 16, ricky: Almost proper Dutch! Nice translation from English or are you Belgian (Flemish)? And I agree with your words, but I accept that progress in Europe will be step by step.

P.S. Je schreef: "... doet samenwerken...", maar dat zou volgens mij moeten zijn: "... moet laten samenwerken...". Hij heeft immers op Europees niveau nog niets bewezen.

jurgen


Joined: 20/12/2008
Posts: 77

Message Posted:
21/11/2009 03:24

Hans ,

Ik denk dat hij voornamelijk een dienende rol heeft , hij dient het standpunt van de Raad van Europa te volgen en het te laten uitvoeren...en er voor te zorgen dat er compromissen worden bereikt. Iets wat hij weliswaar nog niet heeft bewezen op Europees niveau , doch wel reeds verscheidene malen op Belgisch niveau.

Afwachten wat het wordt op een hoger niveau , maar op nationaal niveau hield hij niet vast aan zijn eigen waarden en zocht hij de consensus..

kimig1


Joined: 22/06/2008
Posts: 73

Message Posted:
21/11/2009 07:03

Mike Lapta : No - No....you have forgotten the incomparable Hercule Poirot!