Germany

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A supranational economist who knows his stuff…

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Günther Öttinger (see picture) is going to be Germany’s next EU commissioner, De Standaard Online reported last Saturday. According to Volker Kauder, a CDU leader, Öttinger’s nomination is a “strong signal” the German government is sending to Brussels.  What kind of strong signal is Berlin sending?

Günter Öttinger

Günther Öttinger

I assume that Mr. Öttinger is up for an economy-related portfolio since Mr. Kauder says the candidate is knowledgeable about economics. Unfortunately, the CDU politician turned out to be a bit too precise about Öttinger’s competencies when he let us know that the commissioner in spe knows what’s important for… his country.

Thank God he knows.

PS: I already pity the Commission stuff who will be responsible for translating Mr. Öttinger’s speeches…

Lisbon treaty … where do we stand, where do we go?

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

Friday 25th, Brussels: « After the parliamentary approval of the Treaty on May 23, 2008, the judgment of the Constitutional Court on June 30, 2009, and the subsequent debate and adoption of the national accompanying legislation, I would like to thank Germany for its European commitment and constant support of the treaty. » saying President Barroso after Germany has ratified the Lisbon Treaty, two days after President Köhler signed the legislation.

A. Merkel, J. M. Barroso, welt.de

A. Merkel, J. M. Barroso, welt.de

Saturday 26th, Dublin, The Sunday Business Post’s poll revealed that 55% of voters are in favor of the Lisbon Treaty, down seven points since the last poll two weeks ago, 27% were against the treaty, up four points, while 18% were undecided, unchanged from the previous poll. But nothing to worry about, since the “yes” voters still remain comfortably ahead of the “no” voters.

Counting on my fingers, Germany: done, Ireland: on a good way, Poland: said would ratify as soon as Ireland votes yes…

And once again Barosso repeating “I (…) stress the importance of completing the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty in all Member States this autumn”.

Sounds like everything’s going fine in Neverland…

But, there are growing fears in the European Union. Indeed, some European Commission officials believe that Czech President Vaclav Klaus will delay the signing of the EU reform Lisbon treaty by weeks or months even if the treaty was approved by the Czech parliament and endorsed by the Czech Constitutional Court.

The French newspaper Libération says that Klaus is waiting for the election victory of the British Conservatives whose leader David Cameron has promised to call a referendum on the Lisbon treaty if it did not take force before in the meantime. Libération points to the letter Cameron sent to Klaus and says if the treaty were rejected in a British referendum it would mean its definitive end.