tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post3122292946531654367..comments2023-10-10T15:39:35.168+00:00Comments on Centre for European Reform: The French, the European Commission and the ToriesCentre for European Reformhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06815454225955436329noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-32267385240604957022009-02-03T10:21:00.000+00:002009-02-03T10:21:00.000+00:00The real problem is that governments are reluctant...The real problem is that governments are reluctant to lift their game in response to the global crisis.For the French to blame Brussels for the fact that national governments are unwilling to co-ordinate and co-operate is silly and Fillon should know better. On the Tories, I agree with Charles Grant, but the recent promotion of William Hague and Mark Francois does not herald much of a shift in thinking. Like it or not, most Tory MPs are really deep, believing antis. If they form a government things will change but that will take time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27932062.post-48561417022999495172009-01-29T12:47:00.000+00:002009-01-29T12:47:00.000+00:00While I would otherwise agree with the general thr...While I would otherwise agree with the general thrust of this article, I believe that you make one fatal mistake -ignoring the parliament's role in selecting the College. <BR/><BR/>The upcoming European elections will be conducted in the middle of the economic crisis and the European electorate may be quite bloody minded by then. The next parliament could be significantly different to the previous ones. Indeed there could well be a few new faces around the Council table also. I don't think it is a sure-thing that Barroso will be reappointed, or that the next commission will be as progressive as the current one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com