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Buy Brown and Sarkozy. Sell Poland
October 15, 2008
Surprises galore at the European Union summit that opened in Brussels on Wednesday. The heroes of the hour are turning out to be Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy. Angela Merkel and Silvio Berlusconi are still recovering from poor performances in the run-up to the summit. And as for the leaders of Poland … the least said, the better.
First, Brown. Eyes popped out when Brown showed up in Brussels, hours before the summit started, for a conversation with European Commission president José Manuel Barroso and an appearance before the media. Could this really be the same UK prime minister who, less than a year ago, deliberately arrived late for an EU summit so that he wouldn’t be seen signing the bloc’s Lisbon treaty at the same time as the other leaders?
With his poll ratings improving thanks to his bold action in the financial turmoil, carefully co-ordinated with other EU leaders, perhaps Brown sees previously hidden advantages to being a “good European”.
As for Sarkozy, his habit of summoning summit after summit to address the EU’s various problems is starting to pay dividends. First there was the September 1 summit to tackle the EU’s response to Russia’s invasion of Georgia. Then there was last Sunday’s summit of eurozone leaders - plus Brown - to address the threatening financial catastrophe. Both were pretty successful. Four months ago, other EU leaders were fretting about Sarkozy’s “hyper-activity” and “unpredictability”. He’s made them look rather foolish.
Merkel is a puzzle. Brussels is still in shock at the way she unilaterally announced a blanket guarantee for German savers’ deposits 10 days ago, without apparently forewarning any of her EU partners. She’s making up ground now, though, by backing the calls for a grand redesign of the world’s financial institutions.
Berlusconi has never been fully at home in EU circles - and even less so after a bizarre episode last week, when he suggested all the world’s financial markets might be temporarily closed. He withdrew that statement pretty fast, but now he’s haring down another unhelpful track by saying Russia should join the EU.
What about Donald Tusk and Lech Kaczynski, Poland’s prime minister and president? It seems too farcical for words, but Kaczynski is arriving for the summit separately because Tusk wouldn’t let him use a government aircraft. While the world has been teetering on the edge of the financial abyss, the two Polish rivals can’t agree on anything, even on who should represent Poland at an EU summit.
So, in the spirit of the times, it’s sell Tusk, Kaczynski and Berlusconi, hold Merkel, and buy Brown and Sarko!
But above all don’t buy the FT unless you want to be subject to the federlist rantings of it Brussels staff who seem to think that the only poltician of note is one who slavishly follows the EU line.
Posted by: Ex FT reader | October 15th, 2008 at 7:52 pm | Report this commentYou Brits have a long history of selling countries.
Posted by: Jul | October 15th, 2008 at 9:57 pm | Report this commentRemember 1939.
I happen to be reading about the Polish history now. What I have just learnt is the fact that Poles are always aquabbling among themselves when the country is on the verge of a crisis. So, now that the Polish Cabinet and President are actually quarreling with each other, it means…?
Posted by: Pit | October 15th, 2008 at 11:01 pm | Report this commentI wonder why Poland joined the European Union when they hate it so much. Better would be an agreement with the Russian Federation and kick the anti-European Poles OUT of the Union. The sooner the better.
Posted by: Enrique | October 16th, 2008 at 12:48 am | Report this commentIf we have to choose between a market of 38 million people like Poland and another Market of 142 million people like RUSSIA which also is plenty of natural resources, gas and oil…it is evident for EUROPE it is better kicking Poland OUT and let Russia IN.
Polesm, GO OUT!!!
Posted by: Enrique | October 16th, 2008 at 12:58 am | Report this commentEx-FT reader, the European Union has ALWAYS been a FEDERALIST Project, from the first day…or don´t you know who was Jean Monnet? A Federalist, like Schuman, Spaak, De Gaspieri, Spinelli, Delors.
Come on. The day Poland or the U.K. before, signed the Foundational Treaties of the European Union, KNEW that it was a FEDERALIST Project.
In fact, even Edward Heath KNEW and SUPPORTED the Federalist idea.
The founders, those who build the European Project were FEDERALIST.
Posted by: Enrique | October 16th, 2008 at 1:19 am | Report this commentWhatever brits. You always moan and cry for more, but theres nothing you can do in this case. Polish ppl (83% of them) aren’t happy with this situation either. But what can we do if the representatives were choosen, and president have forced them to join the EU meeting in last day, with no visible objective on his side, exept for that he could make hard times to Tusk. As long as he is suspected of mental illness, you probably will see more of such weird situations.
And for such jackasses as enrique — go visit russia. And if you manage to return alive, tell us how it was
Posted by: Polish Observer | October 16th, 2008 at 6:47 am | Report this commentEnrique: Outside of Brussels and a few cultural backwaters there is no support for the dying dreams of Federalists. That is why the the EU cannot win referendums outside of these places. The FT pumping out outdated federalist propaganda is bad for its sales revenue, which is a luxury it cannot afford with a downturn on the way. They should take a business decision to let go of their Brussels team and focus on the core business of financial journalism relevant to their readership.
Posted by: Ex FT Reader | October 16th, 2008 at 10:14 am | Report this commentPoland got the best deal ever, it came to the EU with its begging bowl recieved billions in aid and the has then gone on an agenda of sticking two fingers up to the very institutions that have paid its bills. Well we will see where these pro alanticist countries will run to now - the sooner they realise that federalism is the key to there happiness the better.
Posted by: KWM | October 16th, 2008 at 10:53 am | Report this commenttwo fingers outside GB means victory. The same things have different meanings. That’s all. By the way Polish behavoir/ however politic does not mean whole population/ is just childish but Berlusconi’s is not even funny as he does not always remeber Italy is a part of EU. And try/Berlusconi/ to save world financial system along to USA. Means USA will pay Berlusconi will acclaim himself as a world hero. Very funny, indeed.
Posted by: Nancy USA | October 16th, 2008 at 1:21 pm | Report this commentWell what i can see here is that actually you people dont care about history.
Poland was on east side of the wall for almost 60 years, you cant expect from us too much in so short time(18 years)… its absolutely natural that people here in our government are arguing because we still have this soviet era mentalism in our heads!!
It will take decades to get it back to normal, also please remember our country was full with well educated people who now are burried on fields of Syberia.
We have to rebuilt everything from the very beginning and yes thank you for your help and understanding.
Regards
Posted by: Marcin Pollo | October 16th, 2008 at 2:13 pm | Report this commentMarcin
rebuild
Posted by: Marcin Pollo | October 16th, 2008 at 2:20 pm | Report this commentKaczynski’s days are numbered and no one should be under the impression that somehow he’s representing Poland as a whole. He’s completely out of touch and out of his depth when it comes to international matters not to mention that he stands no chance of being re-elected in two years’ time. Let’s face it, he’s a Polish Bush so to speak, but please do not think that he has much support in Poland or that his views hold much mainstream support. His election was nothing more than an aberration that’ll be aptly rectified in due time. Until then, unfortunately, Poland will have to endure more circus-like stupdity on behalf of its mypic president who puts his own interests well ahead of the country. For the record, Poland very much enjoys being a part of the EU community and has much appreciation for all the support it is receving from its Euro partners.
Posted by: Lukasz Blaszczykowski | October 16th, 2008 at 5:45 pm | Report this commenttry to read some works by norman davies on europe’s history and then write your opinion on polish and russian history
Posted by: andrew | October 16th, 2008 at 10:15 pm | Report this commentI have no question that EU leaders are trying to cope with current financial catastrophe but they also seems confused for to encounter the crisis.
David Williams
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Posted by: David Williams | October 17th, 2008 at 4:54 pm | Report this commentlet’s be pragmatic: separate between those countries who are in and those who are out of the european construction process. two velocities (or three or four) if needed. can you imagine what would be of europe right now without the euro? and the ECB? a disaster. I urge EU leaders and governements to press ahead with the integration process. those who want to be left outside will some time latter ask to get in the process.
Posted by: Miguel Pires | October 18th, 2008 at 12:58 pm | Report this commentQuite useless to say “sell Berlusconi”.He will rule Italy until 2013 and probably beyond.Did you realize that Italian banks,the biggest on Continental Europe,were not involved in the recent crack? And that we were part in the G4,G7,G8? It’s the world of Silvio:a man who lost some battle,and won any war.If you “sell” him,worse for you.
Posted by: stafano de santis | October 18th, 2008 at 3:43 pm | Report this commentBrown – a tiny hypocrat
Sarkozy – a yuppie
Merkel – a tired mother
Berlusconi – a bombaster
Kaczynski – a wannabe tough negotiator
Tusk – a pragmatist
Unless you were a political information shortfall you would conclude it to be buy Tusk, hold Merkel, sell Sarkozy and Brown, and dump Kaczynski.
Posted by: pit | October 19th, 2008 at 6:54 am | Report this commentAttantion!!! Achtung!!! Antelittante!!! Today Tony Barber has been up for sale on ebay. Almost virgin but gelded with a little head disease. Price 25 cents ….
Posted by: BarberMuther | October 19th, 2008 at 1:11 pm | Report this comment100% agree with Barber. Sell Kaczynski& Tusk, but Sarko& Brown. While the EU eventually like focused and trying to reseolve REAL issues top 2 Polish guys are being pathetic playing around with each other forgetting again that they are not the centre of the world …
Posted by: D. from warsaw | October 20th, 2008 at 10:11 am | Report this comment