BURN, BABY, BURN:

Battle lines drawn up as leaders get ready for a war over EU (Anthony Browne in Brussels and David Charter, 6/06/05, Times of London)

A BATTLE for the leadership of the European Union is expected to burst into the open today when Britain defies France and Germany by suspending its referendum on the European constitution.

The struggle between the EU’s three biggest powers over the fate of the constitution, and the future direction of the Union, is likely to deepen the turmoil caused by the French and Dutch “no” votes last week. France and Germany are also expected to step up the pressure on Britain to be a “good European” by insisting that it surrender its budget rebate at a fin ance ministers’ meeting in Luxembourg tomorrow.

The meeting is supposed to agree the EU’s budget for the next seven years, and France and Germany will argue that reaching a deal is essential to prevent a second crisis. But Gordon Brown has insisted that the rebate must stay.

If they weren't such little people playing for such small stakes you could set the story to Wagner.

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 6, 2005 12:00 AM