TWO WORLD WARS JUST SO THE GERMANS COULD DICTATE TERMS?:

Germany holds key to EU budget deal, conservatives say (Mark Beunderman, 12/16/05, EUOBSERVER)

European conservative party leaders said Germany holds the key to unlocking a budget deal at Thursday (15 December) and Friday's EU summit in Brussels. [...]

For her part, Ms Merkel continued to play her cards close to her chest, commenting she does "not want an agreement at any price" and that she expects "tough negotiations" tonight.

German MEP Hans Gert Pottering, the leader of the conservative group in the European Parliament, gave the summit a 50/50 chance of success.

He said talks will revolve around the UK rebate which "should be substantially cut down."

Mr Pottering sketched out a potential scenario where France and the UK agree to scrap completely the UK rebate in 2008 or 2009 "in the context" of changes to the common agricultural policy.

Commenting on the importance of a positive summit outcome, Austrian chancellor and incoming EU president Wolfgang Schussel said the talks will lead to "a united Europe or a divided Europe."