“Big three” meet in Berlin
Tony Blair meets his French and German counterparts today to discuss ways to cut red tape and boost economic growth prospects in the European Union.
The prime minister, Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder will meet in Berlin together with key senior ministers to assess the ramifications for the union as 10 new accession countries come on board on May 1st.
The trilateral “mini” summit also comes ahead of next month’s spring EU gathering.
Trade and industry spokesman Patricia Hewitt, health chief, Dr John Reid, treasury minister Dawn Primarolo and foreign secretary Jack Straw will accompany the prime minister.
Mr Blair, Mr Chirac, and Mr Schroeder are likely to underscore their commitment to limiting EU spending at one per cent of national GDP, a position seemingly at odds with the European Commission’s proposal to raise the budget when the ten new eastern and central European countries join the EU.
The European constitution, the Common Agricultural Policy, EU defence, and the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan are also likely to be discussed during the summit, according to analysts.
The three countries have been at pains to play down plans to form a triadic “directoire” or power base.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says any such move would be a “huge mess.”
Mr Berlusconi said: “Europe doesn’t need any directorate. It’s just a big mess.
“This is my opinion which is completely shared by other European countries, with the exception of the three countries involved.”
