Thursday, June 19, 2008

How to make the EU popular

After the French and Dutch 'No' votes they key policy that the Commission alighted upon to make the EU loveable was to cut mobile roaming charges.

On Saturday morning Nigel Farage bumped into TEBAF Margot Wallstrom on his way to a TV studio. He asked her,
"So how are you going to ignore this result Margot".
She scowled and then said,
"We shall fix fuel prices".
Not thinking that she could be so economically illiterate to do such a thing he ignored her. But wait, what is this that arrives in my inbox this morning.

Written declaration on fixing fuel prices
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Rule 116 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. Whereas we are witnessing an unprecedented rise in fuel prices, and this scandalous surge is having a devastating effect on economic activity in various sectors: transport and other services, industry, agriculture and fisheries,
B. Whereas in Portugal, the major oil companies in the first quarter of this year, vis-à-vis the first quarter of 2007, made net profits of 22.9% (GALP), and consolidated profits of 36.5% (REPSOL) and 63.4% (BP), which were fundamentally the result of practising speculative pricing, as a result of the speculative valuation of oil stocks
bought at lower prices,

1. Calls for the establishment of a tax, for each Member State, to be levied exclusively on these profits so as to bring them back into the coffers of the Member State. This tax should be paid within 60 days after the end of each quarter, with the value and scope of the levy depending on the readiness of the oil companies to reduce their speculative gains thanks to the 'stock effect';
2. The revenue generated by this tax should be returned on a proportional basis to the various economic sectors in each Member State;
3. Instructs its President to forward this declaration, together with the names of the signatories, to the Council, Commission, and Parliaments of the Member States.

Oh God... they really are that stupid.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Doesn't Europe remind you of a students' union on some days?

Anonymous said...

Jesus! Still, it does bring their communist tendencies to the fore, doesn't it?

Anonymous said...

It's a students union without the drink and filled by the ones with bad breath who nobody wanted to be friends with.

Ralf Grahn said...

Gawain,

Tough luck if the 'EU elites' are going to steamroll you poppulists on your own territory :-)

As to the conclusions, you are right: In spite of ruinous pressure for fishermen, road transporters and others, tying to stem a rising tide is economic nonsense; worse short-sighted and expensive.

Gawain Towler said...

A palpable hit Ralph.

But stark staring bonkers none the less.

Anonymous said...

What stage is this at?

Gawain Towler said...

Anon,

Very early, though some aspects are already rumbling. I do not think this will get through, but it is indicative of the problem.

Anonymous said...

Oh indeed it's a problem. These are dangerous people - like Severin and that MEP who wants to censor blogs.

No good can come of it.

[strokes chin and nods wisely]

Anonymous said...

Could you provide a link to that on the European Parliament website? I want to send it to some people.

Gawain Towler said...

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sidesSearch/search.do?type=WDECL&language=EN&term=6&author=4466#

There you go

vanderleun said...

One hopes that the "major oil companies," reading this mandate, simply reach down, turn off the tap, and take a vacation from Europe for three to six months.

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