Oh the possibilities are endless

The EPP Group is running a competition for an anniversary logo for its 35th year.

Think of the prizes, think of the honour

Prize -the designer of the winning entry will have an option to choose between:

-an invitation to participate as special guest at the EPP Congress in Marseille (December 2011),
-a 3-months paid internship at the EPP HQ in Brussels

Think of the copyright

All works sent in for application are automatically donated to the EPP

Go on chaps do you worst.

Van Rompuy's head vanishes up his ...

I am beggining to wonder quite how tone deaf the Eurocracy is? I mean seriously I have just recieved an invitation to go along to an event organised by the EPP, featuring everybody's favourite bank clerk, Mr Heramn Van Rompuy, your President and ours.

Entitled,

“Stability, Security, Prosperity - the future of Europe and the Euro”

One begins to wonder what newspapers the man and his advisors read, The Utopian Times maybe?

If you are in Brussels tonight, go along, laden with rotten fruit.

"It's all shite" They do it to themselves they do..

Jim Higgins is an MEP from Connaught Ulster and seems to have in a few short words encapsulated the attitude of the governing class to those who have the temerity to question the amount of money shovelled in their direction by the taxpayer.

Marta Andreasen had flagged up the £350,000 cost of a freebie 'study trip' to Madeira. Higgins has responded in the Irish Independent,

"That's all shite ... that's all shite if you don't mind me saying so. That's typical media bluster, you know. I don't share that at all,"

And he claimed the three-day stay in a five-star hotel on the island represented value for money because of the "important work" taking place. "I haven't a clue what star it is. All I know is that it's a very good hotel, the accommodation is wonderful, the food is lovely. For people who work so hard, we're entitled to that. You don't expect us to stay in B&Bs, do you?"

That's the way Jim, just show them your common touch.

Crocodile tears over Spanish Economic Crisis

According to the IMF ,

Spain's economy will shrink by at least 1.0 percent next year instead of the of 0.2 percent forecast in October, and it risks entering an extended period of stagnation unless sweeping structural reforms are carried out, the IMF said Wednesday.

"The near term prospects are somber and uncertain," the International Monetary Fund said in a report posted on its web site, adding "the medium-term recovery also crucially depends on progress with implementing comprehensive structural reforms."

"In their absence, Spain could get stuck in a low-competitiveness, slow-growth, extended-deleveraging, and high-unemployment equilibrium, from which returning to lower public debt would be difficult," it said.

So in these parlous times where else would the Spanish EPP delegation choose to go for their Christmas extravaganza last night. The Crocodile, that's where. The most famous and expensive restaurant in the city.

No need to tighten their belts then is there Manuel?

For those who wish to dream of the sumptuous repast, paid no doubt by EPP funds, just feast you eyes on the menu, and yes the numbers are indeed the prices,

Les Entrees
Consommé clair de Lièvre, Royale de Foies blonds 16

Carpaccio de Saint Jacques, Salade de Tourteau et Pousses d'Épinards au Citron vert 45

Cromesquis de Ris de Veau à la Truffe, Haricots blancs tièdes en Vinaigrette 56

Foie d'Oie cuit au Torchon, Brioche au Bierewecke 43

Fine Semoule de Chou-Fleur et sa Déclinaison de Légumes à l'Huile d'Argan "Plume" (basses calories) 32

Homard "bleu" et Rémoulade de Céleri au Gingembre 78

Foie de Canard landais grillé aux Pommes, Jus de Maltaise au Porto blanc 44

Les Poissons

Sandre et Laitance de Carpe au Mille-Chou, Beurre blanc au Genièvre 40

Noix de Saint Jacques et Risotto crémeux à la Truffe noire de Forcalquier 61

Turbot rôti, Coulis de Manioc et Laitue de Mer, Tempura d'Huîtres Gillardeau 58

Cabillaud Poêlé en Croûte de Flétan fumé, Purée de Céleri et Salsifis 42

Homard "bleu" aux Vermicelles dorés et Mange-tout, Jus d'Agrumes aux Baies roses 78

Les Viandes

Blanc de Poulette d’Alsace cuit au Bouillon Jus de Carottes épicé, Chicons braisés et Topinambours "Plume" (basses calories) 39

Filet de Bœuf (origine France), Sauce au Volnay, Dauphinois et Croûton de Moelle 47

Noisette de Faon de Biche à l'Écorce d'Orange, Quenelle au Fromage blanc et Fruits rôtis 49

Paillasson de Mignon et Ris de Veau à la Truffe, Fondue d'Endive 61

Lièvre à la Royale, Spaetzle à l'Ancienne et Marrons à la Crème 60

Foie de Canard landais et Écailles de Truffe en Croûte de Sel, Baeckeofe de Légumes (2 personnes) 60 p.pers.

Le Chariot de Fromages

Sélection de Fromages affinés par Cyrille Lorho, Meilleur Ouvrier de France et de la Chèvrerie des Embetschés à Lapoutroie 19

Les Desserts Crocodile

Crème légère à la Mandarine et Volupté de Citron vert "Plume" (basses calories) 18

Larme au Praliné, Glace Arabica et Espumas blanc de Café 18

Vermicelles crémeux de Marrons, Glace Rhum Raisins 18

Trilogie de Mousse aux Chocolats de grandes Origines 18

Millefeuille caramélisé, Mousseline au Vieux Kirsch "Massenez" et Fruits secs de Noël 19

10 Priorities

I shall bore you now. The Tories political Group in the European Parliament have launched their pre-election manifesto. Called Ten Priorities it lists what it is that the EPP-ED will be campaigning on in next year's Euro poll.

Making Europe a global Player
The EPP-ED Group supports the active implementation of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.
A Europe of 27 requires a coherent foreign and security policy to better deal with the challenges of the 21st century and to better promote its values.
The Group is in favour of boosting Europe’s security and defence capacity and enhancing its capacity to act in the world.

From my reading that is increased support for such wonders as the European Army.

The EPP family believes that this growth can be stimulated at the European level through better coordination of the economic policies of Member States, especially as regards the implementation of National Reform Programmes
(NRPs).
A better coordination of economic and tax policies will help to re-stimulate European economic activity and job creation.

That will be tax harmonisation to you and me. The next one is pretty disturbing,

Furthermore, as a result of economic globalisation, the flow of capital from one country to another can be measured in thousands of millions thanks to the great ease of communications provided by information technologies creating speculative opportunities which could be a source of monetary destabilisation. Particular importance should therefore be given to bringing monitoring methods
more closely into line and increasing European influence on world financial
markets.

Which could be read as a serious infringement of civil liberties as the monitoring of all information becomes more pernicious and intrusive.

The reform of the European budget is a priority for our Group, and it will have to be implemented in two stages:
* The first stage requires a review of expenditure, with a simpler calculation of national contributions;
* The second stage, from 2014, will require the introduction of new own resources so as to gradually replace the national contributions.

Direct EU taxation.

Police and judicial resources must be pooled in order to ensure that those
responsible for criminal actions and their consequences find no refuge within
the Union.

The start of an EU police force.

This is all here in black and white is the program of the Tories' Group. When will Tory members realise what is being done in their name over here.

Well spotted

Good to see that Con Home has noticed that somebody had been given the thankless task of trying to set up the Movement for European Reform. Bit late, given that I reported it here on the 28th November, but I guess I'm glad they have caught up.
However they claim that Geoffrey Van Orden is suited to the job because he knows the Bulgarian politicians well, after he was the Parliament's rapporteur for Bulgarian entry into the EU.

Couple of points. At the time he was doing the normal thing of swearing that there would be no major movement of people from Bulgaria to the UK (against all evidence of previous enlargements), and indeed describing those who warned against the enevitable as xenophobes, no Geoffrey, realists.
The second point is that this pious hope,

"Mr Van Orden has particularly strong links with Bulgarian politicians and, alongside the Czech ODS, Sofia may be the third major capital city of the new grouping".

The problem is that the party which was unveiled by Cameron in Brussels earlier this year as the third pole of the new group, singuilarly failed to get any MEPs elected, and is unlikely to change that position in 2009. So Van Ordinaire will have his work cut out.

There again according to the Tory press officer over here, the new grouping is not in fact anything to do with leaving the EPP,

"The Conservatives' Peter WILDING said MER is a philosophical platform, not a political party, and does not interfere with EPP".