Pave: Qui est à blâmer ? : le traité de Lisbonne

Le jour 403 de Sarko

Things often go wrong for France.

When they do, it is reassuring that, whatever her involvement, France is not to blame. Nor the selfless servants of France. Nor the people of France, unless the selfless servants need a general-purpose patsy. Yes, there are days when a French official cannot credibly blame America and must make do with indicting the locals.

Pandemic heat deaths? Ineffective paperwork and public callousness are to blame. France in flames? Bad parenting is to blame. Presidential ambitions set-back? Your very own party has done you in. Urban violence and attacks on the police? Bad luck is responsible for a good bit of that.

A major national referendum -- on which the whole of the European project hinges -- voted down by the French public? Non, citoyens, ne blâment pas votre governement. Britain, it is Britain to blame.

Build up steam and try it again and it flops? Britain caught out again.

EU TREATY: NICOLAS SARKOZY BLAMES
PETER MANDELSON FOR DEFEAT
Ireland's Rejection Of The EU Treaty Has Sparked
A Row Between Britain And France After Nicolas Sarkozy
Blamed Peter Mandelson For Alienating Voters.

BRUSSELS June 20, 2008 (Telegraph) - Mr Sarkozy made the attack on Mr Mandelson, a former British cabinet minister, as EU leaders gave Ireland four months to find a way around their referendum rejection of the treaty.

The unusual public spat follows growing tensions between France and the Commission over attempts to cut trade protections for EU farmers. A spokesman for the Trade Commissioner:

Peter Mandelson has a mandate from 27 member states not just France. He is doing his job. The summit's conclusions today will reconfirm the importance of a world trade deal.

France and Mr Sarkozy have waged a campaign, aimed at protecting huge subsidies and import protections for French farmers, to undermine Mr Mandelson during World Trade Organisation negotiations.

Diplomats and Brussels officials regard the attack on Mr Mandelson as a thinly veiled attempt to scapegoat the European Commission for Ireland's referendum rejection. An EU official:

The French Government machine has turned on Brussels and the Commission. Paris wants someone to pay. Mr Mandelson makes an easy target because he is trying to liberalise markets against stiff opposition from the powerful French and Irish farm lobby.

EU leaders have said they will respect the Irish vote. But Mr Sarkozy put clear pressure on Ireland to hold a second referendum.

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* European Commissioner for External Trade.

PFFT (What is this?): Bad luck to blame 0 | Peter Mandelson to blame ⅛ | Inept EUocracy to blame 1⅛ | Incomprehensible treaty 3¾ | Rayonnement français 0