The Hindu : Berlusconi criticises proposals of `Big Three'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

International

International

Berlusconi criticises proposals of `Big Three'

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, FEB. 21. The Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has criticised the proposals made by the "Big Three" — Germany, France and Britain — at their summit in Berlin on Wednesday.

At a gathering of centre-right leaders of the European political parties in Athens, Mr. Berlusconi said the countries "left out" of the summit would find the three leaders' plans to reinvigorate the E.U.'s economy "hard to accept". Before the Berlin summit, six European leaders had signed a letter protesting against the "solo initiative" of the three leaders.

Mr. Berlusconi's statement comes as no surprise to anyone and many wonder if he was not overreacting, piqued over his non-inclusion in the meet. However, the overall conclusion is that the Big Three's proposal has drawn a cool reaction, even over appointing a Vice-President for the European Commission to oversee the proposed reform process. Mr. Berlusconi said, "The fact that the proposal came out of the three-way meeting will make it difficult to get the approval of other European Union member states."

On Wednesday, the three leaders promised to cut bureaucracy in the E.U. and allocate funds to promote new technologies to improve the E.U.'s competitive edge in the global market place. E.U. member states are waking up to the challenges posed by the United States, Japan and even China.

Asked about the prospect of the emerging "Two Speed" European Union, the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, who was present at the Athens meet, quipped: "There already is a Europe of two speeds". However, a spokesman for the European Commission in Brussels played down concerns about small groups dictating European policies and stated that there were no worries over "trilateral cooperation".

It is argued that with the E.U.'s expansion from 15 to 25 members later this year, such prospects may be inevitable.

Germany is embarking on economic, social and labour reforms and according to media reports, the Chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, may initiate a Cabinet reshuffle in the near future as a prelude to this. Eurochambers, which represents Chambers of Commerce in 15 member states, has welcomed the idea of a European Economic Minister.

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