Obama Administration worried about Cameron effect in Europe
October 21, 2009
Tom Baldwin, Tim Reid and Sam Coates
The Obama Administration has voiced concern that Conservative plans to unpick the Lisbon treaty would cause a rupture between Europe and a British government led by David Cameron.
Diplomatic sources on both sides of the Atlantic have told The Times that the issue was discussed when Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, held talks with Gordon Brown and David Miliband on her visit to Europe last week.
Disclosure of Washington’s concerns comes on the day William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, arrives in the US capital for talks with Mrs Clinton. A source close to the State Department said: “Hillary always likes to ask questions and, as she is such a candid person in these meetings, I would be surprised if she did not ask Hague to explain the position.”
Louis Susman, the US Ambassador to London, is also understood to have expressed alarm about the “direction of travel” of a party widely expected to take power after the next election.
Privately, he has suggested that the new alliance in the European Parliament forged by Mr Cameron with right-wing parties linked to anti-Semitism will diminish any Conservative Government’s ability to wield influence in Brussels.
A number of Jewish groups in the the US — where they exercise great influence within Democratic politics — are thought to be monitoring closely the debate about Tory membership of a group led by Michal Kaminski. The head of the Polish Law and Justice Party is said to have opposed commemorating a wartime massacre of Jews in Jedwabne, the Polish town he represents as an MEP.
Mr Susman has already used an interview with the Financial Times to express the hope that the UK’s role in Europe “isn’t diminished” after the election. He said it was in the interests of British political parties “to work with their neighbours”. The Ambassador, a key fundraiser for the Obama election campaign, has since indicated to friends that this comment was aimed directly at the Conservatives.
Mrs Clinton is said to be worried by Mr Cameron’s promise to hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty if it is not ratified by the time of the next election or seek to repatriate powers given to Brussels in previous agreements.
Both Downing Street and the Foreign Office declined to comment last night on the details of what they termed “private conversations” with Mrs Clinton last week.
European leaders are, however, understood to have told her that a referendum would put at risk seven years of negotiations designed to strengthen the EU’s ability to make and implement policy.
Any effort to repatriate powers such as social and judicial policy after the treaty was ratified would, say diplomats, require the consent of all 27 member states in a specially-convened inter-governmental conference.
One senior European source said: “At a point when the EU has stated that Lisbon should be the last treaty change for the foreseeable future, such demands from Britain would cause considerable dismay in Europe and Washington.”
President Obama has repeatedly made plain that he wants a strong and united Europe as a foreign policy partner on issues ranging from Afghanistan to climate change.
He has less sentimental attachment than many of his predecessors to the traditional “special relationship”. Instead, he believes that Britain should be at the heart of Europe — a position that has been put in doubt by French and German anger over Mr Cameron’s decision to sever ties with the federalist centre right grouping in the Strasbourg Parliament.
Mr Obama is enthusiastic about the idea of a permanent EU president to replace the revolving chairmanship of the EU council, a measure opposed by the Conservatives.
It has long since been Washington’s aspiration to have a “phone to ring” in Europe and there would be strong support for a heavyweight figure such as Tony Blair taking on the role. Mr Obama’s impatience with dealing with the existing European structures is being reflected by an apparent reluctance to attend the next EU/US summit: he may send vice-president Joe Biden to Sweden in his place.
Link
October 21, 2009
Tom Baldwin, Tim Reid and Sam Coates
The Obama Administration has voiced concern that Conservative plans to unpick the Lisbon treaty would cause a rupture between Europe and a British government led by David Cameron.
Diplomatic sources on both sides of the Atlantic have told The Times that the issue was discussed when Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State, held talks with Gordon Brown and David Miliband on her visit to Europe last week.
Disclosure of Washington’s concerns comes on the day William Hague, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, arrives in the US capital for talks with Mrs Clinton. A source close to the State Department said: “Hillary always likes to ask questions and, as she is such a candid person in these meetings, I would be surprised if she did not ask Hague to explain the position.”
Louis Susman, the US Ambassador to London, is also understood to have expressed alarm about the “direction of travel” of a party widely expected to take power after the next election.
Privately, he has suggested that the new alliance in the European Parliament forged by Mr Cameron with right-wing parties linked to anti-Semitism will diminish any Conservative Government’s ability to wield influence in Brussels.
A number of Jewish groups in the the US — where they exercise great influence within Democratic politics — are thought to be monitoring closely the debate about Tory membership of a group led by Michal Kaminski. The head of the Polish Law and Justice Party is said to have opposed commemorating a wartime massacre of Jews in Jedwabne, the Polish town he represents as an MEP.
Mr Susman has already used an interview with the Financial Times to express the hope that the UK’s role in Europe “isn’t diminished” after the election. He said it was in the interests of British political parties “to work with their neighbours”. The Ambassador, a key fundraiser for the Obama election campaign, has since indicated to friends that this comment was aimed directly at the Conservatives.
Mrs Clinton is said to be worried by Mr Cameron’s promise to hold a referendum on the Lisbon treaty if it is not ratified by the time of the next election or seek to repatriate powers given to Brussels in previous agreements.
Both Downing Street and the Foreign Office declined to comment last night on the details of what they termed “private conversations” with Mrs Clinton last week.
European leaders are, however, understood to have told her that a referendum would put at risk seven years of negotiations designed to strengthen the EU’s ability to make and implement policy.
Any effort to repatriate powers such as social and judicial policy after the treaty was ratified would, say diplomats, require the consent of all 27 member states in a specially-convened inter-governmental conference.
One senior European source said: “At a point when the EU has stated that Lisbon should be the last treaty change for the foreseeable future, such demands from Britain would cause considerable dismay in Europe and Washington.”
President Obama has repeatedly made plain that he wants a strong and united Europe as a foreign policy partner on issues ranging from Afghanistan to climate change.
He has less sentimental attachment than many of his predecessors to the traditional “special relationship”. Instead, he believes that Britain should be at the heart of Europe — a position that has been put in doubt by French and German anger over Mr Cameron’s decision to sever ties with the federalist centre right grouping in the Strasbourg Parliament.
Mr Obama is enthusiastic about the idea of a permanent EU president to replace the revolving chairmanship of the EU council, a measure opposed by the Conservatives.
It has long since been Washington’s aspiration to have a “phone to ring” in Europe and there would be strong support for a heavyweight figure such as Tony Blair taking on the role. Mr Obama’s impatience with dealing with the existing European structures is being reflected by an apparent reluctance to attend the next EU/US summit: he may send vice-president Joe Biden to Sweden in his place.
Link