Berlaymont, a “humiliating” agreement for Europe reached on the budget

“Complete humiliation for the idea of Europe.”  Those on the top floor of Berlaymont Palace (EC headquarters) comment on the agreement on the European budget made between heads of state and the government last week. Worse yet is how they are enduring this defeat there: with the greatest frustration caused by the helplessness to present one’s own position.

“All the heads of state and government except one (the Luxembourger Jean-Claude Juncker, editor’s note) returned home saying they had won, therefore it is impossible for us to find room to explain our position,” the men closest to Josè Manuel Barroso say. A single ‘almost partner” was found in the Counsel, President Herman van Rompuy, who is recognized beyond Loi Street, “collaborated with the Commission more than in the past.”

Therefore the result is briefly interpreted as “terrible,” even if and is seems that it did go “better than it could have” in regard to last November’s proposal.  Now one trusts in Parliament, seen by the Commission as a real possible partner, the only one with the power to make a mess of the “humiliating” agreement of the governments.