David Cameron will have come home from his couple of days in Brussels with some satisfaction.None of this will have been derived from the £120 a bottle wine served at the leaders' inevitably non austerity dinner. They just don't do the under £10, the under £20, £50 or even £100 ranges on these occasions and must have some peculiar assumption that their millions of constituents wouldn't want them to either. "Nothing but the best for our leaders" must be the Eurocrats assumption of what the struggling masses would be saying if asked. Indeed the same rule of opulence extends everywhere one finds the officials, from the front of aeroplanes to the creature comforts of their offices. As is well known though, nobody in Brussels does actually ask "the people" what they want,- even whether or not they want an EU in its political rather than free trade area form at all.
Having flown over (What, no Eurostar?) against a background of media and Labour pictures of how foolish it would be to isolate the UK from the centre of vital European decison making and all those "can't/mustn't do it" bogeymen and Guardianista and Blairists' handwringing about how vital the EU monolith concept is to Europe's survival in the face of the world's other and trading giants, it was expected that Dave would return isolated ,with a bloody nose and a straight "No" from everything to all he demanded.
Instead he was far from isolated . Instead there emerged a new grouping of the UK, the Nordic countries, Holland and a Germany split from its usual bedmate France. These countries all said "Enough" and agreed that spending must be curbed. Holland's socialist, agriculture subsidy addicted, France risked Angela's scowls and positioned itself with the southern and ex Soviet satellite "We want more money" group . These good people also believe that the financier of their cargo cult should be Germany. What would anyone be saying if they were a good, hard working German especially if one of those on the western side of the country who have paid for former East Germany to become part of the unified country?
The UK and Germany, despite their historic propensity for knocking nine bells out of each other, always been far more natural allies than adversaries. The Franco/German alliance has on the other hand been a much less natural one born of politics and a sort of German conscience. In general it has tied Germany's hands and benefitted France. Maybe, just maybe, the relationship will now become less cosy or at least excluding of others . If that happens the EU could be much more free to rethink its own future. To do that , the politicians will also have to take on the biggest block to debate, -the very highly paid officials who have ben allowed to create a dream world in which they have been all powerful. They were,- at last,- the clinically targeted aim of much that Cameron had to say this week. They personally have everything to lose and little to gain from any major change in the way the organisation does its business. They have always seen the scowling UK as the biggest threat to their power and glory. In natural response they are the biggest block to debate or anything that smacks of a real democracy rather than top-down rule by the unelected Commission itself. Their power control needs are very high and ultimately threaten the EU as an institution. Again Cameron scored a bullseye the machine rather than the member states this week. The boy done well.
Inevitably there were some ritual denialist mutterings from the UK's Labour Party about Cameron having (again) upset the EU and left Britain friendless (it always has been) and without influence (which the Europhiles, unware of the conversations that really happen in the offfice blocks, bars and restaurants of Brussels have always deluded themselves into believing the UK ever had.). In fact by drawing a line in the sand of profligacy, the UK brought a fundamental split into the open and moved back to centre stage. It did not end up alone as hoped by Van Rompuy, Barroso and friends but was now joined by others talking good, hard , financial sense.
Far from isolating Britain this week, Cameron has brought the country to centre stage as part of a rational group for whom continuing profligacy by the EU and the serious control ambitions and self indulgence of officials is not an option. The next round is "In the New Year". There is much to be done to consolidate this week's gain before then . For sure the "Spend" group will be working hard to overturn it and the Commission officials will be seeking every way to consolidate, perpetuate and grow their power,- their comfort ,and even those £120 bottles of wine.
