Top Jobs in EU

FC61
Where would you suggest the clearing houses be moved to, Frankfurt?
While the rest of Europe is looking at 5G Germany is practically on dial up with 3G.
No clearing house could operate successfully on these speeds.

Change and reform from inside?! A nice idea, but realistically a forlorn hope!! If Brexit is an uphill battle, tackling the "crooks" inside the EU would be a completely pointless exercise, a waste of time and breath! . Ranks would close, perceived trouble makers conveniently be moved or sacked. It would be the road to nowhere! We're much better away from these appalling people and concentrate on US!

I agree, an appalling choice of people for too EU jobs. But doesn't this strongly reinforce the argument to remain and change and reform from the inside?

There, a response from an absolute remainer, albeit I live in France. If I still lived in UK I would be even more anxious to remain.

Recommend site https:www.youtube.com/watch?v=grliNk9Mqz4&feature=youtu.be

A friend who worked in a high ranking position in Brussels ( Trade negotiator) told me that the EU was run by the Germans ( all unelected) for the Germans benefit.
They also said that there were literally thousands of penpushers there, who were paid top dollar and laughing all the way to the bank.
Our MEPs are paid a humongous amount a month and when they leave they get a equally humongous pay off and pension.
The further away people get to a problem, the less interested they are in it.
Wainfleet in Lincolnshire seriously flooded recently....soon forgotten.

I missed that Andrew Neill programme, must watch it.

The US isn’t going downhill btw.

We have had strong links with them for a very long time and regarding defence ( think of the last two major wars)
It’s a good job that that we had those links.

In any case, we do not need to be ‘under’ them.

Always risky to talk about politics. But there is a great interview on YouTube with Ushti VDL. I liked her a lot after seeing it. They all fiddle contracts ( our lot just as bad Hunt NHS contracts, Farage Aaron Banks millions ( hence the new suits) Boris ( US backing) . What I liked is her respect and defence of the military and reluctance to send them to fight Crimea but rely on sanctions . A mother’s perpective at last ( we’ll she does have 7 children who she wants to live a long life - don’t we all ) I might be wrong but watch the interview.
As for Brexit well in a nutshell we have a choice, be under EU or under USA. Since USA is in real terms going downhill, desperate, and going to rob the shirt off our back in any trade deal due to Trump , and London will lose EU clearing which earns us billions , I’m not keen to leave. I’m biased though because half my family is in Europe and i have business there and I’ve already lost loads of money with sinking pound.

I wonder too Opal?!!!!!? The British army did have an issue with boots, that is true, BUT there was an outcry, and it was rectified asap! as there was with landrovers! However our submarines do function and our soldiers do have guns not broomsticks! So rather a poor comparison!!
Not Chris Grayling, please tell me you're joking! We need to leave today, this minute!!!!!!??

You have to admire the ' gall ' of Jean-Claude Junker.

Now he is leaving as European Commission president he is starting to be honest by criticising how secretive and undemocratic the deal was to nominate his successor and it was a ' stitch up '.

It was Jean-Claude Junker who was secretive and undemocratic when he too appointed his chief-of-staff, MARTIN SELMAYR to become secretary-general of the EU Commission.

That affair become commonly known as “SELMAYRGATE ”. Selmayr is nicknamed the “Brussels monster” and reportedly supposed to want to 'punish ' the UK for Brexit . Selmayr was the person accused of leaking the details from the private dinner held between Juncker and Theresa May that caused a hell of a lot of controversy.

Even Junkers political group in the EU Parliament said of Junkers nepotism :-

' Frankly, we have shot ourselves in the foot,” Francoise Grossetete of Juncker’s centre-right European People’s Party said, arguing that the decision to pick Selmayr, during a closed-door meeting on Feb. 21, was “grist to the mill” for eurosceptics. '

I hope Selmayr is told to pack his bags as they did years ago with the then Commission President, Jacques Santer over fraud and mismanagement .

When Andrew Neil asked the question :-

" Why is Europe in good hands with people like that?”

Isn't that a good question we should all be asking?.

Ursula von der Leyen is Germany's Chris Grayling.

I think Andrew Neil is brilliant, could listen to him all day. Why are the BBC pulling the plug on his programme, I wonder??

Own goal by the EU isn’t it?
They are now trying to square the circle by saying it’s a promotion of diversity (women in 2 top posts).
I agree, the Remainers are quiet on here aren’t they? ...
?

‘Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely.’
Lord Acton (a British historian.)

Yes POGS, I saw Andrew Neil too. It was compelling viewing.

I think (but don’t know) that the EU put into power, I’m afraid I cannot say elect, they put into power those who will toe the line, seek ever closer union (does that mean ever more power really?) those who will not rat on them for anything they don’t do well or for their personal failings (alcoholism for example) and who will support the EU and it’s diktats without question. These failed politicians will carry out their duties without question, and their reward will be a salary level far and beyond anything they could hope to achieve by their own efforts, a pension beyond the imagination of us mere mortals, an expenses account that makes the British expenses scandal smallfry, and the perk of paying no tax on their income.

Nice work if you can get it!

It is not about Remain or Leave though is it.

It is about the underhand way the European Union in it's quest for a Federal Europe behaves and the new European Leaders.

Did anybody watch This Week ?

Andrew Neil didn't pull his punches re the ' quality ' of those now in the Top Jobs.

So, I still don’t understand why you think the EU is now in safe or even better or optimistic hands with a failed German defence minister, a failed Belgian Prime Minister, a former finance minister found guilty of negligence in a multimillion-pound euro scandal, and a Spanish politician who has been a cheerleader for repression in Catalonia.

“Why is Europe in good hands with people like that?”
---

" She is the second most, from the Der Spiegel poll last month, the second most unpopular politician in Germany.

Her department has been under investigation for corruption scandals and dodgy defence contracts.

“The Spanish politician who is now the EU’s foreign policy man, was done for insider trading. How can these people, how can Europe’s future be safe in these people’s hands?”

In response, Ms Paviot said: “I think that the important thing to remember is that the defence secretary that you are calling a failed German defence secretary…”

But before she had a chance to continue, Mr Neil blasted: “It is the Germans who call her that. Most Germans do including the Bundestag report on Germany’s unpreparedness.

60 percent of their planes can’t fly. 100 percent of their submarines can’t take to the sea. They sent the German army into the Atlantic NATO exercise with broomsticks for guns.

“That is the woman who is now president of the European Commission. Your theme was an optimistic Europe, which we all need. I don’t understand your optimism with these appointments.”

Ms Paviot said she does not agree that the German defence minister is a failed politician, adding: “But then I mean very sadly one could also remember about British soldiers in Afghanistan and elsewhere having to pay for their own boots.

“So I don’t think one should point too many fingers about examples like that ".

I'm as astounded as everyone on here, particularly Christine La Garde, anyone else would have gone to prison!! but I'm a leaver and the sooner we've left the better!

It is indeed strangely quiet on this thread, is it not

Yes, Remainers are strangely silent.

I read a comment earlier that these deplorable appointments may be a good thing. If the history of these unpopular and somewhat crooked politicians is known throughout Europe it may hasten the demise of the EU.

Clouds and silver linings perhaps?

Where are the comments from the EU lovers? Surely they think these appointments are wonderful?
Apart from loving a hairstyle that is.?

Three of these make Boris Johnson look like Snow White!!!

That made me laugh GrannyGravy. So true!

Not a ballot paper in sight. The issue of lack of democracy was raised by Ann Widdecombe in her maiden speech. Why are other MEPs shutting up and putting up?

These appointments were made behind closed doors. It's deplorable.

The EU Federation looms closer and closer by the day, with diktats being issued rather than democratic choices being made. If people are not worried, they should be.

Thank goodness we are leaving. Bring it on.

Granny gravy

The EU Council / EU Leaders decide to whom the top jobs goes to.

The MEP's merely vote to ' endorse' their decision, I think on July 15th.

Look up ' Spitzenkandidaten' for the role of Commission President although as I mentioned this is the 1st time they did not resolve to use the practice of ' Spitzenkandidaten' but it will probably revert back next time.

The term ' backroom horse trading' has been used a lot.

Happy to be told differently.

GG13 ..... wonderful choices eh? ?
The sooner we leave the EU the better.

Apologise that should have read when her name wasn't on the ballot paper.
Good article in Independent on Line, MEPs from all countries and many different political persuasions have spoken out about the undemocratic way the handover of top jobs has been dealt with.