In any evaluation of a European Council meeting, we always have to be conscious that we have an ignorant media, which cannot get its head round the fact that we are seeing the routine meeting of an institution of the European Union, more properly called by its full name of the Council of the European Union. It is never, therefore, going to report the proceedings intelligently or accurately.

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OK I recognize Rumpy-Rumpy and Barearso, but who's the third oik?

Oh, I realis eI just answered my own question. He is (Harry Lime music please) The Third Oik.

Van Remploy said:
The EU trying to ensure balanced and sustainable growth is what got us into this mess. A permanent crisis mechanism will result in a permanent crisis. As for allowing bailouts without modifying the actual no bailout clause this is going to go the same way as the Lisbon Treaty not being a constitution because it doesn't have 'Constitution' in the title. They won't modify Article 125 but leave it in place and neutralise it with an additional clause.

Further to the report of the task force and in order to ensure balanced and sustainable growth, heads of state and government agree on the need for member states to establish a permanent crisis mechanism to safeguard the financial stability of the euro area as a whole and invite the president of the European Council to undertake consultations with the members of the European Council on a limited treaty change required to that effect not modifying Article 125 (of the Lisbon treaty) - the no bailout clause.

What task force report and what, exactly, is a balanced and sustainable growth? WHo defined, or even requested, this?

Heads of state and government (like which ones, all of them?) agree .... Did they? When? Where? How?

A permamnet crisis mechanism ... never let a crisis go to waste, especially an eternal one that allows us sweeping powers.

The president of the EC is invited to consult the members of the EC .. gosh, democracy at last! We're saved (NOT) I don't think the EC members are honorably elected.

Uh-oh ... there's another treaty on the horizon that will probably demand central control of national budgets.

I'm slightly confused, Richard. I thought the Council of European Union was a legislative part of the EU sometimes known as Council of Ministers, but this 'summit' is a meeting of the European Council albeit in the same building. Aren't they different?

Being screwed when it comes to matters EU is the only position available. It made me laugh when Tebbit said Hague's words could not be trusted. None of the bastards words can be trusted when it comes to the EU. This world is getting so amusing, I fall about laughing most of the time. Most recently when I heard that Labour accused the Tories of not defending British interests over the EU budget. This is such rediculous crap meant for our ears so that we believe we have an opposition. But as we all know here, there is no opposition when it comes to the EU, and several more policies to boot.

You are right. I misread the memo ... late-night brain storm. Now corrected.

Oh right thanks, you had me worried for a moment.

Had me worried as well ... these bastards keep changing their names and titles, without formally announcing it, so you wake up one day and it's all different. In this case, the president of of the council , the council of the european union, wrote a memo with the letterhead of the council of the european union, but discussing the european council, of which he is also president. So you have van rompuy who is jointly and severally president of the european council and president of the council of the european union. It is no wonder the hacks don't get it right ... but then they don't even try. It's the summit show, folks.

Woaa slow down, Rumpy Pumpy is also president of the Council of the European Union? Er when did that happen? Is that because Belgium currently occupies the rotating presidency?

Oh, you missed that change, did you?

Belgium is the "Member State holding the six-monthly Presidency of the Council". Note the subtle distinction. It is not the president ... it is the "member state" that holds the "six-monthly presidency". De facto president is Rompoy ... he is running the show now.

I did miss that, yes. Oh FFS!

His Grace is so often overcome by his lowliness and insignificance that he forgets even himself.

He is therefore deeply appreciative of this exhortation not to do so.

Bless you.

++Cranmer

The Green Tosser has showed Johnny Foreigner who's boss. It's game, set and match for Britain!