02 March 2011 7:44 PM
Clegg, Brussels and Libya: part deux
Nick Clegg gave his speech this evening at the British Permanent Representation to the EU. Since the deputy prime minister was due to talk about what should be the European response to events in Libya, I thought the room would be mostly journalists, diplomats and whoever was travelling with Clegg.
Nope. At ten minutes to showtime, the room filled up with Continentals in suits and ties: it seems Clegg's Brussels fan base is made up of EU think-tank types.
So I was across from the director of the Egmont, the think-tank of the (Belgian) Royal Institute for International Relations, which is a long title for something that could be covered as: 80 percent funding from the Belgian foreign ministry to push for ever closer union (in the EU, not Belgium, of course. Belgian doesn't have ever-closer anything, since it hasn't had a government since last summer. A situation of which I thoroughly approve, but that is for another post.)
I was behind a couple of suits from the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), which gets its funding from -- now, wait you're going to love this. The CEPS website announces that it 'obtains its funding from a variety of sources, which helps to guarantee its independence.' And right next to that is a pie chart showing 31 percent of its money comes from running projects funded by the European Commission. There are another couple of slices from other EU institutions. That's what passes for 'independent' in this town.
Also sitting in front of me was Hans Martens, chief executive of another think tank, the European Policy Centre (EPS), which also proclaims its independence...right above the admission it gets money from the EU.
Which explains what followed Clegg's speech. (If you want to know what he said, it was along the lines of 'I would like to very warmly welcome President Barroso's call this morning for a pact for democracy and shared prosperity' and the need for 'a bold new European offer.' So, boilerplate.)
Here comes the enlightening part. As soon Clegg finished his speech, the diplomat with the mic said there would be just 15 minutes for questions, and then immediately handed the mic to Hans Martens, the man from the 'independent' EPS. Martens hadn't even had his hand up. I smelt a rat.
Here is how Think-Tank Martens began: 'I have a question for the UK Deputy Prime Minister, formerly Nick.' At which all the think-tank types around me gave knowing little Continental chuckles, because of course, 'Nick' is One Of Them.
This was the Manchurian Candidate come back to visit his mates at his Old School for the day. Remember: after Clegg worked his five years as a eurocrat in the commission, and after he had his five gold-plated years as a member of the European Parliament, Clegg had a job doing research for -- right, the EPS, whose boss was given the favour of asking the first question.
Later the same boss asked me if I thought the way he had asked the question -- the 'Nick' opening -- had been all right. I assured him I thought it was perfect....and it was, in so many ways.
Barroso, Ashton, Clegg: what Libya really, really doesn't need now
Actually, all that seems to have come out yet is a punch-up between Italy's interior minister, Roberto Maroni, and the commissioner for home affairs, Cecilia Malmstrom. Maroni announced this week that the commission would be giving €25m in emergency funds to help Italy deal with the wave of immigrants from North Africa; then Malmstrom let it be known that €25m was the total emergency fund for all the EU member states dealing with the immigrants -- or rather, in the jargon, 'the envelope' of emergency funds.
A lot of excited Italian journalists at the midday commission press briefing wanted to know if Maroni was right, or Malmstrom was right. The spokesman, in three languages, said there had been a misunderstanding. Which meant, the Italian government was suddenly minus the guts of €25m. Before the spokeman had finished his line, a pack of Italians in the press room were on their iPhones ringing Milan or Rome. ('So excitable,' a German reporter next to me said as he nodded at the Italians. 'Just look at them.' Actually, I find national stereotypes living up to what one expects very satisfying.) Let's wait and see if Maroni roars back.
At 5 pm today, I'll be at a briefing with 'Cathy' and the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, then at 6 o'clock, over to the British permanent representation to the EU for a talk'n'canapés thing for Clegg.
Good grief. Barroso (ex-Maoist), Ashton (ex-CND) and Clegg (current euro-fanatic), all inside eight hours. I get my money the old fashioned way: I earn it.
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