Tony Blair: officially disliked by Belgium

Belgium is remarkably tolerant of lots of cultural oddities - they're responsible for Tintin and The Smurfs, after all. Yet while they're evidently big fans of bequiffed reporters and undersea blue people, they're not too keen on British exports. Namely ex-PM Tony Blair.

Blair has been hustling for the role of EU President for a good while now, and has suffered a major blow to his ambition. Belgium has stepped forward as the first EU member to oppose him - and they really, really haven't minced their words.

Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht didn't actually come out and attack Blair directly, but instead 'skirted' around things about as subtly as a rottweiler let loose in a Pedigree Chum warehouse.

Gucht claimed that he "did not believe in people from countries which do not support core EU policies - -such as the euro and the Schengen Agreement on open borders - being appointed to lead the organisation."

Following the outburst, there has been some attempt at damage control from the Belgians. Certain sneering critics reckon the whole thing was just "sour grapes", reasoning that in the past British intervention has stopped two Belgian candidates from swiping major EU jobs. A Belgian foreign ministry spokesman justified things: "Mr De Gucht did not mention Blair by name. But he enthusiastically supports a federal Europe and believes the top job should be held by somebody from a country which shares these aims."

Anyone else eager to see who follows Belgium's lead?

Written by C J Davies on 3 Apr 2008 12:23 AM. Permalink