UK News 29-10-2002 Britain Laughs Off `United States Of Europe` who: Tony Blair what: Embroiled in row with French over EU proposals where: Brussels when: Yesterday snippet: "The ferocious row between Tony Blair and President Jacques Chirac over the EU mushroomed today amid renewed claims of a French-led attempt to create a European superstate," writes a hyperbolic Charles Reiss in today`s Evening Standard. "The latest clash was triggered by a proposal from former French President Giscard d`Estaing to rename the EU the `United States of Europe.`" In fact, explains The Independent, this suggestion is one of four possible titles, including the European Union. Anyway, "British officials believe the name-change suggestion is tactical. Designed to please Euro-federalists, it has been touted `safe in the knowledge that it will be shot down`." Nonetheless, passions are running high in Brussels, says The Times, after "huffy" Jacques Chirac "called off an Anglo-French summit planned for December in protest at Tony Blair`s refusal to shelve reform of farming subsidies." The pair had what the Sun calls "a full-scale slanging match" on Friday, "when the PM REFUSED to surrender Britain`s 2billion-a-year EU rebate and INSISTED handouts to French farmers are reformed." M Chirac, who - explains The Telegraph - strongly defends the policy because France is the chief beneficiary, reportedly told Mr Blair: "You have been very rude and I have never been spoken to like this before." But Mr Blair seemed unconcerned about his counterpart`s fury, saying only that "yes, there were vigorous exchanges. You expect that at European councils because people have their own country`s interests to speak up for and sometimes that does mean speaking up vigorously." [... more]

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