The EU wants more money and more power and it will get both

Two reports catch my eye this morning:

1) The Telegraph report that:

'Figures contained in Treasury documents published alongside the Budget show Britain is projected to hand over £6.4billion this year, and £7.6billion in 2010/11.

This compares with projections previously disclosed in last year's Budget of £5.6billion for 2009/10 and £7.9billion for 2010/11.

Over the two years the UK will have given £500million more than previously thought to Brussels.

The figure for 2009/10 - £6.4bilion - is more than twice the £3.1billion handed over in 2008/09.

The increase is due to a reduction in Britain's annual rebate first negotiated by Margaret Thatcher in 1984 to balance out a smaller benefit from EU farming payments.

In 2005, Tony Blair agreed, with Gordon Brown's backing, to staged cuts in the rebate for a promise of a review of EU subisidies. He was criticised for failing to extract any concessions. '

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have sold this country out to the EU in return for nothing for the UK, but plenty for their friends and colleagues.


2) The Telegraph reports that:

'Germany and France have tabled controversial plans to create an "economic government of the European Union" to police financial policy across the continent.

They have put Herman Van Rompuy, the EU President, in charge of a special task force to examine "all options possible" to prevent another crisis like the one caused by the Greek meltdown.

His mission will be to draw up a master-plan for the best way to oversee and enforce economic targets set in Brussels as a key part of a bail-out package for Greece.

The options he will consider include the creation of an "economic government" by the by the end of the year.

"We commit to promote a strong co-ordination of economic policies in Europe," said a draft text expected to be agreed by EU leaders last night.

"We consider that the European Council should become the economic government of the EU and we propose to increase its role in economic surveillance and the definition of the EU's growth strategy."

Gordon Brown was last night examining the wording of the statement to see whether it was restricted to eurozone members or has possible implications for British economic sovereignty.

Officials are concerned that the language calling for an "economic government" could be another attempt at a power-grab in the wake of the Lisbon Treaty.'

Every event is used by the EU to accrue more power and to centralise control. The EUSSR is nearing completion and David Cameron will not protect the UK from its clutches.