This doesn’t look good in any direction. At all. Sarkozy immediately and publicly went for our corporate tax rate when we had to tap the efsf. If they force tax hamonisation on the Core’s terms, we’re totally screwed.

Yes Dave, it is a good peice, whatever about it’s timing. I believe that the French are becoming more and more irrelevant in all of this and that Sarkozy is posturing for effect but has to follow the Germans in any decision they make. As to our position, if there is a treaty change, it will not be for two or three years, and it will only be when confidence has returned to the EU in terms of stability and by then the Germans will have put France in it’s place, and have learned how to communicate the ‘bigger picture’ to the rest of the members(w/o the idle threat bs coming from France to all other members). I think the future is bright, albeit we have a few(2-3) years of tough measures and negotiating ahead. Yes, the EU will be perceived as a German-led economic bloc, but that will be a shifting power because as others,such as ourselves,become more viable and genuinely structurally sound after austerity, a regional, local power will cede to us as we climb the ladder to sustainable, long term growth, not built on a bubble. Do remember, as a state, we are only a baby, so have a long way to go to maturity and therefore, to full wonderful potential.

The Delors’ Commission, as far as I recall, was constantly dogged by stories of sleaze and corruption. Need to turn down the volume Jacques.

It’s a little arrogant to think that Sarkozy was after us. His main targets are The Netherlands and Luxemburg. Ireland doesn’t specialise in exemptions, just low rates.

Merkal and Sarkozy aren’t after harmonised taxation, just transparency. Their main goal is harmonised fiscal policies and the elimination of deficit budgets. This is what budget scrutiny and enforcing fiscal rules is all about. No member state cares about other states tax rates so long as their public finances are sustainable and in balance.

The problem for Ireland, the UK, Italy and France is that we are addicted to inflation and currency devaluation to solve self made problems. Bad for the citizen but easy for politicians

I suppose the usual Pro-Euro fanatics will now start accusing Delors of being a little nationalist, an EU skeptic. At least he had the balls to point it out. Though that said, he is alsoo behind the disaster that is the Euro as well. The project that destroyed a continent’s economy.