Yet another listicle from The Local. This time on Spain's most beautiful beaches. The one that is said to be La Toja . . isn't. It's the beach of La Lanzada, on the spit of land that leads to La Toja.
Stand by for a shock . . . The Spanish government says that, although this year's GDP growth will be good, at 2.5%, the limit of 3% for the budget deficit won't be achieved. I think this will be the 12th year in a row that this critically important EU target will be missed. The Commission will then issue its normal note, declaring that Spain has been a naughty girl. Which says everything.
Spanish Language Corner:
I saw the phrase puro y duro and assumed it meant 'pure and simple'. But I looked up the latter and found these:-
Puro y simple
Liso y llanamente
The suggestion was that puro y duro really meant 'downright', 'out-and-out', or 'straightforward. But I did finally see it cited as meaning 'pure and simple'. And felt vindicated. As so often in Spanish, context determines the nuance.
This might be only a Galician initiative but the latest tax wheeze is to impose an 'eco-levy' on growers of eucalyptus trees. Mind you, I'm in favour of this one. The trees are not only ugly but destructive because of their huge fire potential, puro y duro. We have a lot of forest fires here in Galicia.
Here in Pontevedra the beggars are a real curse. One day this week there were several new ones. I took to wondering whether they all come on the same bus.
“Who knew healthcare
was so complex?”, asked President Trump a few weeks ago. Well,
everyone except you, Donald. And now you know. Welcome to real
politics. Hopefully you'll get fed up of them quite soon leave the
field to someone sane.
By the way: These are the definitions of trump in British English:-
To play a card that
beats somebody else’s card
To beat something that
somebody says or does by saying or doing
To compulsively lie,
use deception, or take fraudulent action.
To be obsessively
obscene or compulsively repugnant.
Hypocritical
Lacking self control.
A fake or a fraud
Of
depreciating value.
A fart
Some of these might be new.
Today's cartoon:-
Finally . . . For those with a deep, abiding interests in EU developments - the majority, I'm sure - here's an analysis of the latest communiqué from the national leaders:-
Revealed:
The watered-down Rome treaty which shows the deep divisions within
the EU - an annotated guide Peter
Foster, europe editor, Daily Telegraph.
Europe has
attempted a show of unity with a watered-down Rome treaty as it tries
to brush off the "elephant" of the looming Brexit process.
"Europe
is our common future," European Union leaders will declare in
Rome on Saturday, in a grand statement of ambition they hope can hold
the bloc together following the shock loss of major power Britain.
The
declaration will be issued to mark the 60th anniversary of the EU
founding treaty.
The latest
draft seen by the Telegraph is 935 words long - far wordier than a
50th birthday text issued in Berlin a decade ago - and also less
bold.
Nearly 100
words have been added this week, notably to address concerns in
ex-communist eastern members about a "multi-speed Europe"
and to adjust a balance between calls for economic growth and social
welfare guarantees.
Below are
extracts from the text, with our annotations.
Greece has
withheld formal approval of the draft, but diplomats do not expect
changes in wording.
The
Rome Declaration annotated
Strikethroughs
(e.g. crossed out wording) indicate an earlier version of the text
that has been amended in later drafts of the declaration
Paragraph
1
We, the
representatives leaders of 27 Member States and the
Institutions of the EU, take pride in the achievements of the
European Union: the construction of European unity is a bold,
far-sighted endeavour. Sixty years ago, recovering from the tragedy
of two world wars, we decided to bond together and rebuild our
continent from its ashes. We have built a unique Union with common
institutions and strong values, a unique community of peace, freedom,
democracy, human rights and the rule of law - a major economic power
with unparalleled levels of social protection and welfare.
This is
aimed to calm fears of Greece and other debtor EU states that Europe
will give on its standards when it comes to enforcing austerity. The
Greek prime minister has threatened not to sign the declaration if
Brussels allows the IMF to demand more pension cuts and layoffs in
order to support the next bailout. EU diplomats have complained of
'blackmail' from Athens.
Paragraph
4
We are determined to will make the EU stronger and more
resilient, through even greater unity and solidarity amongst us and
the respect of common rules. Unity is both a necessity and our free
choice. Taken individually, we would be sidelined by global dynamics.
Standing together is our best chance to influence them, and. to
defend our common interests and values. We will act together whenever
possible at different paces and intensity where necessary,
while moving in the same direction, as we have done in the past,
within - in line with the Treaties framework and
leaving keeping the door open to those who want.to
join later. Our Union is undivided and indivisible.
This is
watered down language after weeks in which some core EU states,
including France, Belgium and Germany talked up the acceleration of a
'multi-speed' Europe. Poorer nations, particularly Poland, reacted
furiously sensing that richer states were planning a process that
would marginalise and weaken them.
Paragraph
5
In the
ten years to come we want a Union that is safe and secure,
prosperous, competitive and sustainable and socially responsible with
an enhanced social dimension, and with the will and capacity
of playing a key role in the global world and
shaping globalisation. We want a Union where citizens have new
opportunities for cultural, social development and economic growth.
We want a Union which remains open to those European Countries that
fully share respect our values and are committed to
promoting them.
This could be read as a backhanded swipe at recalcitrant eastern EU
states like Poland and Hungary who signed up to 'European values' at
enlargement but now have increasingly authoritarian governments that
have classed with Brussels over accepting migrant quotas and openly
reject multi-culturalism.
Paragraphs
6-8
In
these times of change, and aware of the concerns of our citizens, we
commit to the Rome Agenda, and pledge to work towards:
1. A
safe and secure Europe: a Union where all citizens feel safe and can
move freely, where our external borders are secured and where
with an efficient, responsible and sustainable migration policy,
is managed effectively, humanely and [in
respecting of international norms]; a Europe
determined to fight terrorism and organised crime.
2. A
prosperous and sustainable Europe: a Union which creates growth and
jobs; a Union where a vast strong, connected and
developing Single Market embracing technological transformation and
where a stable and further strengthened single currency opens avenues
for growth and cohesion, competitiveness, innovation and exchange,
especially for small and medium-sized enterprises; a Union promoting
sustained and sustainable growth, through investment, structural
reforms and the completion of the
working towards completing the Economic and Monetary Union; a Union
where economies converge; a Union where energy is secure and
affordable and the environment clean and safe.
The
weakening of this language from "completion" of monetary
Union to only "working towards" that goal reflects deep
north-south divisions on the euro. Ideas like a European Monetary
Fund and a common deposit insurance scheme for the eurozone are being
blocked by Germany which does not want to be put on the hook for the
debts of poorer southern states, at least not without serious
structural reforms.
Paragraphs
9-10
3. A
social Europe: a Union which, based on sustainable growth, promotes
economic and social progress as well as cohesion and convergence,
taking into account the diversity of national systems the
variety of our social models and the key role of social
partners while upholding the integrity of the internal market; a
Union which promotes gender the equality between
women and men and rights and equal opportunities for all; a Union
which fights discrimination, social exclusion and poverty; a Union
where young people receive the best education and training and can
study and find jobs across the continent; a Union which preserves our
cultural heritage and preserves promotes cultural
diversity and promotes preserves our cultural heritage.
4. A
stronger Europe on the global scene: a Union further developing
existing building new partnerships, building new ones and promoting
stability and prosperity in its immediate neighbourhood to the east
and south, but also in the Middle east and across Africa and
globally; a Union ready to take more responsibilities and to assist
in creating a more competitive and integrated defence industry; a
Union committed to strengthening its common security and defence,
ensuring cooperation and complementarity and avoiding duplications
with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, taking into account
national circumstances and legal commitments; a Union engaged in the
United Nations and protecting standing for a rates-based multilateral
system, proud of its values and protective of its people, promoting
free and fair trade and a positive global climate policy.
This
represents a fractional strengthening of the language on Europe's
ambitions for a common defence policy. Britain has been adamant that
any EU defence plans must not duplicate Nato functions, but France,
Germany and the European Commission would like to see more ambition
from Europe. There are those who hope that Britain's departure will
clear the way to moving close towards some form of functioning EU
defence forces.
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