EU summit
The Economist also has a nice little anecdote about EU summits."The pressure on European leaders is greater because they have to do the most delicate negotiating without the help of national officials. "It's like an exam" says one diplomat, "the leaders have to cram all the details into their heads ahead of time and hope they get it right on the night"...If one of the politicians in the chamber feels in urgent need of advice he can press a panic button. A light goes on in the officials' room, and an official, assuming a grave 'my country needs me' face rushes in. National civil servants are meant to offer advice and leave, bu this rule has been bent in extremis. Sir John Kerr hid under the table and continued to pass notes to John Major at the Maastricht summit in 1991."
"Not all the leaders' requests are for advice. "If Chirac's light goes on", says one official, "it usually just means that he wants another beer".
posted by Matthew @ 12/12/2003 10:32:00 AM
Comments: 0
