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WORLD NEWS 9
Thursday 11 February 2016
EU and Britain have big differences over ‘ever closer union’
JILL LAWLESS are never going to sign up Prime Minister David Cameron leaves 10 Downing Street in London for the House of Commons to
Associated Press to an ever closer union.” prepare for Prime Minister’s Questions, Wednesday Feb. 10, 2016. The EU’s six founding nations,
LONDON (AP) — For Britain British Euroskeptics seized including Italy, Germany and France, have stressed their commitment to “an ever-closer union
and the European Union, on the six “core Europe” among the people of Europe.” That’s awkward for Prime Minister David Cameron, who is seeking
they are three little words nations’ declaration as to loosen Britain’s relationship with the EU ahead of a U.K. referendum on whether to stay in the
that expose big philosophi- proof that the EU aims to bloc.
cal differences: “Ever clos- become a European su-
er union.” per-state. The tabloid Daily (Stefan Rousseau/ PA via AP)
The phrase, baked into the Express said it could leave
EU’s 1957 founding treaty Cameron’s reform agenda mise - involving temporary tough issues, Ryan says says member states “that
and other key documents, “in tatters.” limits known as an “emer- it costs other EU leaders want to deepen integra-
remains a fault line be- But John Ryan, a professor gency brake” - to resolve little to give Britain an opt- tion (can) move ahead,
tween Britain and its Euro- at the London School of the benefits impasse. But out from the “ever closer whilst respecting the rights
pean neighbors. Economics, thinks there is some EU leaders remain union.” of those which do not want
On Tuesday, the EU’s six less to “ever closer union” concerned that the move The draft document to take such a course.”
original member nations - than meets the eye. discriminates against non- that EU leaders hope to ap- That can be seen as ac-
including Italy, Germany “It’s an emotive catch- British workers, while British prove at next week’s sum- knowledgment that a two-
and France - stressed their phrase,” he said. But “in Euroskeptics say it will have mit stresses that ever closer speed Europe already ex-
commitment to “the pro- this particular negotiation little effect on immigrant union is “not an equivalent ists, despite the six found-
cess of creating an ever it’s rather irrelevant.” numbers. to the objective of po- ing nations’ declaration of
closer union among the The main sticking points in In comparison to those litical integration.” And it unity. q
people of Europe.” Britain’s negotiations are its
The declaration by foreign demand for greater pro-
ministers comes at an awk- tection for the U.K. and
ward time for Prime Minis- other countries that don’t
ter David Cameron, who use the euro single curren-
is pushing for changes to cy - which has prompted
Britain’s relationship with some opposition among
the EU ahead of a national the 19 nations that do -
referendum - probably lat- and the U.K.’s desire to
er this year - on whether to control migration by lim-
remain in the bloc. iting benefits for workers
Cameron and EU leaders from other EU countries.
hope to strike a deal at a That grates against the
Feb. 18-19 meeting in Brus- key EU principle of free
sels, but differences remain movement of people with-
over contrasting visions for in the bloc.
the future of the union. Eu- Both sides are relying on
ropean Council President a complicated compro-
Donald Tusk, who is shep-
herding the negotiations, Italians arrest Argentine prelate in ponzi scheme
said Wednesday that the
talks were “a very fragile ROME (AP) — An Argen- well as to donate to a char- Police said the nun was Police seized property,
political process” but he tine monsignor suspected itable foundation, said Po- startled and puzzled to see bank accounts and other
hoped to get an agree- of being behind a Ponzi lice Capt. Alessandra Fai- hundreds of thousands of items worth a total of 10
ment next week. scheme swindling investors etti, based in the northern euros moving through fi- million euros ($11 million).
Throughout the nego- out of 30 million euros ($34 city of Bolzano. nancial instruments linked Among the seized proper-
tiations, Cameron has million) has been put un- Most of those swindled to her name. ties was a luxurious 15th-
stressed that Britain is hap- der house arrest in Genoa, were French or Belgian citi- An international arrest war- century villa on the Tuscan
py to be part of the EU’s Italian financial police said zens, Italian authorities said. rant has been issued for a coast near Piombino where
free-trade zone, but wants Wednesday. Faietti said the probe be- French financier who alleg- Benvenuti would stay, Fai-
assurances it will not have Monsignor Patrizio Benve- gan after a nun who had edly worked closely with etti said.
its laws and economy tied nuti boasted of Vatican been Benvenuti’s house- Benvenuti, the police said. Tax police said at the begin-
more closely to the other connections and held din- keeper in Rome for many The two men are under in- ning investors did receive
member states. ners in a prestigious Rome years contacted tax police vestigation on suspicion of some interest payments,
“We are going to keep our palazzo as part of a tech- when she started receiving fraud, money laundering as commonly happens in
borders,” Cameron said nique to persuade nearly at her home bank and oth- and tax evasion, authorities Ponzi schemes, but later the
last week. “We are never 300 people, many of them er documents referring to a said. payments stopped coming
going to sign up to things elderly, to put their money trust that had been set up Seven other people are and they couldn’t get their
like a European army. We in an investment fund as in her name. also under investigation. investment back.q
