UK hoping to find German support on EU reforms
By Marit Ruuda
Britain is hoping to find a compromise with Germany on the reform of Europe's institutions. According to the Independent, the German chancellor Gerhard Schröder has promised in a low-key meeting to support Tony Blair's model.
The German foreign minister Joschka Fischer has opposed the British plans, as he wants to give more power to the European Commission rather than to the European Council. However, after a meeting with the UK Premier Tony Blair in London, the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is now said to support the British and French ideas, the Independent reports.
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Germany's foreign minister is pushing for the idea of one person to be the head of the European Commission and European Council, which would give more power to the Commission. Britain on the other hand wants to strengthen the Council and the national governments. Britain is quite confident of winning the support for Blair's model, as French president Jacques Chirac is already backing the idea.
According to the Guardian, the British Europe minister Denis MacShane had recently a private meeting with Mr Schröder and earlier this week he was confident enough already to attack Fischer publicly. Mr MacShane accused Germany of wanting an all-powerful "kaiser" at the top of the European Union.