BLAIR GETS BUSH VOTE TO BE EU PRESIDENT

Apr 17 2003

From Paul Gilfeather Whitehall Editor, In Athens GEORGE Bush has 
thrown his weight behind Tony Blair's bid to become Europe's first 
"super president".  

He believes the PM can take on the role and help him demolish 
the "old Europe" alliance that tried to block the war against Iraq.  

And Mr Blair risked angering other EU nations yesterday by insisting 
the new job must be created - because the US President wants it that 
way.  

The row threatened to overshadow yesterday's historic summit in 
Athens, which saw the signing of a treaty to admit 10 new member 
states.  

Irish President of the European Parliament Pat Cox said: "A new super 
president may risk raising expectations that cannot be realised and 
raise fears that cannot be allayed."  

But Britain is determined to end the current system which sees 
the EU presidency change hands every six months.  

Mr Blair wants more stability and a main man in Brussels to do 
business directly with America.  

BACKING: Blair has the support of Bush for EU presidency plan

Downing Street admitted yesterday that the PM had raised the idea, 
although they deny that he wants the job.

-TONY Blair is to become the first non-American to receive the Ellis 
Island Medal of Honour in recognition of his role in the war on terror 
and support for the US.

                        -=[*]=-

Source: The Mirror - UK

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12858353
&method=full&siteid=50143&headline
=BLAIR%20GETS%20BUSH%20VOTE%20TO%20BE%20EU%20PRESIDENT

Cheers, Steve..

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