Unnecessary Crisis in the E.U. !

Following the French and Duch 'NO' votes to the E.U Constitution, and in the midst of a major crisis due to the vaccum left by a lack of plan B, Europe is now again facing a major crisis - this time over the E.U. budget. The major key players in this new drama are Chirac of course, Blair and Shroeder. Chirac along with Shroeder is putting pressure on Blair for giving up the British rebate.

This rebate of three billion pounds (4.32 billion euros, 5.6 billion dollars) on its annual contribution to the EU budget was originally negociated in 1984 by then prime minister Margaret Thatcher. The situation has obviously changed since then as Britain is now much more prosperous than it was during the economic crisis of the 80s. The rebate was also initially justified by the fact that the UK did not get much of the farm subsidies given to France or Germany by Brussels. Fair enough.

So now of course, Blair refuses to renegociate the rebate unless changes are made in the entire budget, which means renegociation of the CAP (Common Agricultural Policicy). Of course, Chirac won't do it, saying:

“I’m not disposed to compromise on the unanimous accord reached in 2002 on the Common Agricultural Policy and it is a question that I am not prepared to revisit.” , adding “Our British friends must be aware of how things are changing, and therefore of the necessity of a greater fairness in the burden carried by each member.”

This really blows my mind. Jacques Chirac, the most unpopular president in 30 years, who got humiliated by a vote that underlined his disconnection from the French people has the guts to tell the British government that they "must be aware of how things are changing". Yes, indeed, things have changed but Mr Chirac does not seem to have learn his lesson and remains as arrogant as ever. Once again, Chirac acts as an Old (Absolute) Monarch who is 'not disposed to compromise'. I thought that Europe was precisey about making compromises for the good of the entire union..... !!!

The form put aside, the core of the question is really whether the French farmers are worth a new crisis in Europe. A majority of them have voted against the Constitution even though they are the ones who gained the most from Brussels in the last 30 years.
Nearly half of the EU budget (48 billion Euro) of 98 billion Euro is alocated to agricultural spending, and France is the first beneficiary, yet the farmers represent only 2.6% of the working population in France (official data found on the website of the French Ambassy in the U.S.).
So, it may be about time that Chirac should take into account the other 97.4 % of us whenever he makes a decision for the nation. It is time he should stop acting like an all-powerful monarch with a Napoleon wannabe Prime Minister. So let's renegociate the CAP and get the British to also pay their due in greater fairness.
Unfortunately, our stubborn Monarch is unlikely to follow such a wise path..and Europe will lose yet more credibility and strength in the world...