[Article] Bush to visit for top-level EU presidential summit

Victor

Imagine, us as "lead state of Europe", Dick Roche at the driving wheel as Minister (for State) for Europe and Michael Smith in charge of security. Mods, want to move this one to satire?

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/2066630?view=Eircomnet

Bush to visit for top-level EU presidential summit
From:The Irish Independent
Tuesday, 2nd December, 2003
Gene McKenna Political Editor

A SUMMIT involving the EU and the US, which President George Bush is expected to attend, is being planned towards the end of Ireland's forthcoming European Presidency.

Despite the security headaches this could cause, Minister for Europe Dick Roche said yesterday that the country had a responsibility to fulfil its role as EU host.

Mr Roche was announcing details of arrangements for the Presidency, which Ireland assumes on New year's Day, with a big day of celebration planned for May 1, when the 10 new member states join.

Concerning the EU-US summit, Mr Roche said: "Even if we had disruption for one day, if there's an opportunity for us to bring some peace to the world, to fulfil our responsibility as the lead state of Europe, we should seize the day.

"We should bring the world to our doorstep," said Mr Roche. "Our presidency is now just over four weeks away and we have refined our priorities and are working on specific elements of the programme," he said.

"But our first priority is enlargement and we want to celebrate that," he added.

On May Day, leaders from all the member states will be in Dublin at the invitation of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

The Minister said he was keen for the general public to play a part in the process. "The biggest challenge is to build a single bridge between the EU and the citizens of Europe," he said.

"Europe must speak to its citizens in plain, unadorned language so the people can see what Europe is all about."

He also revealed plans to create 10 "twin towns" here - one for each new EU Member State. "We want to have the celebration out there on the streets, we want to have the people of Dublin, the people of Ireland, share the sense of history we will be creating in Europe," he said.

"This should be a celebration for the people, not for the men in suits."

Sparks

Bush? Here?
Must get some eggs and tomatoes set aside ...

Lemming

Originally posted by Victor
Imagine, us as "lead state of Europe", Dick Roche at the driving wheel as Minister (for State) for Europe and Michael Smith in charge of security.

Oh god. We're boned. The entire EU is boned

Éomer of Rohan

Quoted from Article
Mr Roche was announcing details of arrangements for the Presidency, which Ireland assumes on New year's Day, with a big day of celebration planned for May 1, when the 10 new member states join.

On May Day? Is Roche frickin' nuts?! A celebration?

Qupted from Article
On May Day, leaders from all the member states will be in Dublin at the invitation of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern

Just bring it.

Victor

Someone move this to satire?