The old hands are in despair

At the end of the Barroso Commission, the most experienced staff are heading for the exit after seeing Europe crumble and lose its purpose

It’s widely accepted in the EU institutions that a challenge is often an opportunity that went horribly wrong, indeed this was a motivation behind becoming the first Chief Happiness Officer to the EU.

 

While some do carp and complain, the need for the care and nurturing of the staff in the institutions, the little nuts and bolts that keep the whole show on the road, has been neglected for too long.

 

If that wasn’t bad enough, the member states are sticking the boot into the civil service, instead of doing something actually useful, like shutting down Strasbourg and saving real cash.

 

There is still much gloom around, especially with the more mature end of the staffing spectrum. Some of whom have been looking at the future with concern and have been making arrangements... to get themselves shuffled off into areas that look like being atrophied, yet can’t be shut off.

 

There are increasing numbers moving to obscure rooms, where they will have no duties at all and can sit it out till pension day. It’s an old practice, think of it as moving to DG DIGNITAS.

 

There are many of the ‘old school’ feeling despondent after a career in occasionally asbestos smothered offices for decades, trying to build a peaceful Europe that was good for both trade and those on the lower rungs of the social ladder.

 

It’s these people, whose work routinely involved trying to transform the whims of the great and good into something real, they know that the member states never let the union develop, that Europe was being strangled by incessant squabble over national interest. These will be the `special forces` of the drive to cheer up the institutions.

 

Leaders come and go and the continent somehow survives their meddling. Although we are in strange days, where the cry of “More Europe!” has morphed into “More Barroso!” and may be become simply “More More!” shortly, we are in a fortunate moment and it’s up to each one of us to use it.

 

It’s time to begin work on EU 2.0. We have had a system crash. We need a new operating system installed. Take a look at Linux. The open source model might be a better way forward. What makes this time different is that it might just work. The situation, short, mid and long term is so bleak that a reboot might happen, admittedly because all else failed.

 

We have a year at most. So far, around 25% of voters are looking away from the main political parties, this varies, but the trends are not good. When it comes to increasing support for eurosceptics, we should consider if people are voting against, not Europe, but austerity Europe.

This may not be the most optimistic report by a Happiness Officer, even a junior one, but this is no time for games or silly gimmicks. Being a Chief Happiness Officer is not just a job, it is a moral calling and there is only one way to be happy, by living up to your potential and contributing to the betterment of the world.

 

This is what must be done.

 

Berlaymont workers, do not be distracted by the caterwauling of those whose ineptitude has brought the continent to the edge of extinction.

 

Don’t mourn, organise!

EU referendum and the third bus

Brexit guide

An odd aspect of the 2010 EU Referendum campaign

The Brits, with their characteristic downbeat outlook have a saying, “you wait forever for a bus and then three arrive at the same time”. A situation that anyone who has been hanging around Place Luxembourg can relate to.

And so, it applies to referendum petitions. The British eurosceptics, peeved at being denied a referendum on Lisbon have been racing to organize campaigns, asking the Brits to sign petitions asking for a referendum on EU membership.

So far, three have turned up. It’s uncertain how many more are due.

First out the starting gate was Nikki Sinclaire MEP, who left the EFD Group because of what she saw as anti-semitism and homophobia amongst its members.. Her campaign ( http://www.haveyoursay.eu/), which she dubs ‘the people’s petition’ is trying to raise 100,000 signatures. She argues that the UK is neither in, nor outside the EU and a referendum on membership will provide a firm position for the country’s future relationship with Europe, either inside or outside the union.

She is touring the UK garnering signatures. She claims to have had 10,000 in the first week of campaigning.

UKIP responded to this by launching a referendum petition of their own (http://www.ukip.org/petition/referendum-on-the-eu) their third in recent years. One that closed in 2008 had 10,782, another one, launched in November 2009, seems to have disappeared. It remains to be seen how the latest will do, but there doesn’t seem to be much promotion behind it and it is said that some UKIP people are a little embarrassed about launching a second petition.

Enter Dan Hannan.

He has launched a third petition. This is the slickest of them all, and possibly crucially, has support from the left and right. The move, (http://www.eureferendumcampaign.com), which announces itself as a “ballsy, cutting edge campaign” is getting the most press and is a much more professional effort, even though it was the last one off the ground.

They say that, “It’s a sad fact that Britain is sleepwalking into the European Super-State and Britain must wake up to the nightmares hiding under the sheets of Brussels. EU laws and directives made without our knowledge or consent, behind locked doors of the most complicated clauses and sub-clauses imaginable.”

Sadly, there is no joint campaign against cliches and tired metaphors.

One interesting aspect to the last of the petitions is its address, 95 Wilton Rd, Westminster.

This must be a one-stop shop for eurosceptics. It is also the home to Just Skips, which could help cart off all those EU Directives. It is also houses Career Amazon, a recruiting agency that could be useful for those seeking work beyond Barroso’s empire.

After a hard day’s eurosceptiking, why not pay a visit to Elite London Escorts or Discrete Angels, who also share the address. They can arrange a relaxing session, short or long with a “busty escort”. If you’re feeling a bit strapped for cash, call in at Crv Solutions Loans to tide you over, or help pay the escort!

It is also the base for Pornoteufel, a community of  “swingers and voyeurs”. I’d tell you more but there’s no way that I’m going to their website.

Or you could entertain your escort, by introducing her to some of the amazing and unusual machines offered by the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre.

Perhaps the most chilled experience comes courtesy of Kind Seed LTD, who use the address to mail out “Authentic Marijuana Seeds”.

Now, that’s what I call a comprehensive platform.