A new lease of life for Europe?

The English columnist Bronwen Maddox considers that "the Prime Minister-elect [Gordon Brown] will have to decide, even before he has taken office, what most matters to Britain and what he is prepared to concede. ... They [Brown and Blair] cannot accept, their aides say, anything that granted significant new powers to Europe, because that would push the Government towards holding a referendum (which it could confidently expect to lose). Britain may want to ask for exemptions on justice and constitutional affairs, if these were to be prescribed by 'qualified majority voting', although it has not yet made a formal request. ... If Brown, with Sarkozy's help, can navigate these obstacles, then he will have won a place on the steering committee of a club of enviable status but surprisingly light obligations. If he fails, he will be blamed for the rows and paralysis - and the end of the project of enlargement - which will persist throughout his time at No 10 [the Prime Minister's headquarters]."

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