UKIP MEP calls EU 'enemy of democracy and freedom of thought'

In a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg today (17.12.08), Jeffrey Titford, UKIP MEP questioned the democratic legitimacy of the European Union's proposed budget for 2009. He attacked the EU's 'arrogance' in assuming that it should be 'a global player' and demanded to know who had ever wanted it to play such a role. "I put it to you all that the EU has no democratic mandate whatsoever for the empire building outlined in this budget", he said. Mr Titford also attacked plans included in the budget for an EU trademark and an information campaign which he dismissed as 'brainwashing' because the EU would: "sell itself as the greatest benefit to humanity since penicillin rather than the grotesque enemy of democracy and freedom of thought that it really represents." The full text of Mr Titford's speech is as follows: Draft General Budget of the European Union 2009 – Strasbourg 17.12.08

Mr President

Arrogance is the word which keeps springing to mind when reading this lengthy report, because the text is redolent with it. For instance, clause 25 laments the fact that the funds available quote: ‘do not allow the Union to assume its role as a global player’ unquote. The same clause refers to the EU having the capacity to assume its role as a global partner’.

Who ever wanted the EU to have such a role? Why does it have such an inflated sense of its own importance? Certainly, no one in my country has been given a vote on the development of the EU as a global player. We were told it was a common market and would provide cheap wine and nice holidays.

I also note that the global player wants its own trademark for use in all communications with the masses and wants a major information campaign for the 2009 European election campaign. For ‘information’ read ‘brainwashing’ because the EU will no doubt sell itself as the greatest benefit to humanity since penicillin rather than the grotesque enemy of democracy and freedom of thought that it really represents.

The aforementioned arrogance spills over into everything it touches. There is no better example than the disgraceful and disrespectful treatment of President Klaus, a head of state, at a meeting in Prague recently by members here.

I put it to you all that the EU has no democratic mandate whatsoever for the empire building outlined in this budget.