Brits voorzitterschap Europese Unie van start tijdens politieke crisis (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - With the bitter recriminations from last week's summit likely to reverberate for some time to come, Britain faces a diplomatic, ideological and political test when it takes over the EU presidency in just under two weeks.

The meeting of EU leaders saw prime minister Tony Blair not only estranged from the French president and the German chancellor but also from traditionally close allies such as Ireland and from the new member states - countries that normally share his free-market, less-regulation approach.

After the meeting, Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern said Mr Blair's arguments had been "simplistic" and that the whole meeting had been "pathetic and embarrassing".

The new member states, desperate for a deal on the budget so that EU money will get paid out to their poor regions on time, were incensed by Britain's stubbornness.

In a bid to force a deal and isolate Mr Blair, east European states, led by Poland, grouped together during the meeting and agreed to accept less money, but the meeting had become too entrenched by then.

Afterwards Polish prime minister Marek Belka said "my proposal was a reaction to what I perceived as the selfishness of some member states".

This vilification of Mr Blair comes not so far down the road from the crisis in Europe prompted by Iraq. At the time, Berlin and Paris also opposed Mr Blair's pro-war position, but, crucially, he was supported by the new member states.

The UK programme

But it is just at this time that London needs allies to get movement on EU issues that are dear to its heart like promoting a reform of Europe based on competitiveness and making sure the bloc's talks with Turkey start on time.

Speaking to German television over the weekend, Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schussel said that Mr Blair must show some flexibility during his presidency and cannot just push through his country's national interests.

The chair of the EU is a "service to the community" said the chancellor.

Mr Blair's first test will come on Thursday when he appears before the European Parliament to outline his plans for the next six months to MEPs.

He is set to face hostile questioning in the House and will have to convince them that London, contrary to what many of them believe, is not just in favour of a free trade zone for Europe.

He will also have to come out with some concrete ideas of how he intends to push his vision for modernising the EU through.

This will then influence whether controversial legislation such as the proposal to open the market in services has a real chance of being revived.

But it will be tough for his presidency to return to the question of the EU budget given Britain's role during the summit - meaning that it will only be dealt with during Austria's watch in the first half of next year.

Mr Blair and his team will also need all of their political skills to keep Turkish membership of the EU on track. The first crucial date comes during their presidency on 3 October, when EU membership negotiations are meant to open with Ankara.

Although Mr Blair is strongly in favour of this, several other member states, including France, have been indicating that they want to put the brakes on.