Further blow to Press Freedom / EU Whistleblowers

[Burnham Lad]

The European Court of Justice has now made a decision which undermines the freedom of the press, and is a further deterrent to whistleblowers.

 

Quote from a news feed:

 

"The European Court of Justice this week rejected an application by German journalist Hans Martin Tillack, who had requested measures to stop EU officials looking at files detailing his sources which have been seized from him.

 

Mr Tillack was arrested by Belgian police on the request of the EU's anti-fraud office and accused of bribing EU officials to gain information about corruption within the EU. Tillack had run a series of reports about fraud and waste in the EU institutions.

 

There are fears that EU officials will now use Tillack's list of contacts to identify and sack whistleblowers, and make investigative journalism in Brussels near-impossible. The International Federation of Journalists said that the Court's decision was "disturbing." Raymond Kendall, the former head of Interpol, has said that officials acted improperly, and were "obviously" in collusion with Belgian police to identify Mr Tillack's sources.

 

The EU Constitution would mean a major expansion of the EU's powers over crime, justice and policing. It would give the EU judges group Eurojust the power to initiate investigations of EU citizens. The Tillack case is an example of how European institutions are using their existing powers badly. The EU needs a dramatic increase in transparency and accountability, not more power."

 

How much longer do we have to put up with this official corruption in the EU? Unfortunately, too many of our own politicians are so hooked up with the potential for their own personal power and gain, none of them has the guts to try and root it out.

 

The closest comparison with the European Commission is the Mafia, come to think of it, perhaps the Mafia have just gone up a level..... <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/flame.gif" alt="" />

[Big J R]

..like I said on a previous thread.........

 

The EU is the biggest 'gravy-train' in existance.

 

Have any of you seen what pension that red-headed Kinnock and his missus will be on when they stand down ??

 

Not bad 'work', if you can get it !

[Barry Scott]

do the Eu actually do anything useful?

[Big J R]

Not in MY book !!

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Please tell me why the English are cruel to our European neighbours, who personally i would be proud to be called European.

 

..and stuck up the arses of the USA.

 

I don't get it. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

[Big J R]

Long story, Mark.

 

A [color:"red"] VERY [color:"black"] long story..........

 

Maybe I should P.M. you !!

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Well I know about the Wars, but that is history, I worked in Belgium with some of the friendliest Germans you would ever meet, the Dutch again very kind. The Belgians themselves a very generous nation, even the French I lived side by side these people.

 

The only reason I can think of, is that the Scum. Sun Newspaper with these anti - euro messages as headlines have brain washed the country. Unless you have met or lived with them, how can people be anti them.

 

I still don't understand, I expect replys going on about WW1 & WW2. Ancient history, move on.

 

Unless you are of 60 or above then you lived through it. But apart from Big Jr, I assume everyone else is under 60.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

I hope you still have those views if the Neo-Nazis ever seize power in Germany. They gained seats in the German Parliament at the last election.

[Burnham Lad]

Mark,

 

I too have worked with people from most EU countries. This is not about the people - most of the ones I have worked with are just as you describe - it is about politicians who have discovered that the power kick is greater, the opportunities for graft are greater and the possibility of being brought to account or found out is much less in a multinational enterprise like the EU, than in their own country government.

 

I bet you'll find that most continental citizens are no more happy about the gravy trainers than we are - both Marta Andreasen, my old colleague, who was the EU chief accountant and whistle blower and the guy in trouble with the Belgian Police, that started this thread were not British, but they did object to the dead hand of the Eurocrats and Europoliticians who are the real enemies, cleaning up at our expense.

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Quote:

I hope you still have those views if the Neo-Nazis ever seize power in Germany. They gained seats in the German Parliament at the last election.

More concerned about the Brits and Yanks taking over the world.

[The Invisible Man]

I see a problem the THE European Union, not with A European Union. I am totally pro-Europe in principle, but the clots at Brussels have ballsed it up with their unique blend of incompetence and corruption. Kick them out, dismantle it and start again, I say.

 

Mark, I agree with you that we should stick with the rest of Europe and not keep trying to snuggle up to the US. I would just add that most of Europe was actually on our side in WW2! And to be perfectly fair all round and show no favouritism, Italy alternated.

 

Those BNP idiots have gained council seats in various places in Britain.

[American FLEET FAN No1]

Quote:

Quote:

I hope you still have those views if the Neo-Nazis ever seize power in Germany. They gained seats in the German Parliament at the last election.

More concerned about the Brits and Yanks taking over the world.

Those who forget History are doomed to repeat it!

[Big J R]

Quote:

Unless you are of 60 or above then you lived through it. But apart from Big Jr, I assume everyone else is under 60.

[color:"red"] Steady Mark !! [color:"blue"]

Three years 'til my sixtieth !

I think we'll have to agree that a lot of it is connected to age, plust the fact that I have an Uncles name on the War memorial in Dorking, plus I did a three year thesis on the 2nd World War at school.

The French capitualted, then blamed us for the resulting destruction. The Italiens just wanted to fight on the 'winning-side' The Germans ? Well, we all know what the Germans did, and now they reckon that they are going to control ALL European money AND policies. I suppose the Dutch are OK. The Swiss like remaining neutral.

I'd sooner be the next State of the United States than be run by countries that don't even speak English as their first language. I lived in the South of France for a year in the sixties, and loved the people AND the country. OK until you get North of Lyon, and Paris ???? Forget it ! Dirty City ! Ignorant people who detest the English.

[The Invisible Man]

You're not one for sweeping statements then, BJR? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

An, err, interesting four line summary of the Second World War! Maybe you should have done a four year thesis! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Big J R]

I haven't even started yet !!!!!!!!!!

[pabird]

In business terms the EU is a con trick and we still do more of our trade outside rather than inside the EU

As a social club very jolly and worth the odd beano

As a political club a thieves kitchen and lets not forget that more children and more pensioners fall below the poverty level in the UK year on year under labours happy relationship with the EU

The true cost of our membership will never be revealed but ourselves and Germany have been the longest term positive contributors from day one with the French then the Spanish and Irish as runners up in the money taken out stakes

But o!k lets stay in but only on the conditions that we get par with the Germans in pensions and a national health service as good as the Spanish and finally we get fuel and transport costs that are no higher than the average across the great EU

Those conditions not possible!! then why do we pay so much in

Hate to admit it but we are the EU mugs

[Burnham Lad]

Quote:

.........Those conditions not possible!! then why do we pay so much in Hate to admit it but we are the EU mugs

Dead right pabird! Every time some nutter in the EU Commission (not the people, Mark!) manages to do a deal on some new legislation, it is supposed to be passed into Member States National legislation. Who has more EU legislation incorporated in to National Legislation than any other Member State - right - the mugs in the UK! Which nation has added more bells and whistles to the EU legislation because they cant't resist trying to "improve things!? Right - the UK! Which nation actually enforces EU legislation effectively? Right, the UK!

It makes me hopping mad, looking at a typical French Market, or a Spanish Market to see every EU rule under the book being broken, when the trading standards officers in the UK are punishing traders for not dealing in metric units- WHAT ABOUT THE HYGIENE STANDARDSin overseas markets? There is not way the rules are being applied in Clermont Ferrand or some Spanish town on the Costas.

Mugs - absolute total idiots we are are!

Rant over <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/taz.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/flame.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/taz.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/flame.gif" alt="" />

[Big J R]

Well said Andrew ! Well said !

 

Stuff 'em, I say and let Peter Mandellson stay over there, sheep sha**ing, or whatever his bag is at the moment !

[Burnham Lad]

Well done Big JR, that gets me going on another thing..... The EU Parliament have forced the Head of the EU Commission to withdraw his submission of entire list of the Commissioners for approval by them.

 

It is because the Italian person proposed for the Justice Commission has described homosexuality as a sin, not a crime, a sin. As a result they do not think he is fit to hold office, and would not approve him.

 

Under the EU political correctness rules, so does that mean that some people only get the job because they "meet the requirements", <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bootyshake.gif" alt="" />?

 

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

[The Invisible Man]

No, it's because this guy is a raving lunatic, a complete bible-bashing fundementalist.

 

We weren't quite so keen to adopt EU regs on employment law were we?