Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Sweden chews

If anybody hasn't seen the magnificent Peter Sellars film about the day that the Grand Duchy of Fenwick invaded the US and won, then they should. Alternatively they could also follow the extraordinary goings on on the tiny Ă…land islands.


A fun film, but it can not even get close to the nonsense coming out of the EU.

Brussels is trapped in a "Catch 22" situation of the EU's own making. Snus, a form of chewing tobacco, has been outlawed by EU fiat in every nation except Sweden, which secured a -special opt-out as a condition of its joining the EU, and in every region – except Aland.

The Commission recently took Finland to court to quash Aland's snus law. But Finland has no power to change that law. Finland does not control laws covering health in Aland; Aland does.

Aland is not allowed to defend its law before the justices in Luxembourg because the court recognises only nations. So the court is set to convict and fine Aland, without allowing the island's government to plead its case.



There was a time went wars were fought over such ideals as no representation, but I guess that time is gone.


And while the EU has concerned itself over such weighty issues as chewing tobacco, they now find themselves getting 50% of their natural gas from Russia.

Somehow I don't see them taking Russia to court.

Over anything.

Link





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