[release]
Europe is so preoccupied with its own financial problems it is missing out on the debate about Asia's rise, Australia's foreign minister says.
Kevin Rudd warned that Europe "runs the risk of talking itself into an early economic and therefore globally political grave".
Mr Rudd was speaking on the issue of "America, Europe and the rise of Asia" at the Munich Security Conference.
His comments were dismissed by the EU's internal market commissioner.
Michel Barnier said Europe would "emerge stronger and better organised from this crisis".
'Fundamental strengths'
Mr Rudd told the annual meeting of world leaders that Europe had become sidelined from the debate about the growing economic and political influence of China and Asia, the AFP news agency reports.
"Here in Europe, this continent has largely been missing in this debate, this should no longer be the case," Mr Rudd said.
"The danger that I see is Europe progressively becoming so introspective and so preoccupied with its internal problems on the economy and on the eurozone in particular that Europe runs the risk of talking itself into an early economic and therefore globally political grave".
"We don't want that. We actually think Europe has fundamental strengths to deliver to the rest of the world but we are not seeing a whole lot of that right now," he said.[/release]
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16886881[/url]
People still trust Kevin?
Well the UK and Europe has a fair few trade deals with China and the like so I'm pretty sure we'll be okay but it's adorable that he's concerned.
I haven't heard from Rudd in ages.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygSMz2r_iTg[/media]
[QUOTE=Badballer;34555536]I haven't heard from Rudd in ages.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygSMz2r_iTg[/media][/QUOTE]
Oh god what happened to rove :(
I remember the days of 2007 when he was seen as some kind of savior.
[QUOTE=CertainDOOM;34555679]I remember the days of 2007 when he was seen as some kind of savior.[/QUOTE]
i always saw through that bullshit, but so many people lapped it up
Who is this guy, do you Australians like him?
Seems like he's lacking something in his head.
[QUOTE=Swebonny;34556465]Who is this guy, do you Australians like him?
Seems like he's lacking something in his head.[/QUOTE]
He was our Prime Minister before Julia Gillard backstabbed him. His ideas were good, it's just how he went about doing them that made people not like him so much iirc.
I withdraw my comment.
I remember meeting him in China.
Seemed like a okay guy.
Bloody hell, why is Rudd so eager to take it in the ass from Asia? He always blabs on about Asia (specifically China) as if they're the saviours to western civilisation.
Got no problem with the EU going to shit, would finally be time for the countries to mind their own business and stop the corporations from pushing through EU-wide laws. Ridiculous.
[QUOTE=BloodYScar;34556886]Got no problem with the EU going to shit, would finally be time for the countries to mind their own business and stop the corporations from pushing through EU-wide laws. Ridiculous.[/QUOTE]
You do realise that if Europe goes down, the world takes a hammer blow right?
Europe is one of the top markets in the world for just about everything you can imagine, and again a major exporter of a lot important shit for everyone.
If everyone just minded their own business the world would be a better place. No need to tell other countries on the other side of the planet how to run their business.
[QUOTE=Scrimp;34556730]God damnit Europe, i'm not being pro nazi but Europe would be in a better state if the Nazis won world war two.[/QUOTE]
No we would be in an even shittier state.
Stay classy Kev.
Oh wait, you never was classy.
[QUOTE=Scrimp;34556730]God damnit Europe, i'm not being pro nazi but Europe would be in a better state if the Nazis won world war two.[/QUOTE]
What am I reading
[QUOTE=Scrimp;34556730]God damnit Europe, i'm not being pro nazi but Europe would be in a better state if the Nazis won world war two.[/QUOTE]
What?
[QUOTE=Scrimp;34556730]God damnit Europe, i'm not being pro nazi but Europe would be in a better state if the Nazis won world war two.[/QUOTE]
Yeah woohoo a massive super state with literally near 100 secessionist movements occuring constantly with rebellion against nearly every spot, and a day and night bombing by the USA for nearly 30 years would be great.
[QUOTE=Zambies!;34558523] day and night bombing by the USA for nearly 30 years would be great.[/QUOTE]
I thought the USA does that to countries anyway.
[QUOTE=Scrimp;34558608]I thought the USA does that to countries anyway.[/QUOTE]
Only to brown people.
[QUOTE=AaronM202;34558972]Only to brown people.[/QUOTE]
and serbs, it would seem.
[QUOTE=Mabus;34559037]and serbs, it would seem.[/QUOTE]
Anyone that's from south of their border aswell.
[QUOTE=Pierrewithahat;34556918]You do realise that if Europe goes down, the world takes a hammer blow right?
Europe is one of the top markets in the world for just about everything you can imagine, and again a major exporter of a lot important shit for everyone.[/QUOTE]
EU=/=Europe
Shouldn't have bailed out the minor country that is greece.
[QUOTE=BloodYScar;34556886]Got no problem with the EU going to shit, would finally be time for the countries to mind their own business and stop the corporations from pushing through EU-wide laws. Ridiculous.[/QUOTE]
You do realize that the reason Germany has been doing so incredibly well in the past 25 years is influenced directly because of the European Union.
[editline]5th February 2012[/editline]
[QUOTE=archie200034;34560629]EU=/=Europe[/QUOTE]
The majority of it, yes. If the EU collapses, international trust in Europe, particularly in the credit sector, will shoot down miserably and lead to a massive recession Europe hasn't seen in decades.
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