2002-02-22 I agree with Louis. We have to wait until there is a political change in Europe that is suppose to happen around 2005. After the EU formerly unites into a single nation with an elected Parliament with powers similar to what the national Parliaments have now. Then there is a chance some action against the interests of the TABD will be taken. It would be foolish to waste our time with a Parliament and a Commission that won't be around when it really counts.
We need to have strong faith in the future of Europe. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Louis JOURDAN" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, 2002-03-22 14:39 Subject: [USMA:18984] Re: TABD > At 7:38 -0800 02/03/22, Ma Be wrote: > >On Fri, 22 Mar 2002 06:37:35 > > CarletonM wrote: > >>... > >>If TABD is true to form, we can expect no action at all, and then, in the > >>spring of 2009, another whining and pathetic statement from TABD about how > >>they are still "not ready" and "need more time". The EU has to draw a line > >>in the sand this time and say "Not again, not this time, not any more." > >>... > >Even though the final report and position of the EU committee that > >was responsible to oversee another postponement clearly stated that > >there would be no more delays we MUST be on guard. > > > >Perhaps our European friends could somehow get some interim feedback > >on this with some members at the EU Parliament. Maybe we should > >think of starting this campaign sooner rather than later. Besides, > >if my memory doesn't fail me they were supposed to do some frequent > >checks with the US government and the TABD people. However, I find > >that it would be beneficial for us to follow this up. > > > >Marcus > > Let me share with all of you some thoughts about what should be our > strategy regarding EU authorities. > > I see no point in addressing for the moment the European Parliament : > the issue is not on their agenda, they have many other topics to deal > with, and most of them will be renewed at the EP elections in June > 2004. When the new legislature will be in place in fall 2004, we will > have to identify a couple of people sympathetic to our cause, and > provide them with an information dossier. Thus when the topic will > come to the agenda, at least we will have a few persons aware of the > matter and they could be a nucleus for further action. > > On the other hand, we should keep pressure on the European > Commission, particularly Commissioner Pascal Lamy, in charge of trade > matters, and his staff, for example Pierre Dufraigne, his Chef de > Cabinet. They may have possibility of action, in particular at WTO > level : Pascal Lamy just lodged a complaint against the USA to the > WTO because of the unilateral US decision to levy taxes on import of > steel products. Possibly they are seeking any argument to support the > case : units could be one. > > It has been some time that I have not been in contact with Pierre > Dufraigne. I am contemplating to send him a copy of my book, just > released : that will be an opportunity. > > [I will circulate to the list any relevant info about how to order, > etc, as soon as the book will be in the commercial arena]. > > Cheers > > Louis >
