U.K.: Blair Takes Aim at the EU's Common Agricultural Policy

In an apparent change of heart, British Prime Minister Tony Blair noted July 21 that his country's annual rebate from the EU budget "has to go." After Blair doggedly defended the U.K. rebate at the collapsed June 16-17 EU summit, this sounds like a capitulation. The "new" stance, however, represents nothing more than a well-crafted public relations twist, for London has not changed its position on the EU budget a whit. Instead, the British position has become more ossified than ever.