Category Archives: European Union

La France demande à ses ressortissants de quitter le Rwanda immédiatement.

L’ambassade de France au Rwanda appelle les touristes français sur le territoire rwandais à  regagner la France immédiatement. L’ambassade fait suite au discours du président Emmanuel Macron tenu le lundi 16 mars 2020 au sujet de la pandémie Coronavirus , COVID-19.

Dans le but de faire face à la pandémie,  la France a mis en place de mesures drastiques et a mobilisé les ressources conséquentes car “on est en guerre” a dit Monsieur Macron. Dans son discours suivi par plus de trente millions de téléspectateurs, le président de la France a demandé aux résidents, entre autres d’éviter les déplacements sauf pour des raisons importantes inclus faire des courses, aller au boulot uniquement si le travail est indispensable à la vie du pays et que le télétravail est impossible. Une attestation sur l’honneur devra être signée et portée par la personne souhaitant sortir. Ces mesures seront de rigueur pendant au moins 15 jours.

Les mouvements entre l’espace Schengen et son extérieur sont interdits jusqu’à nouvel ordre. Mais les Français souhaitant rentrer chez eux seront assistés par le gouvernement.

L’ambassade de France à Kigali exécute.

rwamba

Cette décision est à  saluer car, non seulement le Rwanda n’a pas assez de moyens et de systèmes efficaces pour répondre à ce genre de crises, mais aussi apparemment le gouvernement n’est pas transparent dans la communication des statistiques de la propagation de la  pandémie sur le territoire rwandais.

Chaste GAHUNDE


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Belgique : Quand KAGAME exporte sa criminalité de Kigali à Bruxelles !

COMUNIQUE  142-2019
FB_IMG_1560935264932Le régime totalitaire du Rwanda consolide ses réseaux terroristes en Belgique et la police enquête en profondeur

 

Le Centre de Lutte contre l’Impunité et l’Injustice au Rwanda dénonce et condamne plusieurs attaques terroristes contre les opposants politiques qui manifestaient pacifiquement à Tour et Taxis contre le séjour du dictateur Paul KAGAME, président du Rwanda, qui se trouve actuellement en Belgique. C’était pendant la manifestation de ce mardi le 18 juin 2019.

Les courtisans du président Kagame ont tenu leur manifestation autorisée pour le soutenir ce mardi matin 18 juin 2019 à partir de 9h.

Les opposants à Kagame ont tenu leur manifestation autorisée à partir de 14h. Comme c’est devenu une mauvaise habitude, KAGAME qui, depuis l’Uganda dans les années 1980, n’a jamais cessé de terroriser ses opposants par les meurtres, les agressions physiques, les emprisonnements arbitraires et autres harcèlements moraux, a commandité des attaques terroristes contre ses opposants sur le lieu même de la Manifestation. L’objectif c’est d’imposer ses méthodes terroristes en Europe en croyant décourager ses opposants. Pourtant la terreur ne fait que renforcer leur détermination.

Voici le déroulement de ces attaques et les dégâts constatés ce 18/06/2019 :

1) Un manifestant a été pris en chasse par deux agresseurs qui sont sortis d’une voiture. Il a couru pour leur échapper et a changé de trottoir à la recherche des ouvriers qui déchargeaient un camion non loin de là. Lorsque les agresseurs l’ont vu demander secours à ces ouvriers, ils se sont sauvés pour aller changer de voiture et revenir guetter son retour. Le manifestant les a remarqué et est revenu sur ses pas chercher les policiers qui n’ont pas pu les retrouver. Ce manifestant constituait une cible facile, puisqu’il venait de laisser sa voiture électrique en charge à la station Service TOTAL situé à 500 mètres environ de l’entrée principale du Site Tour et Taxis où se déroulait la manifestation des opposants au président Kagame.

2) Les agresseurs sont revenus à pieds en empruntant le trottoir boisé et ont cassé deux taxis voitures appartenant à deux manifestants qui ont porté plainte à la police après notre manifestation. Une des deux voitures a eu son pare-brise cassé, tandis que l’autre sa lunette arrière et la vitre latérale à l’arrière côté droit ont été casséés. Rien n’a été volé dans les deux voitures.

Le modus opérandi reste le même : Quelques individus ont été engagés pour attaquer et blesser des manifestants isolés, avant de prendre la fuite à bord des voitures qu’ils changent comme des chemises. En général, ces agresseurs se terrent dans des voitures et tentent de surprendre un ou deux manifestants isolés. En outre, certains courtisans du président Kagame sont impliqués à divers niveaux dans ces activités terroristes au Rwanda et ailleurs dans le monde. Ce sont eux qui identifient les cibles et engagent ces agresseurs.

Ce sont ces complices qui feront l’objet des enquêtes approfondies par les services de sécurité et la cellule antiterroriste belges. Parce que sans les commanditaires résidant en Belgique, il n’y aurait pas d’attaques terroristes contre des opposants politiques d’origine rwandaise. Nous avons fourni à la police un maximum de renseignements sur ces réseaux terroristes et les présumés complices. Nous avons exigé que ce dossier soit traité de la même façon que celui des casseurs de magasins du quartier Matonge à Bruxelles il y a quelques années.

Les opposants sont victimes du régime totalitaire de Paul Kagame :

Voici la description de ce genre de régime telle qu’elle a été définie par des spécialistes et publiée dans le livre du moine bouddhiste d’origine française, Mathieu RICARD intitulé « Plaidoyer pour l’Altruisme : La force de la bienveillance » pages 470 à 471 et publié aux Editions des Noyelles.

Les régimes totalitaires méprisent la raison et n’accordent aucune valeur à la vie humaine. Ils ne font aucun effort pour évaluer les conséquences de leur idéologie et de leurs activités. Ils méprisent également la liberté intellectuelle, l’essor des connaissances et le respect de la justice. Goering proclamait en mars 1933 : « Ici, je n’ai pas besoin de me préoccuper de justice ; mon unique mission est de détruire et d’exterminer, rien d’autre ».

Le mépris des dirigeants pour les individus au service d’un idéal aveugle conduit également à n’accorder aucune valeur à l’autre, et par extension à la vie humaine. Mao Tsé-toung n’hésitait pas à dire que la vie de ses citoyens ne comptait guère pour arriver à ses fins : « Si l’on additionne tous les propriétaires fonciers, les paysans riches, les contre-révolutionnaires, les mauvais éléments et les réactionnaires, leur nombre devrait atteindre 30 millions… Dans notre population de 600 millions de personnes, ces 30 millions ne sont qu’une (seule portion) sur vingt. Qu’y a-t-il à craindre ?… Nous avons tellement de monde. Nous pouvons nous permettre d’en perdre quelques-uns. Quelle différence cela fait-il » Il ajoutait : « Les morts ont des avantages. Ils fertilisent le sol ». Mao, directement ou indirectement, causa la mort de 50 millions de personnes.

Ceux qui sont au service des dictateurs et en exécutent les ordres sont souvent frappés du même aveuglement et du même mépris de la vie humaine. Comme l’explique Todorov, tous les régimes extrémistes se servent du principe : « Qui n’est pas pour moi est contre moi », mais seuls les régimes totalitaires ajoutent : « Et qui est contre moi doit périr ». Ce qui caractérise plus spécifiquement le totalitarisme est que cet ennemi se trouve à l’intérieur même du pays, et que l’on étend le principe de guerre aux relations entre groupes de compatriotes.

Les systèmes totalitaires renoncent à l’universalité et divisent l’humanité en êtres supérieurs (leurs partisans) et en êtres inférieurs (leurs opposants qui doivent être punis, voire éliminés). C’est le régime qui détient la mesure du bien et du mal et décide de la direction dans laquelle la société doit évoluer.

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L’Etat doit contrôler l’intégralité de la vie sociale d’un individu : son travail, son lieu d’habitation, ses biens, l’éducation de ses enfants, et même sa vie familiale et amoureuse. Cette totale mainmise lui permet d’obtenir la soumission de ses sujets : il n’y a plus de lieu où ils pourraient s’abriter et lui échapper.

Recommandations :

Nous demandons au Ministre de l’Intérieur du Royaume de Belgique, qui a la police dans ses attributions, de tout faire pour démanteler tous les réseaux terroristes que le président KAGAME tente d’implanter en Belgique et où se trouvent bon nombre de ses opposants. Pour ce faire, la police belge devra collaborer avec la police britannique qui a déjà démantelé quelques réseaux terroristes rwandais en Angleterre.

Nous demandons aux autorités rwandaises d’arrêter ce genre d’agressions terroristes et de comprendre qu’en Europe les populations sont civilisées et ne peuvent tolérer le terrorisme du président Kagame sur le territoire européen. Ces autorités savent très bien que la terreur ne fonctionne plus ni au Rwanda, ni ailleurs dans le monde. Il n’existe pas de bons terroristes.

Nous demandons aux courtisans du président Kagame de faire attention et de ne pas tomber dans le piège du tyran de Kigali. Ils connaissent très bien que Kagame finit toujours par éliminer ses courtisans tôt ou tard. Les courtisans qui lui survivront et qui auront été identifiés comme agresseurs ou comme complices de ces agresseurs risquent non seulement la prison ici en Europe mais aussi l’expulsion vers la terre de la brutalité rwandaise à Kigali.

Nous demandons aux opposants politiques de ne pas succomber à la peur et de poursuivre leur combat pour libérer le Rwanda de la tyrannie.

Nous saluons la publication ce matin du 18 juin 2019 de l’article de Jambonews intitulé : « Les activités obscures de l’Ambassade du Rwanda à Bruxelles ». C’était très tôt le matin avant ces attaques terroristes qui ont été perpétrées dans l’après midi.

Fait à Bruxelles, le 18 juin 2019

Pour le CLIIR, MATATA Joseph, Coordinateur.

CLIIR* : Le Centre de Lutte contre l’Impunité et l’Injustice au Rwanda est une association de défense des droits humains basée en Belgique, créée le 18 août 1995. Ses membres sont des militants des droits humains de longue date. Certains ont été actifs au sein d’associations rwandaises de défense des droits humains et ont participé à l’enquête CLADHO/Kanyarwanda sur le génocide de 1994. Lorsqu’ils ont commencé à enquêter sur les crimes du régime rwandais actuel, ils ont subi des menaces et ont été contraints de s’exiler à l’étranger où ils poursuivent leur engagement en faveur des droits humains.

EU supports multilateral global governance, based on international law, human rights and strong international institutions

Mogherini

EU High representative Federica MOGHERINI

Declaration by the High Representative, Federica Mogherini, on behalf of the European Union on the occasion of the Day of International Criminal Justice, 17 July 2017

The 17th of July marks the date of the adoption of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court in 1998. This day is dedicated to celebrating the developments and achievements of international criminal justice institutions and to remind us that we need to continue working, at both national and international levels, to ensure that the perpetrators of the most serious crimes are brought to justice and held to account.

On this occasion, the European Union and its Member States reaffirm their full support to the International Criminal Court and to the strengthening of an international criminal justice system committed to deter the commission of crimes, to fight impunity and to ensure the protection of the victims’ rights.

Justice is one of the core elements towards reconciliation and sustainable peace. Without justice, the most heinous crimes go unpunished, victims are unable to obtain redress and peace remains an elusive goal, since impunity generates more hatred, leading to acts of revenge and more suffering.

The European Union is one of the main donors in support of justice sector reform worldwide, strengthening law enforcement and justice institutions, promoting independent and impartial justice, and supporting access to justice for all. Since 2000, we have committed €37 million in direct support of the International Criminal Court.

The European Union has been also supporting transitional justice initiatives and international justice mechanisms related to specific countries. In the case of Syria, the EU has recently allocated funding amounting to €1,5 million to the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in Syria. The EU calls on the international community to support to the Mechanism, including through adequate financial means, to ensure that it would be able to start work as soon as possible and fulfil its mandate, in line with the principles of universality and at the highest level of professionalism.

The European Union will continue to fully support multilateral global governance, based on international law, human rights and strong international institutions. In this regard, we remain committed to advance our fight against impunity, and to promote the universal ratification of the Rome Statute.

Source: European Union

Paul Kagame Is Facing Serious Economic Challenges According To The World Bank, IMF and His Own Officials

In its Country Report No. 16/24 dated January 2016, the IMF offers some bad economic news for Rwanda. The bad news are mainly centered on three things:

  • Imports continue to grow;
  • Exports are shrinking;
  • Kagame’s prestigious projects are worsening the situation;

Here is what the IMF actually states with regards to King Paul’s economy in January 2016:

“Due to imports growing faster than exports both trade and current account deficits have increased gradually, exacerbated by a trend from external grants to loans. Recent trends in mining contributed to weak exports in 2015 and should continue to do so in 2016… Monetary and exchange rate policies should help contain private import demand, but the purchases and leases of aircraft by RwandAir and imports for the Kigali Convention Center (KCC) will lead to a temporary spike in imports in 2016. Financing for government imports will be provided by donors’ agreement to accelerate 2017 budget support into the second half of 2016, and nonconcessional loans for RwandAir and KCC.”

The table below shows Rwanda imports and exports for selected months in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015, according to the IMF data. The red line represents imports while the black line indicates exports. King Paul’s Singapore of Africa looks more like an illusion.

In their letter of the IMF Managing Director Christine Largarde dated December 17, 2015, Rwanda’s Finance Minister Claver Gatete, and Central Bank Governor John Rwangombwa confirmed this grim reality. According to the two, “an unanticipated external shock to Rwanda’s main commodity export has begun to unfold this year. A sharp drop in mineral prices and in global demand for those products has resulted in an unexpected significant loss of export receipts and international reserves of the banking system…”

Gatete and Rwangombwa in their letter to the IMF add more bad news as follows: “Based on export performance for the first three quarters, in particular a halving of mineral export receipts, export projections for 2015 have been revised downward, from US$742 to US$664… The central bank realized the full programmed use of its reserves, which were US$986 million at the beginning of 2015, falling to US$853.4 million by end June. Thanks to some large disbursements of donor budget support that will be moved forward into CY 2015, central bank reserves are expected to meet the end-December program floor of US$ 879 million. However, to sustain imports and activity, commercial banks were also obliged to use a significant amount of reserves. Commercial banks’ NFA of US$ 150.6 million at end December 2014 was reduced to US$92.9 million by end-June and are projected to remain at this level till end December 2015.”

Meanwhile, in its current economic update on Rwanda, the World Bank states the following: “Going forward, the private sector, which is still largely informal, will have to play a bigger role in ensuring economic growth. Poor infrastructure and lack of access to electricity are some of the major constraints to private investment. In addition, reducing the country dependency on foreign aid (30% to 40% of the budget) through domestic resource mobilization is critical.”

In its operational plan for 2011–2016, UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) has an even gloomier picture. In its own words, despite economic growth rates, “huge challenges remain. 63% of the population live on less than $1.25 a day…. Poverty is largely rural and is geographically concentrated and, as a result of population growth, the number of poor people has reduced only marginally. Inequality is reducing, but it is still high and it is constraining sustainable growth and poverty reduction…Given low levels of international investment and a less-than-vibrant private sector it is not clear how much wealth growth will continue to deliver to a fast growing and largely unskilled population.”

The year 2016 should be interesting for King Paul. Let us watch the tragic drama.

David Himbara.

EU Urges Rwanda to develop a true multiparty democracy and allow space for peaceful dissent

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Open letter from European Union Heads of Mission in Rwanda on the occasion of Human Right Day

The theme of this year’s Human Rights Day is “Human Rights 365”, reminding us that every day is Human Rights Day and that each person, everywhere, is at every moment entitled to the full range of human rights. Respect for human rights is one of the European Union’s core values, embedded in the founding treaty, and we continue to ensure that these principles are upheld in all our actions.

We work with the people and the Government of Rwanda to promote human rights, democracy and good governance. We support the ambition of the Government’s Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Strategy with its goal of accelerating progress to middle income status to provide better quality of life for all Rwandans. We especially welcome the emphasis placed on respect for rule of law, gender, family and children’s rights as crosscutting issues in the strategy.

As we continue to support Rwanda’s ambitious development and growth targets, we encourage the development of a vibrant and vocal civil society. In its conclusions of 22 July 2014, the EU Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the progress made by Rwanda on structural reforms, but noted with concern the constraints faced by political parties and civil society. The EU encouraged Rwanda to further open up the political space and to allow greater freedom of expression in order to facilitate fuller democratic participation.

The Government demonstrated openness to discuss difficult topics by inviting the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly Maina Kiai to Rwanda. While commending Rwanda for its progress over the last 20 years, the Special Rapporteur stressed the importance of building upon that foundation by developing a true multiparty democracy and allowing space for peaceful dissent. The Special Rapporteur made recommendations addressed to the Government, civil society and the international community. We are committed to implementing the recommendations addressed to us and encourage Rwanda to do the same.

We urge the Government to continue working towards the universal implementation of human rights. The legitimate fight against terrorism and other security considerations should not be used to restrict the right to express dissent or criticism. That includes journalists, civil society and those advocating for greater political freedoms.

“Human Rights 365” emphasises the universal rights and fundamental freedoms as expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It was adopted by representatives of all regions and cultures, demonstrating that human rights apply to all human beings without discrimination. The EU is committed to advancing the cause of human rights globally, and we look forward to continue working with the Government and people of Rwanda to realise this commitment.

Signed

  • Gerhard Braun, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
  • HE Leoni Cuelenaere, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
  • HE Michel Flesch, Ambassador of the French Republic
  • HE William Gelling, High Commissioner of the British High Commission
  • Maria Håkansson, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden
  • HE Arnout Pauwels, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium
  • HE Michael Ryan, Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union

Ukraine crisis will not be solved by military means, says Angela Merkel

German chancellor admits, however, that she is unsure whether the current diplomatic push to end the conflict in the east of the country will succeed.

https://embed.theguardian.com/embed/video/world/video/2015/feb/07/weapons-ukraine-angela-merkel-russia-video

Angela Merkel has said the crisis in Ukraine will not be solved by military means, and that the peace agreement struck last September needs to be implemented.

Speaking at the Munich security conference on Saturday, the German chancellor said she wanted to secure peace in Europe with Russia and not against it.

Germany has opposed aiding Ukrainian troops for fear of worsening the conflict, which has already cost more than 5,000 lives, but the idea has many supporters in Washington.

“I cannot imagine any situation in which improved equipment for the Ukrainian army leads to President Putin being so impressed that he believes he will lose militarily,” Merkel said. “I have to put it that bluntly.”

Disagreement has emerged between Europe and the US about how best to confront Putin as Moscow-backed rebels make gains in eastern Ukraine. Barack Obama is under pressure from some in Congress to sent weapons to Kiev.

Nato’s top military commander, US Air Force general Philip Breedlove, gave the strongest signal yet in Munich that he wanted the west to consider sending weapons to Ukraine.

“I don’t think we should preclude out of hand the possibility of the military OPTION,” he said, adding: “There is no conversation about boots on the ground.”

Merkel told the conference she could not be certain the talks she and the French president, François Hollande, held on Friday in Moscow with the Russian leader would result in a peaceful solution to the crisis.

“But it is in my view and the French president’s view definitely worth trying. We owe it to the people affected in Ukraine, at the very least,” she said.

Hollande said: “If we don’t MANAGE to find not just a compromise but a lasting peace agreement, we know perfectly well what the scenario will be. It has a name, it’s called war.”

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The Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said he hoped sincerely that the latest diplomatic drive would “produce results, and those results will be supported by the parties to this conflict”.

The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, said a peace proposal aimed at ending clashes with pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine could work.

Merkel is expected to meet the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and Lavrov on Saturday, along with Poroshenko and the US vice-president, Joe Biden.

The focus at the Munich conference is on a new blueprint agreed in overnight talks in Moscow between Putin, Merkel and Hollande. The aim is to reach a solution to the crisis before it turns into a major east-west confrontation.

No details were released about the Moscow talks, but the new plan is likely to be based on the failed September Minsk ceasefire and peace accords that the west accuses Moscow of failing to adhere to.

“Work is under way to prepare the text of a possible joint document to implement the Minsk agreements,” said Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, who described the Moscow talks as “substantial and constructive”.

Merkel and Hollande, who both left Moscow late on Friday night, made no public comment after the meeting and are to discuss the plan again with Poroshenko by telephone on Sunday.

German media broadly welcomed the latest initiative on Saturday, saying time was running out to avoid a disaster for Europe.

Spiegel Online said that with Merkel expected to meet Barack Obama on Monday, “this weekend will be crucial for how the crisis in eastern Ukraine and relations with Russia develop”.

“If Merkel fails in Moscow, the US will want to punish Putin,” it said.

Fighting in eastern Ukraine has claimed the lives of five civilians in the past 24 hours, government and rebel officials said.

After a limited truce to allow civilians to escape the violence offered some hope on Friday, the Ukraine government said missiles hit the embattled town of Debaltseve on Saturday.

Source: The Guardian

David Cameron making ‘historic’ mistake over EU, says José Manuel Barroso

The UK prime minister plans to impose restrictions on the free movement of citizens from EU member states.
David Cameron, Jose Manuel Barroso
Outgoing European commission president José Manuel Barroso is warning David Cameron against taking a defensive stance over the EU. Photograph: Yves Logghe/AP

David Cameron is making a “historic mistake” by adopting a defensive approach towards the EU which risks increasing the chances of a British exit, the outgoing European commission president José Manuel Barroso will warn on Monday.

In the strongest attack by Brussels on the Conservatives over their handling of the EU, Barroso will say that the prime minister’s plan to impose an “arbitrary cap” on immigrants from eastern Europe is contrary to EU law and will alienate Britain’s natural allies.

Barroso, the most anglophile commission president of the last 30 years, will give vent to deep frustration at British tactics when he takes the highly unusual step of venturing into internal UK affairs by warning that the Tories should learn from the Scottish referendum and not wait until the final days to make a positive case.

In a speech at Chatham House on Monday, Barroso will sweep aside his usual diplomatic language to say: “My experience is that you can never win a debate from the defensive. We saw in Scotland that you actually need to go out and make the positive case. In the same way, if you support continued membership of the EU you need to say what Europe stands for and why it is in the British interest to be part of it.

“And you need to start making that positive case well in advance, because if people read only negative and often false portrayals in their newspapers from Monday to Saturday, you cannot expect them to nail the European flag on their front door on Sunday just because the political establishment tells them it is the right thing to do.”

The intervention by Barroso, a month before he stands down after a decade as president of the commission, comes amid deep frustration among EU leaders about the way in which Cameron is hardening his approach to the EU in response to Ukip. Barroso was privately appalled when Philip Hammond, the foreign secretary who is meant to be drumming up support for Britain’s EU reform plans across Europe, told MPs on Friday that Tory plans for an in/out referendum amounted to “lighting a fire” under the EU.

The prime minister, who initially instructed his MPs to vote against an in/out referendum before changing his mind in 2012, is embarking on a fresh change of heart as he plans to impose restrictions on the free movement of citizens from EU member states. The prime minister had said the restrictions would be limited to cracking down on benefit tourism.

But the Sunday Times reported that Cameron is planning to cap the number of national insurance numbers issued to EU immigrants with low skills. This would hit the 11 eastern European states that have joined since 2004. National insurance numbers could be issued for a limited period to ensure the prime minister delivers on his pledge to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands.

Grant Shapps, the Tory chairman, told The World This Weekend on BBC Radio 4: “We cannot have an open-ended situation where people are able to always come to Britain in such a lop-sided arrangement.”

Barroso said that Cameron’s proposal would fall foul of EU law which guarantees the free movement of people. The Lisbon treaty of 2007 echoed the EEC’s founding 1957 treaty of Rome as it said “the free movement of persons is ensured”.

The commission president will say that the way in which the Tories have singled out the Poles, whose citizens have travelled to Britain in record numbers over the last decade, is self-defeating.

“It is an illusion to believe that space for dialogue can be created if the tone and substance of the arguments you put forward question the very principle at stake and offend fellow member states. It would be an historic mistake if on these issues Britain were to continue to alienate its natural allies in central and eastern Europe, when you were one of the strongest advocates for their accession.”

Barroso’s remarks are intended to highlight how Cameron is complicating the only route to achieve his goals – amending the Lisbon treaty which has to be approved by all 28 EU member states. He will draw a second parallel with the Scottish referendum as he reminds his audience that he said that Alex Salmond would have faced an immense challenge in negotiating EU membership.

“I created waves in February when asked about the possibility of regions leaving member states, as I pointed out that negotiating an accession treaty is no easy feat. Negotiating any major constitutional change is difficult and very risky. And the uncertainty it creates has a direct and immediate upstream impact on confidence, including the investment decisions of industry.”

Witold Sobków, the Polish ambassador to the UK, indicated that Warsaw would veto any proposal to amend the Lisbon treaty to limit free movement. Sobków told The World This Weekend: “We want the UK to remain in the EU so we will do our best to help the British government introduce some reforms in the functioning of the EU, enabling the UK to remain in the EU… [But] free movement of people is a fundamental freedom of the EU. So there are some things we can do and some things that we shouldn’t do.”

Nigel Farage said that Cameron was seeking to impose a limit on free movement because he is “terrified of Ukip”. The Ukip leader told the BBC: “I don’t often agree with Barroso. But what the prime minister is saying about limiting the number of EU migrants that come to Britain is simply untrue. He is doing it for political reasons because he is terrified of Ukip.”

Barroso will tease Farage by highlighting their contrasting tastes in alcohol to show how different nation states can work harmoniously in the EU. He will say: “For me the answer is a resolute no. I may prefer a glass or two of good red wine than a pint of beer when I am out on the election trail. But I too come from a country with a long history, a trading nation, proud of its culture and tradition. And it may be a revelation to some, but the vast majority of people living in Europe are also rather attached to their national identity – however they may choose to define it.”

Source: The Guardian, October 20th, 2014