‘A European budget semester, under which countries would submit an outline of their budget plans in April for review by the Commission and other member states’. Clearly not listening to Cameron and Hague, then. Those unwilling to fall in line with this diktat

‘could be denied EU financial aid, such as regional aid, agriculture and fishing subsidies’.

Britain receives up to £3.6 billion in farm payments and £1.9 billion in aid for poor regions annually – an amount which could be partly suspended if the plans are agreed. (This may sound like a lot, but France receives around £9 billion in farm subsidies alone.

The paper notes that it is not clear whether the suspension of aid funds would be automatic, or would require political approval from EU governments. This will probably be clarified when the Commission publishes the final version of its proposals in September.

Meanwhile, as the Belgian Presidency takes over, there is much flexing of unelected muscles: Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said, “One cannot go on calling for the creation of an economic government without realising that this requires a reinforcement of the EU institutions, that is to say enhancing the role played by the Commission’.

Note that the Commission is the unelected part. But just in case you were in any doubt, Jean De Ruyt, the head of the Belgian Permanent Representation to the EU added:

“The biggest stumbling blocks for the Belgian presidency are with the European Parliament, an incalculable and badly organised partner. You don’t know whether the opinion of the MEPs is being decided by the content of a matter or by the wish to be visible and show its own power. In some matters they don’t even know that themselves.”

I’m not sure which has the thicker skin, a diplodocus or a Belgian: but there clearly isn’t much evidence that the chocolate makers who smell of chips accept the idea, as expressed by Winston Churchill, that “Democracy is an imperfect system….but it is the best one we have”. On the whole, one gets the feeling more and more that the Nazi defeat of 1945 is regarded by the average Belgian politician as a regrettable setback.

William Hague’s observations of the EU’s rampant anti-democratic ethic has been restricted so far to this, in a speech he gave today:

“Less than 2 percent of entry level officials in the European Commission are British, while the country holds 12 percent of the EU’s total population….”

A bit feeble, Willy. Must do better. See me.