Say Hello to William Hague's New Boss

"I'm the first new type of ambassador for the European Union anywhere in the world," says Portuguese Joao Vale de Almeida. "I'm supposed to have a wider mandate than my predecessors. Out delegations now cover a wide spectrum of issues well beyond the economic dimension, trade dimension and regulatory dimension, to cover all policies in the union, including foreign and security policy."

Mr Vale de Almeida, if you don't know it already, is the EU's ambassador to the US and he's suggested that American officials should regard him as their first point of contact for transatlantic discussions.

He is the first EU ambassador to be appointed after the controversial Lisbon Treaty gave the EU sweeping new powers.

Does this reduce the status of William Hague now that a Portuguese intends to speak for the UK on foreign policy?

Not only does it reduce the status of William Hague, the EU is beginning to make Westminster look like a parish council.

The Earl of Dartmouth, a UK Independence Party MEP said the ambassador's comments were proof that the EU diplomatic service is usurping the powers of nation states.

"All the other parties have supported or accepted the domination of the EU through the Lisbon Treaty. And this is the result. The British Government will be left discussing how British actors are portrayed in Hollywood at best." He added: "Of course Britain will continue to pay for the privilege.

"This is only the start, as the existence of Britain's permanent seat on the UN Security Council is already in the EU sights".

Again we will have the propaganda from the coalition government. Martin Cole has written to Liam Fox and William Hague with his suggestions which made a great deal of sense, but I very much doubt if he'll receive a positive response.

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