Wrong tactics

THE meeting of world leaders, taking place now at Camp David outside Washington, is intended to provide a forum for constructive discussion of international issues and for reaching decisions on joint action. The four European countries in the G8 -- Britain, France, Germany and Italy -- have often collaborated on G8 initiatives and in taking a common view on matters under discussion. Why then did Mr Cameron spend his last day before leaving for America in hectoring the EU leaders he will have to sit with at Camp David over their failed policies in dealing with the eurozone crisis? Of course this crisis affects discussion of almost any other subject just at the moment but to go out of his way to show displeasure with his fellow members of the European Union at an international meeting seems undiplomatic and counterproductive. Presumably, he did not let President Obama know in advance of chairing the meeting where he was at fault.

David Cameron does not seem to understand that his tendency to lecture other EU national leaders for their incompetence, when after two years in office he has still failed to make any significant impact on EU policy and the UK itself is still in recession, is creating a serious barrier between Britain and the rest and may have soured the atmosphere at Camp David when other important issues are under discussion.