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| David who? Bowles beats Cameron in poll of EU's most influential Britons | David who? Bowles beats Cameron in poll of EU's most influential Britons |
| (4 months later) | |
| It's a triumph for the much-maligned faceless fonctionnaire inside the Brussels bubble but a slap in the face for Britain's prime minister, its foreign policy chief and its political leaders overall. | It's a triumph for the much-maligned faceless fonctionnaire inside the Brussels bubble but a slap in the face for Britain's prime minister, its foreign policy chief and its political leaders overall. |
| When it comes to wielding clout in Europe, according to a list of the most influential British people in the European Union unveiled on Wednesday evening, the eurocrats beat the politicians hands down. | When it comes to wielding clout in Europe, according to a list of the most influential British people in the European Union unveiled on Wednesday evening, the eurocrats beat the politicians hands down. |
| Of the top 10 in the list disclosed at a Westminster dinner, eight of the Brits are based in Brussels – and none of them is a household name. The other two are David Cameron and William Hague, but the foreign secretary pips the prime minister for the seventh slot, while the Tory leader is ranked eighth. | Of the top 10 in the list disclosed at a Westminster dinner, eight of the Brits are based in Brussels – and none of them is a household name. The other two are David Cameron and William Hague, but the foreign secretary pips the prime minister for the seventh slot, while the Tory leader is ranked eighth. |
| Nick Clegg, whose formative political years were spent in Brussels and Strasbourg, makes it in at No 15, while Ed Miliband does not warrant a mention in the top 40. Instead, the leading spots are taken by a few MEPs in the European parliament and a bunch of eurocrats leading departments in the European commission and hence playing a key role in EU policymaking. | Nick Clegg, whose formative political years were spent in Brussels and Strasbourg, makes it in at No 15, while Ed Miliband does not warrant a mention in the top 40. Instead, the leading spots are taken by a few MEPs in the European parliament and a bunch of eurocrats leading departments in the European commission and hence playing a key role in EU policymaking. |
| Sharon Bowles, the Liberal Democrat MEP who chairs the European parliament's monetary affairs committee, emerges, perhaps surprisingly, as Britain's most influential person in and on Europe. | Sharon Bowles, the Liberal Democrat MEP who chairs the European parliament's monetary affairs committee, emerges, perhaps surprisingly, as Britain's most influential person in and on Europe. |
| Bowles, who may be on the shortlist of five in the running to replace Sir Mervyn King as the governor of the Bank of England and who has been heavily involved in managing the euro crisis, is generally seen as a critical pro-European who also is a doughty defender of the City's interests. | Bowles, who may be on the shortlist of five in the running to replace Sir Mervyn King as the governor of the Bank of England and who has been heavily involved in managing the euro crisis, is generally seen as a critical pro-European who also is a doughty defender of the City's interests. |
| "Current circumstances and the fact that financial services are vital to the City and the UK, no doubt lie behind my ranking in this list," she said. "Politicians rarely get thanked, so I am grateful for the extent to which I have been given recognition. I have to share this with my staff and many in the City and beyond – officials and industry – who provide a huge source of expertise." | "Current circumstances and the fact that financial services are vital to the City and the UK, no doubt lie behind my ranking in this list," she said. "Politicians rarely get thanked, so I am grateful for the extent to which I have been given recognition. I have to share this with my staff and many in the City and beyond – officials and industry – who provide a huge source of expertise." |
| Jonathan Faull, a former commission spokesman who is the most senior eurocrat running and regulating the single market – the most important aspect of the EU for the British – comes in second and dressed his reaction in old-fashioned English self-deprecation. | Jonathan Faull, a former commission spokesman who is the most senior eurocrat running and regulating the single market – the most important aspect of the EU for the British – comes in second and dressed his reaction in old-fashioned English self-deprecation. |
| "My role as civil servant is to advise and prepare. I do so in the European interest, which I believe is also the British interest," he said. | "My role as civil servant is to advise and prepare. I do so in the European interest, which I believe is also the British interest," he said. |
| The exercise in choosing the UK's biggest influence-wielder in and on the EU was organised by EurActiv, the EU policy analysis website, to mark the looming 40th birthday of Britain in Europe on New Year's Day. | The exercise in choosing the UK's biggest influence-wielder in and on the EU was organised by EurActiv, the EU policy analysis website, to mark the looming 40th birthday of Britain in Europe on New Year's Day. |
| It also coincides with what is perhaps the most precarious period in Britain's love-hate relationship with Europe. David Cameron is selling himself as a lean and fit St George heading to Brussels next week to slay the obese and profligate European dragon in the almighty battle over EU spending for the seven years from 2014. | It also coincides with what is perhaps the most precarious period in Britain's love-hate relationship with Europe. David Cameron is selling himself as a lean and fit St George heading to Brussels next week to slay the obese and profligate European dragon in the almighty battle over EU spending for the seven years from 2014. |
| The Brussels summit next week has all the makings of a bloodbath. And everyone is thoroughly fed up with the British. | The Brussels summit next week has all the makings of a bloodbath. And everyone is thoroughly fed up with the British. |
| "Things are much different from even a year ago," warned a senior Brussels official. "Cameron will have to be really careful." | "Things are much different from even a year ago," warned a senior Brussels official. "Cameron will have to be really careful." |
| Then there's the "Brexit" – the increasing prospect within a few years of what may be an in-or-out referendum that brings British membership to an end. The chances have never seemed more real. | Then there's the "Brexit" – the increasing prospect within a few years of what may be an in-or-out referendum that brings British membership to an end. The chances have never seemed more real. |
| So perhaps the Brussels insiders' victory over the British policymakers reflects London's waning influence on events and policy across an EU consumed by a single currency crisis, which itself largely excludes Britain. | So perhaps the Brussels insiders' victory over the British policymakers reflects London's waning influence on events and policy across an EU consumed by a single currency crisis, which itself largely excludes Britain. |
| A second senior EU official asked why Cameron and co were not at the top of the rankings. "That's the real question. Presumably there is a perception they don't have much influence over European affairs now. They're wilfully semi-detached. That's the truth." | A second senior EU official asked why Cameron and co were not at the top of the rankings. "That's the real question. Presumably there is a perception they don't have much influence over European affairs now. They're wilfully semi-detached. That's the truth." |
| Faull is joined in the top 10 by another three senior British eurocrats in the commission. There is also two other MEPs: one a Tory, the other a Lib Dem. Britain's commissioner in Brussels, Lady Ashton, a member of the Labour party and in charge of European foreign policy, is ranked No 5. | Faull is joined in the top 10 by another three senior British eurocrats in the commission. There is also two other MEPs: one a Tory, the other a Lib Dem. Britain's commissioner in Brussels, Lady Ashton, a member of the Labour party and in charge of European foreign policy, is ranked No 5. |
| "That's because Ashton is not an influential player in Brussels," said the official. "The most important European institution right now is the European Central Bank and Britain's not there." | "That's because Ashton is not an influential player in Brussels," said the official. "The most important European institution right now is the European Central Bank and Britain's not there." |
| Sir Julian Priestley, the former secretary general of the European parliament, chaired the all-British panel of experts who made the choices, accompanied by Sir Stephen Wall, Tony Blair's former EU adviser, ex-British ambassador to the EU and author of a book on the UK's relations with Brussels. | Sir Julian Priestley, the former secretary general of the European parliament, chaired the all-British panel of experts who made the choices, accompanied by Sir Stephen Wall, Tony Blair's former EU adviser, ex-British ambassador to the EU and author of a book on the UK's relations with Brussels. |
| "This list puts a new light on Britain's relations with Europe," said Priestley. "It shows often unsung, sometimes unknown Britons at work exercising real influence in Europe, shaping policies, making a strong and constructive contribution to Europe's future. This is not the picture of 'Britain cut off from the continent'." | "This list puts a new light on Britain's relations with Europe," said Priestley. "It shows often unsung, sometimes unknown Britons at work exercising real influence in Europe, shaping policies, making a strong and constructive contribution to Europe's future. This is not the picture of 'Britain cut off from the continent'." |
| Europe's most influential Brits | Europe's most influential Brits |
| 1 Sharon Bowles, MEP | 1 Sharon Bowles, MEP |
| 2 Jonathan Faull, director general for internal market and services | 2 Jonathan Faull, director general for internal market and services |
| 3 Malcolm Harbour, MEP | 3 Malcolm Harbour, MEP |
| 4 Richard Corbett, adviser to Herman Van Rompuy | 4 Richard Corbett, adviser to Herman Van Rompuy |
| 5 Lady Ashton, vice-president of European commission | 5 Lady Ashton, vice-president of European commission |
| 6 Philip Lowe, commission director general for energy | 6 Philip Lowe, commission director general for energy |
| 7 Robert Madelin, director general for health and consumer protection | 7 Robert Madelin, director general for health and consumer protection |
| 8 William Hague, foreign secretary | 8 William Hague, foreign secretary |
| 9 David Cameron, prime minister | 9 David Cameron, prime minister |
| 10 Andrew Duff, MEP | 10 Andrew Duff, MEP |
| 11 Sir Jon Cunliffe, Britain's permanent representative to the EU | 11 Sir Jon Cunliffe, Britain's permanent representative to the EU |
| 12 Lowri Evans, director general for fisheries | 12 Lowri Evans, director general for fisheries |
| 13 Belinda Pyke, commission director for migration and borders | 13 Belinda Pyke, commission director for migration and borders |
| 14 Lord Turner, FSA chairman | 14 Lord Turner, FSA chairman |
| 15 Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister | 15 Nick Clegg, deputy prime minister |
| 16 Sir Graham Watson, MEP | 16 Sir Graham Watson, MEP |
| 17 Lionel Barber, Financial Times editor | 17 Lionel Barber, Financial Times editor |
| 18 Ivan Rogers, PM's adviser on Europe | 18 Ivan Rogers, PM's adviser on Europe |
| 19 David Lidington, Europe minister | 19 David Lidington, Europe minister |
| 20 John Cridland, CBI director general | 20 John Cridland, CBI director general |
| Source: EurActiv.com | Source: EurActiv.com |
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