Estonia Quiz 2010
The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put up the new Estonia Quiz 2010. People are invited to test their knowledge and enter the drawing to win a 6-day trip for two to Estonia.
Open Democracy on Ergenekon….
Turkey and Ergenekon: from farce to tragedy , - by openDemocracy Author: Bill Park Summary: An epic military, political, and security scandal continues to absorb Turkey. The affair’s latest bizarre sub-plots make the tensions between the countr...
New verbs in the EU: (to) lisbonise
http://www.flickr.com/photos/victornuno/ / CC BY-NC 2.0 Found in a Council document (page 2): "This text – already "Lisbonised" – was drafted taking into account the comments made by the delegations during the meeting of the Working Party [...].
The EU budget procedure under Lisbon
The Commisssion has issued the "Draft Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on cooperation in budgetary matters" which, in its Annex (from page 14), contains a clear procedure for the setting-up...
An EU Budget for the 21st Century
The publication last week of the European Commission’s 2020 paper marks a return to normal service for the EU. We can now get back to proper political debate about Europe’s future rather than be distracted by institutional navel gazing. Welcome a...
European Salon de News, Discussion et Klatsch - 11 March
A Daily Review Of International Online Media Europeans on this date in history:1922 Birth of...
Israel and Palestine: The prospects of a two state solution – Interview with Prof. Sh. Feldman, Brandeis University
This year’s Halki International Seminars focused on the role of the transatlantic institutions in helping local stakeholders address security challenges in the Middle East, the Black Sea and Southeastern Europe. In the interview that follows, Prof.
How to Really Help Africa?
Despite the enlargement of the G8 to the G20, Europe remains its largest presence. In November France will host the G20 meeting, and so Europe will have the predominant influence on the agenda. While Africa is permanently on the agenda, the question...
EurActiv.com’s revamping and SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
After one month of holidays, I just got back into the European affairs today. First thing in the morning, I checked EurActiv.com to read the latest articles and analysis about my favourite theme: ICT. And, oh, surprise, I saw that the web portal...
eHealth – A revolution for Europe’s health systems?
Image via Wikipedia The topic of ehealth is attracting huge interest in Brussels amongst policymakers, stakeholders, think tanks…. Basically our Brussels’ bubble. First of all – what is it? A good definition seems “the appl...
Mum, are we there yet? Are we at the top yet?
Sweden is oft hailed as a progressive country in terms of gender equality and women’s rights. For instance, Sweden elected its first female Prime Minister in 1962, only two years after Sri Lanka elected Sirimavo Bandaranaike, and years before L...
More confessions from a former media tycoon
It is not the first time Mr. Bilgin makes confessions, this time he is bolder. Dinç Bilgin Bilgin wishes he could be a reporter like Taraf’s Baransu YAVUZ BAYDAR – Dinç Bilgin speaks out One of the greatest myths about today’s Turkis...
In the EMF Proposal, Chance to Get the IMF Right
Whatever its merits for rescuing European nations mired in crises, German finance minister’s 7 March proposal for a European Monetary Fund (EMF) provides an opportunity for Europe and the United States to get the future of the International Monetar...
The Democratic Altiero Spinelli
Yesterday, I read through Altiero Spinelli’s Ventotene Manifesto and criticised him for being anti-democratic. Jon Worth, a prominent advocate of European Federalism, was the first to comment on my post by saying that there’s more to Spin...
Julien Frisch et moi
Julien Frisch et moi Petite interview gratin mondain avec Julien Frisch, chercheur en sciences politiques et auteur du blog « Watching Europe ». Né de l’autre côté du fameux Mur dans les an...
Diane Wallis: Autocrat, tin pot liberal dictator
Here we have another example of the complete lack of any concept of free speech in the European Parliament. In the President's chair for this part of the debate sits Diana Wallis, Lib/Dem MEP for Yorkshire (and how those words mean nothing in any sen...
So the choice on Europe is them, or Us
William Hague's speech at the Royal United Services Institute has made it clear. Vote labour, get Brussels, Vote Lib/Dem get Brussels, and despite thousands of protests to the contrary, vote Tory get Brussels,Nigel Farage has responded with his tradi...
The War in Afghanistan: How to End It
Later today I am delivering the Compton Lecture at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), I will be talking about Afghanistan.The core of my argument is simple – only politics will end the War in Afghanistan. The immense effort of UK, ISA...
Diana welcomes cut to red tape on Britain's small businesses
Local Euro MP Diana Wallis MEP, the Liberal Democrat Spokeswoman on Legal Affairs, has welcomed today's European Parliament vote in favour of exempting struggling small businesses from producing onerous annual accounts.
First week in Brussels
Well I made it to Brussels in one piece, and I’m halfway through my first working week here. The move went very smoothly, and the transition to being here full-time hasn’t been all that jarring considering I lived here for a month last year and h...
Sustainable Europe?
I am glad this week’s theme is called ‘sustainability’ and not ‘the environment’. The ‘environment’ always sounds like something you look at out of the window, or visit at the weekend. However what is on the agenda now is much more tha...
The trials of Catherine Ashton
For anyone it would be a big ask. But for someone with little or no experience of foreign affairs to be tasked with setting up a diplomatic service and to expound foreign policy on behalf of 500 million people the...
The European Union needs a Defence White Paper
With the Treaty of Lisbon implemented, the new High Representative in power, and movement over the establishment of the European External Action Service, has the time come for a European Union Strategic Defence Review?
EU support to regional integration in Africa
Motivated by its own experience over the past fifty years, the European Union (EU) has been a long-standing supporter of regional integration throughout the world, including in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries where there has been a...
A film and An album, I recently discovered
A Prophet is a French movie I have recently watched. It is definitely worth watching. It is a story of “A young Arab man is sent to a French prison where he becomes a mafia kingpin.” Not all action packed and i did not feel a strong clau...
Welcome cut to red tape for Britain's small businesses
Graham Watson Liberal Democrat MEP, has welcomed today's European Parliament vote in favour of exempting struggling small businesses from producing onerous annual accounts.
Will Jack and Jessica have the same career opportunities?
“Will Jack and Jessica have the same career opportunities?” A new clip on EUTube explains the gender pay gap in a Commission communications campaign. Not bad. Watch it! Share/Save...
