The Closer
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Round-up The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted its highest close since December 2007. The S&P 500 closed at its highest level since May 2008 (Wall Street Journal). March’s...
The stink of corruption Enda Kenny, Fine Gael and Denis O Brien
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It appears that a firm which owes the Irish people 150 million, Siteserv, has had a debt write down and that it is to be bought by Fine Gael buddy the disgraced Denis O'Brien. O'Brien had adverse findings against him in a recent corruption inquiry, T...
On the road to #rp12: Und wenn es doch eine europäische Blogosphäre gibt?
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Ich schreib diesen Post einfach mal auf Deutsch. Die letzten 1 1/2 Jahre gab es hier auf Polscieu (aka Politikwissenschaft & EU) nur englische Blogbeiträge, aber da ich meinen Vortrag auf der re:publica 12 auch auf Deutsch halten werde und sow...
Europäischen Stabilitätsmechanismus
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(Mit dem Europäischen Stabilitätsmechanismus) hat sich die Eurozone ein beeindruckendes Sicherungsinstrument geschaffen. Dieser Mechanismus der Solidarität mit finanziell in Bedrängnis geratenen Ländern, der noch vor zwei Jahren undenkbar gewese...
A new energy third world in North America?
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"Here, then, is the energy surprise of the twenty-first century: with operating conditions growing increasingly difficult in the global South, the major firms are now flocking back to North America. To exploit previously neglected reserves on thi...
More leaked warnings, this time for Italy
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Italy's Mario Monti, right, with Chinese premier Wen Jiaobao during a Beijing trip at the weekend. Most of the focus on Friday’s meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Copenhagen was on how much leaders would increase the size of their €50...
Biomass ‘insanity’ may threaten EU carbon targets
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“The EU’s emissions reduction target for 2020 could be facing an unlikely but grave obstacle, according to a growing number of scientists, EU officials and NGOs: the contribution of biomass to the EU’s renewable energy objectives for 2020.” I...
Waiter! There’s a central bank in my CAC
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We missed this last week, from the (deep breath) Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) Sub-Committee on EU Sovereign Debt Markets.Something to read if you’re planning...
Hugh’s Fish Fight and live streaming statistics of the EU Council
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Two weeks ago, I wrote “Hugh’s Fish Fight or: The blind spot of the EU social media gurus“. As you may know, I am doing my academic research on information flows in EU policy-making and so I was interested whether a campaign like Hugh&#...
Realsozialismus 101
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Because it’s really Realsozialismus, baby!: dumpster-diving for something to eat in humanity's most elaborate welfare state.Many pensioners and unemployed people in Berlin are turning to an unusual means of supplementing their meager incomes: colle...
Turned Away from Bahrain
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Over the past 20 years or so, Bahrain has been one of my favourite ports of call. When I was working in Kuwait for extended periods in 2004-2006, in particular, I often used to pop down for the weekend, as Manama was so friendly and relaxed. But al...
MMFs, deposit insurance, and regulation in the age of shadow bank runs
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Deposit insurance on non-interest bearing accounts — it was in October 2008 that the FDIC started it, through the Transaction Account Guarantee, or TAG.Until we looked a bit more closely,...
Trust collective wisdom – European Citizens' Initiative
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To our normal awareness, a room filled with people is just a crowd. But arrange those people in the right way, with the right processes, and they can generate wisdom. I believe in the collective wisdom of European citizens emerging from the new democ...
Trust collective wisdom – European Citizens' Initiative
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To our normal awareness, a room filled with people is just a crowd. But arrange those people in the right way, with the right processes, and they can generate wisdom. I believe in the collective wisdom of European citizens emerging from the new democ...
Trust collective wisdom – European Citizens' Initiative
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To our normal awareness, a room filled with people is just a crowd. But arrange those people in the right way, with the right processes, and they can generate wisdom. I believe in the collective wisdom of European citizens emerging from the new democ...
France: Lyon Hosts the World Wide Web 2012 Conference
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The World Wide Web 2012 conference is hosted this year in Lyon, France, from April 16 to 20, and will feature many prominent figures of the Web, historic and current ones. Global Voices Online author Danica Radovanovic is presenting on the first...
Australian Bishop: Total Re-examination of Catholicism Needed
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It is rare to read of someone calling for a total re-examination of Catholic faith and culture. When the person just happens to be a retired Catholic bishop, one cannot help but wonder if the guy has a death wish, or at the very least is not much int...
3 new agreements to strengthen CARIFORUM
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The Caribbean Forum of the ACP Group (CARIFORUM) and the European Commission (EC) recently signed three financial agreements. While the first agreement will focus on economic and trade integration, the second deal is expected to help develop areas...
On the blessings of escaping daltonism
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Blessed with offices with a park-view, it has been hard not to notice the veritable explosion that has taken place over the last ten days: spring has finally come to Brussels! What was grey and brown has once more become green. And how fitting that g...
Tax-free access to Europe walks a tightrope
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According to an article by Tralac, an EU lawmaker recently warned that should some African countries fail to sign a deal to replace preferential agreement, which the World Trade Organisation has rejected,they could lose tax-free access for expo...
South Africa looks to seize new opportunities
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The Department of Trade and Industry (Dti) has identified food processing as a priority area in the South African economy. Following the announcement of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, the Manufacturing Competitiveness Enhancement Programme (MCEP)...
Embattled Hungarian President Announces Resignation
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Hungary's preident Pal Schmitt resigned after his reputation was blemished by a plagiarism scandal.
Towards a more secure Europe
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Guest post by Hristiana Grozdanova and Anna Maria Barcikowska. Since the autumn of 2008, the financial crisis and its implications has dictated the EU policies. The pressures on EU governments to control expenditure continue to be enormous. Defence...
Zambia: Definitely not "a horse and rider" EPA
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According to the recent statements of the Zambian Trade and Commerce Minister Robert Sichinga, the country will not be pressured into signing unfavourable EPAs with the EU. In a meeting with the EU delegation in Lusaka, Minister Sichinga noted t...
Casino capitalism unthreatened by Michel Barnier
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The City of London is more than a financial centre. It is a laboratory for market fundamentalism. Following the Second World War, Alfred Suenson-Taylor, chairman of an insurance company in the City, played an important role in setting up the Mont Pè...
Leaked EU economic analyses: have a read
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Following our story Saturday and subsequent blog post on two confidential economic analyses prepared for European finance ministers in Copenhagen which paint a less-than-confident picture of the eurozone crisis, we here at Brussels Blog have received...
Two more German solar power companies file for bankruptcy
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"HIGH YIELDS IN EVERY DIRECTION"(Q-Cells webpage 2 April, 2012) "Q-Cells SE will...
Seville’s Moroccan community: planning to 'return'?
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As of 2006, Moroccans constituted Seville's largest immigrant community, with more than 3, 000 Moroccans living in the city. Given its Moorish history, Andalusia – and its capital, Seville – has a long association with the Maghreb - but maybe not...
