Latest posts
On Ensurance of Fair Trial Rights, Negotiation Directives, and Next Steps on Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship
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On 9th March 2010, the European Commission proposed legislation that hopefully helps people exercise their fair trial rights anywhere in the EU when they cannot understand the language of the case: http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/intro/news_int...
85.6% of Japanese Public Supports Capital Punishment…Really?
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I have been assessing the extent to which the EU can try and urge Japan to change its accepted norms on human rights regarding capital punishment, and came across this article the other day: Japan Today (2010) “Record High 85.6% in Favor of Death P...
Time to end the ‘Copenhagen Syndrome’
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The reshaping of the global order started essentially with the fall of the Berlin Wall. However, this new emerging order had been in incubation for years. Today, it has reached maturity: this is the Copenhagen Syndrome. And Europeans better get used...
The ECtHR on Conditions in Deportation Centre
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I did recently translate the decision of the ECtHR as to the admissibility of application No. 14160/08 by Sergey Dolinskiy against Estonia, into the Estonian language. This is about a refused request for a residence permit and the subsequent detainme...
International Law in Cairo
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I unfortunately did not notice earlier, but the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich in cooperation with the University in Cairo (AUC) are holding a summer program in international law in Cairo in five modules: Islamic and Middle Eastern Law...
Islam & Europe – Part II
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Part II – Why Islam is a religion of Europe For the vast majority of the European people secularism is one of the pillars of the society they live in. Medieval European societies were most of the time organized and ruled by the combined authori...
The arbitrariness of EU agricultural subsidies
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When member states (finally) released detailed data on the individual recipients of its € 55 billion annual farm subsidies, they unleashed a flurry of media reporting. Public anger on big business and rich (possibly aristocratic) landowners swallow...
Think Again: European Geostrategy
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What is geostrategy? Does it lead to conquest, imperialism and empire? Is it about power and control? It can be those things and it can lead to ruinous behaviour. But does it have to be? Think again...
New Law Books
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Most people probably know, but for the new students who might not know two links to the newest and most recently reviewed EU law books, and international law books. Tort: Workbook, Virtual Pack 2010, by Riley, Leon; Turner, Chris. Source: Hammicks...
Eurosclerosis
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A quarter of a century ago, it was said that Europe was in the grip of ‘Eurosclerosis’. The intellectual retreat of Keynesianism, as the modest inflation critical to a Keynesian demand-management programme became a vertiginous problem, an...
A European convoy needs co-ordinated fleet action
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The President of the European Council stated in his speech to the College of Europe that the European Union needed ‘collective fleet action’ – greater foreign policy co-ordination – but what form should this take? What matters and what does n...
Estonia Quiz 2010
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The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put up the new Estonia Quiz 2010. People are invited to test their knowledge and win a trip for two to Estonia. Viru värav (Getaway to Tallinn Old Town). Source: Google images.
The European Union needs a Defence White Paper
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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?
International /Human Rights/ Law Video Library
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Here is a link to the International Human Rights Law Video Library, and the link to the International Law Video Library. You can find links to the subjects and sources of international law; responsibility for international wrong; peaceful settlement...
The Falklands: the European Union’s Antarctic key
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The Falkland Islands have once again become a diplomatic storm-in-a-teacup between Argentina and Britain. But what is the geopolitical significance of the Falkland Islands? And why is it in the European interest that Britain keep hold of them?
On Interparliamentary Relations
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To create some more order, here are some links to parliaments and their relations in Europe: Interparliamentary websites: COSAC ECPRD - The European Centre for Parliamentary Research and Documentation Council of Europe IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Uni...
The ECtHR on Access to Case File
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I just finished translation of the ECtHR’s decision on admissibility of Application no. 42551/98 by Oleg Svinarenkov against Estonia, into the Estonian language. The facts of the case relate to deliberate homicide and unlawful possession of a fir...
EU Legislative Databases
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To create some order, here is a list of EU legislative databases: EUR-Lex: The portal to European Union law OEIL: The Legislative Observatory (European Parliament) PreLex: Monitoring of the decision-making process (European Commission) N-Lex: A c...
Some Sunday Fun
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The International Law Prof Blog has put up a refreshing video headed: “Why people don’t walk cats” (here downloaded from Youtube): Whereas the Centre of European Law of the University of London has put up a new list of upcoming events.(L.W.)...
Presidency Paradox: The Problem with the new European Council President
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Now that the sense of anti-climax surrounding the appointment of Herman van Rompuy as the new President of the European Council has subsided, it is worthwhile casting a critical eye over the likely role and powers of the new permanent president. Putt...
