Latest posts
Revolution or ‘plus ca change…’? Questions on communication
This article on the expected ‘communication revolution’ is a scoop . But the source is one senior individual at the Commission, and some issues are not new. Which is why a debate is necessary: it takes place within the EU institutions...
21 juillet: pour la Belgique moderne, vote des expatriés & écoles multilingues à Bruxelles
‘Expats love Belgium: they chose it! ‘ Il y a deux ans, une manifestation pour l’unité de la Belgique a réuni francophones et flamands, notamment au Parc du Cinquantenaire. Je regrette encore de ne pas y avoir déployé la bande...
Brussels Blogger Study 2010 just out: could do better, outside Brussels
Here are some comments and strong opinions, on what speakers said at a study launch by consultancy Waagener Edstrom, well summarized here . And what it means for opinion leaders: Mr Buzek, please read on… Now, why would a Frenchman bother t...
Wild idea for the wild East: pan-European EEC, soft governed by Europe 10 including Turkey, Ukraine, Russia
What the Turkish President and a French Minister told me encourages posting some ideas I had discussed with friends. I describe briefly the context, some practical steps, a daring vision, and next steps. Last week, I spoke at a major French Turkish c...
“Fünfzig europäische Expeditionen”, von Martin Leidenfrost
Am Montag Abend war ich bei der Lesung dieses Buches, auch ‘Brüssel zartherb’ genannt. Hier sind, nach dem nächtlichen Lesen weiterer Kapitel, einige Eindrücke. Die Schrift ist eine Sammlung von echten Kurzgeschichten, die bereits in mitteleur...
Grèce et Allemagne: La cigale et la fourmi…
Plus je lis sur les attentes et reactions ce ces deux pays, plus je pense que cela correspond à des profiles… fabuleux! En tout cas, il y a de nombreux préjugés sur les pays latins (ou méditeranéen, pour être précis) et germaniques. Or...
EU Diplomatic service, EAS: crying and kicking, the baby will grow
Given the very long pregnancy and current birthing problems, many commentators voice pessimism about the EU External Action Service. First among the Cassandras are journalists, not always imune to cynicism, and sometimes confusing soundbites and tren...
Anecdotes comparing old diplomacy, trade diplomacy and External Action Service
This post is an element supporting my optimistic view about the new EU diplomatic service, at least with a medium to long term perspective. In a separate post, I explain why EAS will eventually succeed. First, I remember visiting years ago the Embass...
English invasion of French: Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense!
The invasion of the langue de Molière by English words is intolerable… Or should we laissez-faire? Actually, France had a lien on phrases lent to the alleged lingua franca. Many words in English are née françois: they have French roots, plenty...
What prevents the Gonzales group from a debate on EU borders?
I am reacting to this blog by Georgi Gotev: Will the ‘wise men’ dare to mention Turkey’s place in Europe? ” On Europe Day the EU’s ‘group of wise men’ will submit its report on the challenges facing Europe until 2030. I had the...
German as EU working language: Beschwerungen, Verteidigung oder wirkliche Förderung?
A post by Günter K.V. Vetter about German as working language of the new EU External Action Service triggers my writing down some opinion that I kept relatively private so far. Here is the original post, in German of course… and I also react...
Will Yanukovitch finally prepare Ukraine for European integration?
I observed one week of post-election commentaries (some more sources here): this is my short ‘net take’. But before attempting to answer this question, let’s get rid of one frequent misconception in Western reporting: that the Presidential elec...
Some more sources on Ukraine’s elections and Europe
This article by Gideon Rachman makes good points: Oranges and lemons in Ukraine Two Ukraine experts also write good articles on the topic in the FT, Stefan Wagstyl Roman Olearchyk But these articles are regrettably behind a paywall: a different...
EurActiv’s Xth anniversary: any feed-back and anecdotes to share?
(includes links to video summary with Barroso & Buzek statements, programme, introduction speech) EurActiv’s anniversary was about 10 years of EurActiv.com, 5 years of the 10 country EurActiv network, and 5 years of Fondation EurActiv.
‘Debating Europe Nationally’: Debate at Parliament and Awards
Speech by EurActiv Founder Christophe Leclercq on 12 November 2009, Please see also the whole programme with VIP guests and Fondation EurActiv Award winners. The whole event tonight is about celebrating EurActiv’s Xth anniversary and Debating Europ...
Lancer Europe 2020? Leçons de 10 ans d’EurActiv
( You have a view on how to debate and communicate the EU 2020 replacement of the Lisbon Agenda? Please react, by simply clicking below) (Edito newsletter ‘EurActiv et Vous’, Janvier 2010) Avec Barroso II, de nouvelles politiques vont bientôt ê...
EurActiv grandit et accompagne l’Union, au-delà de la crise
(You have a view on how the EU celebrated the 2009 year of anniversaries? Please react, by simply clicking below) (Edito newsletter ‘EurActiv et Vous’, janvier 2009) Chers partenaires et amis d’EurActiv, En ces temps incertains, et en phase ave...
« Change we need » « Crises = opportunités » … en pratique : des débats ouverts en 2009
(Edito newsletter ‘EurActiv et Vous’, novembre 2008) (You have a view on how the EU reacted (or not) to the economic crisis at the time? On how it shaped today’s positions? Please react, by simply clicking below) Chers partenaires et ‘acteurs...
Ukrainians knock on the doors, which one would YOU open?
Ukrainians knock on the doors, which one would YOU open? Answer a minister question Posted by EurActiv Correspondent on 30/07/09 I recently spent several days in Ukraine, both out of personal interest for the country and also to assess on behalf o...
Renouvellements 10 ans et 5 ans: agenda de Lisbonne et Barroso, EurActiv et son réseau
(Edito newsletter ‘EurActiv et Vous’, septembre 2009) (You have a view on the political process from EU elections to the new Commission? Please react, by simply clicking below) Cher(e)s partenaires et ami(e)s d’EurActiv, Passées les élections...
