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Is the new Treaty really sustainable?
By Cristina Mariani Analysis: 25 Member States agreed on the new Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union. Is it sustainable? “With this treaty, the contracting parties agree, as member states of the E...
Monti: “From now on, the EU sits on a rock”
By Matteo Adduci Presenting the freshly reached agreement on a fiscal pact ratified by 25 EU member states (everyone except the UK – same old story - and the Czech Republic – due to “different problems in relation to the possible adoption...
Fashion-forward female leaders to make it right
By Cristina Mariani ‘I am here with my little bag to collect a bit of money’ said IMF head Christine Lagarde in Davos recently, proferring her big LV handbag. It's big, but is it big enough? And is anyone going to offer to fill it for her?
My name is Martin Schulz, “Guardian of the European Union”
By Matteo Adduci Photo by Davide Martinotti “The European Parliament must be a fully entitled member within the decision process on European financial and economic governance. I see myself as a guardian of the European Union”. These were the w...
Youth employment pivotal to growth
By Julie Kavanagh The Party of European Socialists have dismissed as ¨empty proposals¨ a new EU draft paper detailling measures to tackle youth unemployment. With the issue expected to be high on the agenda at today´s informal summit, politic...
Brussels Summit starts as Belgian strike action continues
By Julie Kavanagh Photo by Davide Martinotti Today´s general strike in Belgium has seen transport ground to a standstill, but the European quarter of Brussels remains a hive of activity as the latest EU summit kicks off. Heads of State from ac...
Brussels Summit starts as Belgian strike action continues
By Julie Kavanagh Photo by Davide Martinotti Today´s general strike in Belgium has seen transport ground to a standstill, but the European quarter of Brussels remains a hive of activity as the latest EU summit kicks off. Heads of State from ac...
26:1 – A fiscal Union in the European
By Hans Mund Two figures of the Eurozone safer team: Van Rompuy and Italien's Prime Minister Mario Monti The coming week that starts on Monday 23rd, can be considered as the kick-off for the year 2012 when it comes to EU politics. It will be the...
Europe Past Forward video challenge
If you are between 18 and 30, have a creative eye and feel like you could do with the € 5,000 Video Challenge first prize, then Europe Past Forward is for you! The European Economic and Social Committee invites you to submit a video where you ans...
From Doha with love: the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum awards cafebabel.com
Today cafebabel.com won third prize for the Intercultural Innovation Awards in Doha, Qatar at the occasion of the 4th United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum. This prize was given by Princess Rym Ali of Jordan to cafebabel.com for our outstan...
Congolese riots in Brussels
By Davide Martinotti and Lisa Kittel Photos: Davide Martinotti Police arrested about 200 people Friday night after violent demonstrations mounted by Congolese expatriates living in Brussels. Already on Monday, the demonstration saw approximate...
Is sleepy Europe going one step forward?
By Dominique Strzyz Photo Davide Marinotti Friday morning, sleepy European leaders appeared after 10 hours of all-night negotiations, to explain the conclusions they will take home with them. Thursday night there was no time to sleep on it because...
“Europe at a crossroads”. After the EU Summit, a lesson from the past
By Cristina Mariani “The debilitating effects of two bloody wars and the weakening of Europe's position in the world brought a growing realisation that only peace and concerted action could make the dream of a strong, unified Europe come true.
With or without him
By Lisa Kittel “Will there be another summit this year?”, a question put to Merkel afterthe summit finished yesterday. It’s true that there have quite been a lot meetings of late at the European Council. Merkel already seems to know every sin...
The EU says “nein” to Serbia
By Tanja Milevska European leaders have not given candidate status to Serbia. “Unwise decision” for some…This last European Council of heads of states and governments of the EU will have displeased many, not only inside the EU but also amo...
Welcome Croatia!
By Elena de Pascual It is official. Croatia is in the European Union. Following six years of negotiations, Croatia today signed the Accession Treaty during the most significant European Council Summit meeting of 2011. It will become the twenty-eighth...
Energy savings, assistance for crisis
By Lucía Martín Noya As part of the European Summit, where the protagonists are the crisis and the incorporationof Croatia, the Council will also discuss the Directive for energy efficiency. The adoption of this proposal could provide great ben...
EU Summit: our last slow dance together?
By Dominique Strzyz Photo: Davide Martinotti Waiting for the dancing queen The Merkozy duet proposes to open the music box of the Lisbon Treaty whether we dance with 27 or with 17. But what can we dance together to persuade the maestros o...
EU Summit: our last slow dance together?
By Dominique Strzyz Photo: Davide Martinotti Waiting for the dancing queen The Merkozy duet proposes to open the music box of the Lisbon Treaty whether we dance with 27 or with 17. But what can we dance together to persuade the maestros o...
Two-speed Europe, maximum speed or no speed at all?
By Joan Manuel Lanfranco Pari Translation: Davide Martinotti The idea of different speeds for integration has accompanied the history of the EU in last decades. As a matter of fact, the EU already works at different speeds. For instance the Sch...
