Mediterranean summit planned

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy invites Mediterranean leaders to a summit aimed at forging closer ties.

Nato stretch spurs force rethink

Nato ministers under multiple pressures to provide troops order a rapid reaction force to be scaled down.

Sarkozy details green France plan

France's President Sarkozy calls for taxes to hit polluters and for French use of pesticides to be halved.

 A new start? EU-Russia summit raises expectations

The arrival of a new government in Poland has sparked optimism that Friday's (26 October) EU-Russia summit will produce progress on a new partnership agreement. But other points of contention remain, particularly in the energy sector, and the extent to which Poland's new leaders will change their stance on Russia remains unclear.

Commission vows to tackle globalisation in 2008

The European Commission has released its political programme for the coming year, with a core focus on issues such as growth and jobs, climate change, energy and migration - confirming its desire to move on from matters of institutional reform.

EU seeks global anti-counterfeiting pact

The Commission wants member states to give it a mandate to negotiate a new agreement with its major trading partners, aimed at raising the standard of global intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and tackling the rising and increasingly problematic trade in counterfeit goods, it announced on 23 October....

"I'm completely fed up with Germany"

by Joerg Wolf

Part of a comment from our reader Jean:

At this point, I'm completely fed up w/ Germany - had to sit at a dinner where German generals declared the Iraq War lost, and then smirked about it.  This from a country that pays $5 million per German hostage, money which is then used to buy weaponry to kill US soldiers and Iraqis!

 

German Foreign Policy Needs to Grow Up

French socialists consider abstaining from EU treaty vote

 

EU climate change adaptation policy

With a green paper published in June 2007, the European Commission has started a public consultation on policy measures needed to lessen the impacts and costs of increasing climate change-related calamities such as floods and forest fires.

Lifestyle 'source of health inequalities'

The type of fat eaten, binge drinking and heavy smoking are causing earlier mortality rates in eastern Europe than in the west and hampering the potential for economic development there.

 

Interview: 'Huge health gaps remain inside the EU'

A project examining the health gap between the eastern and western members of the EU concludes that the main reasons for differences in premature death rates and ill-health are lifestyle-related.

EU economy 'not sustainable', finds Commission report

CO2 emissions from transport are rising, biodiversity is threatened, and more Europeans are suffering from depression, according to the Commission's first review of the EU's sustainable development strategy. The report also includes some positive indicators, including an increase in the introduction of climate change-related initiatives in member states.

Commission outlines EU health policy strategy

The EU health strategy 2008-2013 focuses on fostering good health among older people and the workforce, protecting citizens from emerging threats and supporting innovation towards more efficient and sustainable healthcare systems.

DOSSIER: The threat of war in Northern Iraq | 25/10/2007

For several days now the Turkish army has been attacking positions of the PKK, the Kurdish underground organisation. The conflict threatens to spread to Northern Iraq, which PKK fighters are using as a base to conduct attacks against Turkish targets. The American government has warned its NATO ally Turkey not to invade its neighbouring country. The European press fears an escalation of the conflict.

DOSSIER: Is the European blue card on its way? | 24/10/2007

The European Commission yesterday presented its concept for a blue card which would enable highly skilled workers from outside the EU to obtain limited work permits in Europe. The German and Austrian governments have spoken out against the legislation. The press now fears the project could fail.

 

Sarkozy goes green before appearing with Gore

The French president, who will appear alongside the Nobel winner, is to give a speech marking the end of an unprecedented four-month negotiation on environmental policy

Europe and Russia need positive energy

The fundamental nature of the gas trade between the EU and Russia is changing fast, and both parties should begin to depoliticise what is essentially a commercial relationship that requires confidence, write Daniel Yergin and Simon Blakey

Jobs without borders: Nordic nations want Baltic immigrants

Acute labour shortages are prompting all governments in Scandinavia to let in eastern neighbours to work – but unions and parties of both left and right are wary...

 

DOSSIER: Should Europeans commit more to Afghanistan? | 26/10/2007

Gathered in Noordwijk in the Netherlands on Thursday October 25th, NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers made no concrete decisions on further deployment of troops in Afghanistan. Several European countries already have troops there, notably in the north of the country. But the situation is degenerating in the south and the Americans are appealing to allies of the Atlantic Alliance, such as France and Germany, to commit more.

Boucher: 'Possible to get citizens interested in EU'

Due to their recommending force, deliberative polls can act as an incentives for politicians to take action, says Stephen Boucher from Tomorrow's Europe. Such polls could also also hep to bridge the gap between the EU insitutions and its citizens, and increase acceptance for economic and social reforms, Boucher argues in an interview with EurActiv.

Europe's external energy policy: The Russian dimension

Meeting the external challenge posed by Russia requires a major re-orientation of EU energy policy and a robust approach to security of supply, writes Dieter Helm in a 3 September paper.

EU, Russia play down ambitions at summit

Energy and trade are high on the agenda in high-level talks between the EU and Russia taking place today (26 October) in Mafra, Portugal. However, both sides have scaled down their expectations of what the summit will actually deliver.

Sarkozysm, trivialities, and french particularities

by Kiki

The Economist’s Paris Bureau Chief has a short and funny post on the French Education Minister to deal with the most important issue of our times: the lightening to the weight of the backpacks of French students:

 

Labour and Tory EU attitude shifts

by nosemonkey

It’s hard not to find the idea that the EU could be moving in to the old Tory Smith Square HQ quite amusing, considering the decided shift against Europe in the party during the last thirty years. The Tories moved in to number 32 Smith Square back in 1958 - the year after the EU [...]