An ambitious survey of public opinion around the world contains valuable findings of great interest to the world's citizens and policymakers alike. The project, conducted by Voice of the People for the European Council on Foreign Relations and released on 25 October 2007, has discovered:

openDemocracy writers track the European Union in a decisive year:

Aurore Wanlin, "The European Union at fifty: a second life" (15 March 2007)

Krzysztof Bobinski, "European unity: reality and myth" (21 March 2007)

Frank Vibert, "The European Union in 2057" (22 March 2057)

George Schőpflin, "The European Union's troubled birthday" (23 March 2007)

Simon Berlaymont, "Tony Blair and Europe" (30 May 2007)

Kalypso Nicolaïdis & Philippe Herzog, "Europe at fifty: towards a new single act" (21 June 2007)

Michael Bruter, "European Union: from backdoor to front" (3 July 2007)

Olaf Cramme, "Europe: politics or die" (17 September 2007)

Kalypso Nicolaïdis & Simone Bunse, "The ‘European Union presidency': a practical compromise" (10 October 2007)

Katinka Barysch & Hugo Brady, "Europe's "reform treaty": ends and beginnings" (18 October 2007)

John Palmer, "Europe's higher ground" (22 October 2007)

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Current Budget Battles

by nanne

As we gear up for another round of battle over the EU's long-term financial framework, which will get a mid-term review in 2008, here's an update on a number of current fights.

I realise that talking about the budget and the financial framework can be a bit dry, but it is important. Broadly, the EU affects affects our lives in two ways. The first way is that it draws up legislation that needs to be implemented by the Member States. In the past, this mainly consisted of standards that need to be followed, recently the EU is moving more towards setting up governance regimes through 'framework' legislation.......

 

Inconsistent Statements on the Primary Aim of European Missile Defense

by Kyle Atwell

Defense News quotes Rich Lehner, a spokesman for the US Missile Defense Agency: "deployment of interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic is designed specifically to defend most of Europe."

According to Defense News, Lehner's statements appear to contradict the understanding of US policymakers, including Representative Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee:.............

Muslims and the decadent West

by Jörg Lau

For young Muslims in Europe, the critique of western "decadence" is an act of dissidence, argues Joerg Lau. Nevertheless, some commentators maintain that if young Muslims reject western society, they have been driven to do so. Self-exclusion is thus reinterpreted as the fault of the majority. What motivates this alliance between liberal self-critique and religiosity?

 

Forbes.com: Italy's Prodi sees strong euro impact on energy imports curbing trade deficit-" EU consumer unfortunately not benefiting from strong Euro"

Note EU-Digest: It is shameful how some corporations in Europe including petro-chemical corporations are profiting from the strong euro and not passing these benefits on to the consumer. Consumers in the EU are not seeing the price of gasoline (which is tied to the dollar) drop, or for that matter just about any product which is bought outside the EU and quoted in US dollars. For example Nike shoes (made in the Far East) selling in America for around US $ 65.00 (43 euro's) are still being listed in Europe for over 100 euro's. Instead of whining about the strong euro European politicians should go after corporations who are price gouching and getting away with making huge profits.

¿Por qué Kosovo? (1)

by Francisco Veiga

 

Kosovo: Nearing the end of the road?

by PHK

The diplomatic impasse in the Balkans over Kosovo predicted last summer will soon be upon us. Did anyone really think that a breakthrough would occur when the negotiations between recalcitrant Serbs and equally recalcitrant Kosovars resumed last August – this time under senior EU diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger - over the future status of the fiercely contested region in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula?

Romania's first European Elections reject far right extremism

Graham Watson, leader of the Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, responded this evening to initial results following the close of polling in Romania's first elections for the European Parliament since becoming a full Member State of the EU on 1st January this year.

Romanian nationalists defeated in EU assembly vote

 

EU approves extra funds for Galileo and technology institute

 

Blogactiv - the future of the EU blogosphere?

by fhbrussels

We often stare in wonder at the supposed influence of US bloggers on political discourse and ponder whether such things will ever happen in Brussels. Over at the Brussels Media blog, they report on a development we heard mooted around town over recent months; the development by the internet information portal Euractiv of its own blogging platform blogactiv.eu

It is an interesting development, but we think it also throws up some interesting questions about the development of the EU blogosphere.