Erkan's field diary

Lobby groups oppose plans for EU copyright extension

A European senate in Strasbourg?
Controversy surrounding the European parliament’s use of two seats (Brussels and Strasbourg) has given new life to the debate on federalism. There are good reasons for the parliament to remain permanently in Brussels, and plenty of other options for the capital of Alsace

Remember, the Council of Europe is not part of the EU

The Strasbourg-based organisation defends human rights in Europe and needs to combat its dwindling visibility

Sarkozy's false apology

By Boz

From IHT:
When President Nicolas Sarkozy was asked in an interview published Tuesday whether he thought it was acceptable that he had lost his temper at a bystander who did not want to shake his hand - an incident captured on video and viewed by more than 3 million people online - he refused to excuse himself. His office dictated an apology anyway...

Member states outline research and innovation priorities

Ahead of the next month's Spring Summit, the Council is calling on member states and the Commission to deepen their cooperation on knowledge, research and innovation to ensure better coherence between national research policies and contribute to the objectives of the re-launched Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs.

"America Wrong, Europe Right" on Afghanistan

By Joerg Wolf

Washington Post blogger William M. Arkin says that the "non-lethal European approach" in Afghanistan is right, while the US approach is wrong: "The notion that we can just ship the Iraq surge strategy to the country and win is thoughtless. " He blames Defense Secretary Gates for creating the public image that "if there were more shooters from Europe, somehow the war would be going better."

Macroeconomic policies for EU accession

Agence Europe, 26 février 2008

Bibliothèque européenne N° 767

Basé sur une conférence concernant les politiques macroéconomiques dans la perspective de l’adhésion à l’Union tenue à Ankara en mai 2005, cet ouvrage analyse les défis auxquels la Turquie fait face dans ce contexte: réduire l’inflation à 3%, réduire la dette publique à un ratio de moins de 60% du PIB et réduire le niveau de chômage tout en préservant la durabilité des finances publiques.

U.S.-Russia Relations After Kosovo

By Nikolas K. Gvosdev

Some thoughts on where things might be headed, which I've published on Taki's Top Drawer.

I really do want to emphasize that I don't expect immediate reactions. But I do think that what is continuing to happen is the erosion of trust in the relationship--and a shift to where Moscow wants cash on the barrel head arrangements. This trend will accelerate, I believe, under Medvedev--because this has been the Gazprom strategy. No promises, no vague assurances--cash or deliverables on hand.

Serbian Violence is not just about Kosova

By Hannah Lucinda Smith

[Comment] Franco-British defence cooperation - a historic crossroads?

European social model challenged by Court rulings

European Court of Justice rulings in the Laval and Viking cases represent a "danger" for social Europe and open the door to "wage dumping" in the EU, leftist members of Parliament said, while business representatives argued the judgements were crucial to preserving freedom of movement and establishment throughout the bloc.

The effect of Kosovo’s independence on the security of the Balkans by Bekir Çınar

The declaration of Kosovar independence was made by Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci on Feb. 17, 2008 in the Kosovar Parliament.

Wolfgang Petritsch : The EU’s Kosovo Catalyst

Kosovo’s declaration of independence has put stability in the Western Balkans back on Europe’s agenda. Unless the European Union acts quickly, the whole region could slide backwards, with dire social, economic, and security consequences. The EU needs a comprehensive regional approach, focusing on the remaining steps that would lead each country towards membership.

Wess Mitchell: The EU’s Viennese Mirror

If a European Union bureaucrat could travel to fin de siècle Vienna, he would be surprised by how closely the Hapsburg Empire resembled today’s EU. Like the EU, Austria-Hungary was an experiment in supranational engineering, comprising 51 million inhabitants, 11 nationalities, and 14 languages. Presiding over this microcosm of Europe was a double-throned Emperor-King and twin parliaments representing the largely independent Austrian and Hungarian halves of the realm.

Who are the Europeans and how does this matter for politics?

By Neil Fligstein

DOSSIER: The German tax inquiry is spreading across Europe | 27/02/2008

German authorities started a major operation tracking down tax evaders ten days ago. On February 26th, the German justice system revealed that 27.8 million euros had already been recovered from defrauders with bank accounts abroad, notably in Liechenstein. It has also given precious information to other European countries that are now also pursuing offenders.

Serbia: an old script, replayed , Dragan Klaic

I returned to Belgrade a week ago with more than habitual anxiety because the self-declared independence of Kosovo on 17 February 2008 had triggered a new wave of loud and angry protests in Serbia. The largest demonstration was an official one, planned for Thursday 21 February in front of the Serbian parliament building in Belgrade; it had the support both of the nationalist prime minister Vojislav Koštunica and the ultra-nationalist leader of the Radical Party (and narrow runner-up in the presidential election on 3 February), Tomislav Nikolic. The decision of the election winner Boris Tadic to make a state visit to Romania rather than att

Kosovo, this and that

By Douglas Muir

Random Kosovo/Serbia stuff from the last few days.

First, an interesting Indian perspective on Kosovo:

Serbia Withdrew Police, Intelligence Chief Says

By Walter Pincus on Washington, DC

The Serbian government decided to pull back its police in Belgrade last Thursday so that demonstrators could attack the U.S. and British embassies, Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell told a Senate committee yesterday.