Erkan's field diary

The Lisbon Treaty is dead

By nosemonkey

But considering it was largely the unconvincing zombie resurrection of the old Constitution anyway, it probably won’t be fully dead until someone’s cut its head off, put a stake through its heart, shot it repeatedly with silver bullets, smothered it in garlic-infused holy water, and tricked it into saying its name backwards three times.

Note to the EU: for Christ’s sake, can we please actually THINK about the next step this time? In detail? Preferably without the assumption that the people are too stupid to notice what you’re trying to pull on them (thus alienating them yet further from a project which seems increasingly separated from the needs of the European people) - and ideally with the people in full, genuine consultation at every stage.

Irish Referendum - Early Returns

By nanne

The returns can be watched on ireland.com

Liveblogging on the European Tribune

After the first constituency reports, no leads yes 54 to 46.

Ireland stamps its Eurosceptic foot

By Stella Willborn

A low turnout, but a seismic result that raises more questions than it answers about Europe’s future direction. This and much, much more in our weekly round up from Brussels.

Disaster strikes-again!

By rz

The results in the Irish referendum so far clearly indicate a victory for the 'No' camp. Obviously the only reasonable reason how this could happen is a big conspiracy! Read here all about the shady connections of the money man behind the 'No' campaign.

Thumbs down on Lisbon

What should Europe, and Ireland, do next?

Irish justice minister concedes Lisbon defeat

Question marks over EU reaction if Ireland says No

Irish vote sends EU back to the drawing board

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats note the outcome of the Irish referendum with deep regret.

Graham Watson, leader of the ALDE group in the European Parliament also indicated his huge disappointment:

On the Shadow Home Secretary’s resignation

By nosemonkey

Three thoughts on all the Westminster excitement (for non-UK readers, the short version - the Shadow Home Secretary has resigned his seat as MP to force a by-election, which he has announced that he intends to fight on the single issue of the erosion of civil liberties in Britain, following the contentious and close vote to extend the legal period of detention without trial to 42 days):

UK to press ahead with EU Treaty

Labour says it will continue to ratify the EU Treaty as Irish voters reject it in a referendum.

Irish justice minister admits likelihood of poll defeat

Irish voters have rejected the European Union's Lisbon treaty in a referendum, Dermot Ahern, Ireland's justice minister conceded on Friday, although official results have yet to be announced

Mardell's Europe

Lisbon Treaty left many Irish voters bewildered

'Strong show' for Irish No vote

Early unofficial vote tallies indicate a lead for the No vote in Ireland's referendum on the European Union's Lisbon Treaty.

Nail-biting day for EU after low Irish turnout

Despite heavy government lobbying, less than half of the Irish electorate went to the polls yesterday (12 June) to give their verdict on the EU's new Lisbon Treaty. Counting will not start before this morning, but the low turnout is seen as a bad sign for the 'yes' camp.

Bush slams anti-US 'propaganda'

President George Bush denounces "misinformation and propaganda" which he says are sullying the US' image abroad.

Business and unions call for 'open' EU

As the French Presidency prepares proposals for a comprehensive, Europe-wide approach to labour immigration, European businesses and trade unions at the 2008 Employment Week called on the EU not to present a "xenophobic" face to the rest of the world.

EU's postal plans run into teething troubles

Germany's Deutsche Post yesterday (11 June) filed an official complaint with the European Commission against the Dutch government's decision to delay the opening of its mail market. The move comes amid increasing concern over the difficulties linked to the practical implementation of new EU rules.

EU cracks down on French and German gas giants

The European Commission said on Thursday it is stepping up an investigation against E.ON and Gaz de France, saying it suspects the two energy utilities of illegally sharing the German and French markets in natural gas.

EU water privatisation schemes 'failing'

Privatisation schemes promoted by leading international organisations, including the EU, as a means of investing in water infrastructure in the world's poorest regions, are failing to deliver in terms of supply and cost, according to a new website launched today (12 June).

Commission accuses US of biodiesel dumping

The EU has initiated anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations into imports of biodiesel from the United States in what could turn into the next major trade row between the bloc and its number one trading partner.

Europe desperately lacking 'positive entrepreneurship culture'

The EU must work towards changing its attitudes towards entrepreneurship and create a positive culture which encourages people to take risks, argued participants in the annual Microsoft SME day, which explored ways to make European SMEs flourish globally.

For Muslim women in Europe, a medical road back to virginity

Caught between the freedoms that European society affords and the deep-rooted traditions of their parents' and grandparents' generations, more and more women are asking cosmetic surgeons to replace their hymens.

MAIN FOCUS: Europe's answer to the energy crisis | 13/06/2008

Record prices for crude oil, expensive petrol, rising gas prices: for months the world has been in the grips of an energy crisis. How should Europe react?

The Future of Transatlantic Economic Relations

By Henning Laptop

A new Policy Paper by Dr Henning Meyer, Head of European Programme at the Global Policy Institute London, examines the politics and institutional setup of transatlantic economic relations and identifies structural shortcomings in this experimental form of international governance. Can the institutionalisation of EU - US relations be a model for solving the economic, social and environmental problems of the future? Not in its current form the author argues.

Regional Cooperation Better Than NATO/EU Enlargement

Hall Gardner: A move towards Ukrainian NATO membership would strain relations with Russia and have serious consequences. In the short-term, Ukraine should remain "neutral", while the EU introduces new, and expands existing confidence building economic and political areas of cooperation with Kiev and Moscow. In the long-term, Europe should seek to develop a confederal relationship with both Ukraine and Russia.

The real challenge of Europe

Heinrich Bonnenberg: NATO is not the main topic for the future of Europe. The main topic is to come up with a European identity, that means a European civilization.

Expansion Does Not Solve NATO's Dilemma

Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler: NATO is trying to expand its military wing to more countries, which used to be "the enemy," in its effort to secure its future. However, Europe's reliance on imported oil should be considered before alienating exporters like Russia in the attempt of reinventing NATO's aging alliance.

Europe View no 85: Gold and clay

By Edward Lucas

Europe.view

The Walesa question

Jun 12th 2008
From Economist.com

Truth and memory conflict in post-communist Poland

DID the most famous living Pole, Lech Walesa, collaborate with the communist secret police? Over the past 15 years, he has vehemently denied it. The informant “Bolek” who features in the files is someone else, known to him. Mr Walesa has won a number of legal battles to clear his name.