"New EU plan for illegal migrants...
New EU plan for illegal migrants
Euro MPs face a key vote on new EU rules for detaining illegal immigrants.The Irish say “no” and Europe heads into yet another impasse
In the European debate, we always come back to the same topic: democracy. Now that the Irish have rejected the Lisbon Treaty, Europe’s chronic inability to create ‘true’ democracy is once again at the forefront of the debate.
Irish vote, Europe's future: Four options after the 'no'
EU leaders sink deeper into contradiction
In the confusion following the failed Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland, EU leaders are still issuing contradictory messages, adding to the chaotic situation. In the meantime the Slovenian Presidency confirmed that no major decision on how to address the crisis is to be expected from the imminent EU summit on June 19-20.EU moves on with Balkan countries despite treaty setback
The EU yesterday (17 June) opened two new pre-EU accession negotiation chapters with Croatia and Turkey, just one day after the Union's foreign ministers signed an important pre-accession agreement with Bosnia, attenuating fears that the Irish referendum could have a negative impact on the bloc's enlargement process.Europe and the Balkans: What's to be done?
The EU must "show that it can act decisively and effectively" in the Western Balkans as the progress the bloc makes in the region tests its "credibility on the international scene," writes Graham Avery for the European Policy Centre. What's more, he calls on all countries in the region to apply for EU membership "sooner rather than later" and on the bloc "to reaffirm its membership promise" to them.EU through the eyes of on Athenian taxi driver
Ariana FERENTINOUFrance unveils new security strategy with EU focus
French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday (17 June) presented a major overhaul of his country's defence doctrine, revealing a shift away from French "exceptionalism" in favour of a stronger European defence outlook.MAIN FOCUS: NATO talks in Ukraine | 17/06/2008
The visit to Kiev by NATO's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has kindled new discussion about admitting the country to the North Atlantic Alliance. Russia is against the move, becauA better way with referendums
Ireland's No offers a chance to rethink. If citizens took part in a day of deliberation before voting, they would be better informed, say Bruce Ackerman and James FishkinEurope begins to go green
For an economy to reduce its carbon emissions whilst still continuing to grow requires certain flexibility. Such malleability is going to be necessary when the European Climate and Energy Package comes into being.
Pity the Poor Eurocrats
Pretty much for as long as I've been paying attention to these things, Europe has been "in crisis" or "in chaos" or "in despair" because one or another European country failed to ratify yet another European treaty. Invariably, something cataclysmically important was at stake, such as the creation of a European currency. Often the difficult country was a small one -- Denmark, say, whose voters rejected the treaty that helped create the European currency in 1992. At that time, France and Germany bemoaned the fact that some tiny number of Danes were "holding up Europe." The Danes were duly sat upon, negotiated with and granted "opt-outs" until they voted the right way a year later. Order was restored -- until the French themselves voted against the European constitution in a referendum in 2005. Whoops!Barroso, the game’s up
Jean Quatremer (original French, Google translation) has a strongly worded critique of José Manuel Barroso’s role in the process of drafting the European Constitution, and his (lack of) reaction as Commission President during the 2005 No votes in France and Netherlands, and then the Commission’s flat reaction to the goings-on in Ireland’s referendum campaign. Quatremer particularly recalls Irish Commissioner Charlie McCreevy remarking that he too had not read the Treaty of Lisbon - even if McCreevy hasn’t read it then it’s unacceptable to say so from a member of the Commission, and Barroso failed to react. What’s that in the Treaty about the general competence of the Commissioners…?
Open Britain, Philippe Legrain
As moral panic about immigration sweeps Britain, ‘bogus asylum-seekers' are the focus of particular hatred. They appear to validate the prejudice that dastardly foreigners cannot be trusted to ‘play by the rules' and want to abuse our generous hospitality. In order to protect Britain from these shady low-lifes - doubtless would-be benefit cheats, criminals or even terrorists -Sweden, Europe's green engine?
 | Mikael Olsson Translator Brussels Swedish |
For a few days in February this year, the following message was played in the Brussels subway: "Due to exceptional weather conditions, air pollution has reached a peak in our capital today. We thank you for using public transports and for encouraging your friends and colleagues to do the same".
Sarkozy takes the EU's fight to Prague
Still reeling from Irish voters' rejection of the Lisbon Treaty last week, EU bigwigs are now focusing on the Czech Republic, another country that has yet to ratify the treaty and appears in no hurry to do so. Badly in need of a victory, French President Nicolas Sarkozy flew to Prague yesterday in a likely futile bid to try to nudge the reluctant Czechs to ratify as quickly as possible.
