Erkan's field diary

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"The French have at least one thing in common with the Turks: they love military parades...via

FOUND HERE: The World As Seen From Paris:

In 1989, Swedish author Herman Lindquist published Rapporter från Mittens Rike (‘Reports from the Middle Kingdom’). The title of the book is ambiguous, as it refers to the well-known epithet for China that has come to symbolise its insularity and self-centredness in previous centuries. In this context, the term Middle Kingdom might be interpreted as a reference to France’s continuing tendency to see itself as a major player on the international political, economical and cultural stage, while in fact it is now a medium-sized power at best – as are all other European countries separately....................

In praise of Euroskepticism by GILES MERRITT

BRUSSELS -- The EU has no coherent strategy on many issues. It has only sketchy economic policies toward Russia; ambitions, but no game plan, to become a player in the Middle East; and, despite its original leadership on the Kyoto Protocol, no successor program on climate change.

Under pressure

Life suddenly gets more complicated for Kosovo's Serbs

France rejects veiled Muslim wife

A French court denies citizenship to a Muslim woman, ruling that her practice of "radical" Islam is not compatible with French values.

Donors generous to Kosovo but Serbia clings to province

While nearly 40 countries took part in the European Commission's donors' conference in Brussels on 11 July, tellingly Serbia said it would not give up its province and pledged to economically strengthen the Serbian community in Northern Kosovo.

Report: EU 'losing business' due to lack of language skills

European business risks losing competitiveness as other countries start outperforming the EU in terms of language skills, concludes a report presented by business leaders last week (11 July).

'Green jobs' on the increase

As employment in the fossil fuel sector declines, more and more people are finding work in the renewable energy sector and related professions, with the number of 'green jobs' expected to swell considerably in the coming years, says a new study.

Sarkozy backs European 'sporting exception'

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he hopes to see a "sporting exception" to EU freedom of movement rules introduced to prevent local football clubs' training efforts from being undermined by competitors purchasing their young players.

Study: EU universities need better student selection

A comprehensive higher education reform with significantly increased funding and university autonomy as well as more specialisation, student selection and competition is needed to make the bloc's universities globally competitive, according to Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.

More Russian energy blackmail

By nosemonkey

I told you that Ukraine was just a warning shot… Looks like the Czech Republic’s decision to host that US missile shield has really ticked off the Kremlin. Because now the flow of oil from Russia appears to be slowing down.

Ireland seeks answers to No vote on EU reform

The Irish government has taken the first concrete steps to address the crisis thrown up by its rejection of the European Union's Lisbon reform treaty by commissioning...

Ulrike Guerot: Retuning Europe’s Franco-German Engine

BERLIN – Whether or not the French presidency of the EU, which begins next month, is successful will depend in large part on whether Franco-German cooperation can be revived. In that seemingly long-gone era, common initiatives for Europe were the rule, and a Franco-German proposal usually constituted an acceptable compromise for Europe as a whole. The Maastricht Treaty of 1992 was probably the last masterpiece of Franco-German creativity.