"The Barcelona Process and the Union for the Mediterranean: possibilities for the future
The Barcelona Process and the Union for the Mediterranean: possibilities for the future
The Union for the Mediterranean "constitutes an opportunity to relaunch Euro-Mediterranean integration," writes World Bank consultant Jean-François Jamet for the Fondation Robert Schuman.Parliament bans small political groups
Political groups with less than 25 members will be outlawed after the June 2009 elections to the European Parliament. But the changes, approved by a majority of members during yesterday's (July 9) plenary in Strasbourg, were labelled "detrimental to democracy and parliamentary efficiency" by liberal MEPs.'Close relations' more fashionable than enlargement
The European Parliament held a debate in plenary on 9 July on a report which outlines the bloc's enlargement strategy for the coming years. But the text's different initiatives for closer relations with neighbours seem to be aimed at substituting actual enlargement.Interview: There is collective remorse in Ireland
The sense of collective remorse in Ireland following the negative referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty is "palpable", Quintin Oliver, a specialist in referenda, told EurActiv in an interview in which he warned against pressuring the Irish on voting again.Europe's Role in Nation-Building: From the Balkans to the Congo
Sarkozy 'isolated' in tough stance on enlargement
Czech Deputy Premier Alexandr Vondra has rejected a warning from French President Nicolas Sarkozy that EU enlargement will have to be stopped unless the Lisbon Treaty is ratified as a "kind of a lie", adding to a growing chorus of criticism from European leaders on the issue.Sarkozy's China Problem
After months of guessing, Sarkozy is finally expected to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics this summer. But now comes dilemma #2: the Dalai Lama will visit France next month, and the Chinese ambassador is already warning of "serious consequences" if a meeting with Sarkozy takes place.The EU and its rise
by Max BergmannThe announcement today of the creation of a pro-EU Serb government that will push for inclusion in the European Union represents a massive achievement. Serbia has a long way to go – but its eventual integration, and the Balkans as a whole into Europe, represent a tremendous achievement - one that represents the tremendous pull of the European Union."
Europe's Schizophrenic Politicians
BusinessweekThe Lisbon Treaty continues to provoke disagreement. France and German consider it vital to enlargement, while others say that's nonsense
MAIN FOCUS: A breakthrough on climate protection? | 09/07/2008
The G8 states have agreed at their summit meeting in Japan to half worldwide CO2 emissions by 2050, marking an unprecedented US commitment to reducing greenhouse gases. Europe's press is nevertheless critical of the agreement.
EU attacks workers’ rights—again
The article below was first published in the Socialist Voice,* it highlights a recent judgement by the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg which shows yet again that within the European Union, the right of business to do what it likes, when it likes, overrides trade union rights and the best interest of working class people. Those on the left who still claim the EU is the main bulwark against neo liberal economics and the disastrous consequences for working people that flows in its wake, are living in a time warp circa 1990s when the reformist left held sway in many of the European chancellories.
Council’s website: a symbol for all that’s wrong with the EU?
Image via WikipediaSome of us have had a particular bugbear about the Council of Minister’s lack of transparency for some time now. We’ve even taken the time to write irate letters to the FT on the subject (much to the shock of colleagues it must be admitted).
The EU's Strategic Economic Dialogue with China
A New Chance for European Trade Policy
SWP Comments 2008/C 16, June 2008, 4 pages With the rise of the European trade deficit the tone of European trade
policy towards China has become noticeably more irritated. At the same
time a protectionist attitude motivated by nationalist... more
Steffen Angenendt
Irregular Migration as an International Problem
Risks and Options
SWP Research Paper 2008/RP 04, July 2008, 30 pagesIrregular migration is one of the fastest-growing forms of migration
worldwide. For many countries it presents a serious challenge. It
undermines state sovereignty, calls into question the... more
