"The CER guide to the French Presidency
The CER guide to the French Presidency
France's EU Presidency "will have to focus on resolving the legal and institutional mess created by the Irish 'no' to the EU's Lisbon Treaty," says Katinka Barysch of the Centre for European Reform.Sarkozy wants Barroso reappointed
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he backs European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso for a second term.
More than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed when their UN "safe haven" at Srebrenica, which was supposed to be protected by Dutch UN peacekeepers, was overrun by Bosnian Serb forces.In
| Sarkozy's Mediterranean union plan | ||
 A view from IsraelIlan Greilsammer Jerusalem sees the union as something of a "replacement" for the Barcelona process that failed it. | Nicolas Sarkozy and the politics of continuity Anouar Boukhars Since taking office, Sarkozy has backtracked on many of his signature issues. | |
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MAIN FOCUS: Sarkozy's plans for the future of the EU | 11/07/2008
Nicolas Sarkozy delivered his inaugural speech as EU Council president to the European Parliament yesterday. He focused on the future of the Treaty of Lisbon, promising speedy negotiations with the Irish and criticising Polish President Lech Kaczyński for refusing to sign the Treaty. The address has been met with praise - and condemnation - across Europe.
Sarkozy raises prospect of multi-tier Europe
The European Union's repeated crises over how to reform its institutions might eventually make it necessary to create a "multi-speed Europe", with the most...French-inspired project aims to boost relations with EU
The Union for the Mediterranean is a French-inspired project aimed at boosting relations between the European Union and the countries of the southern and eastern...France's Club Med
The Union for the Mediterranean may prove to be the high point of France's EU presidency. But what the region really requires is lasting European commitmentItaly’s Roma: just how bad?
Very unhappy article in the Guardian today about the Roma situation in Italy:
Last week, Silvio Berlusconi’s new rightwing Italian administration announced plans to carry out a national registration of all the country’s estimated 150,000 Gypsies - Roma and Sinti people - whether Italian-born or migrants. Interior minister and leading light of the xenophobic Northern League, Roberto Maroni, insisted that taking fingerprints of all Roma, including children, was needed to “prevent begging” and, if necessary, remove the children from their parents…China, EU & the United States: Holy Trinity or Ménage à Trois?
Stanley Crossick, a "European of British nationality," has published an essay which argues that a strong trilateral relationship, reinforced by three strong bilateral relationships is essential. He wrote a short version for Atlantic Review:
Europe's armies chided in report
Europe's armies are under-performing and will need fresh Franco-British impetus to meet future challenges, a top think-tank's report says.European External Service on hold after Irish 'no'
Moves to establish a European External Action Service (EEAS) and give the Union a stronger role in world affairs have been put on hold after the Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty on 12 June, said EU External Affairs Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, answering a EurActiv enquiry today (11 July).Researcher: 'Not clear' who will finance Med Union projects
The summit that will launch Nicolas Sarkozy's pet project of a Mediterranean Union in Paris this Sunday will be "a social event" for heads of state rather than a decision-making meeting, says Dorothée Schmid, a specialist in Euro-Mediterranean relations at the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI) in Paris. She spoke to EurActiv France in an interview.Sarkozy sweet-talks European Parliament
A determined Nicolas Sarkozy outshone his critics during the debate that followed his presentation of the French Presidency's priorities in the European Parliament on 10 July. In a skilled address, the French President accused those EU leaders who are reluctant to proceed with the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty of "cowardice".Interview: Summit to delay big decisions on 'Club Med'
The summit that will launch Nicolas Sarkozy's pet project of a Mediterranean Union in Paris this Sunday will be "a social event" for heads of state rather than a decision-making meeting, says Dorothée Schmid, a specialist in Euro-Mediterranean relations at the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI) in Paris. She spoke to EurActiv France in an interview.Report: Germany's minority languages in danger
Minority languages in Germany are in danger of extinction and legislation must be drawn up to protect them, according to a Council of Europe report released on 9 July.ALDE chief: Lisbon Strategy musn't fall victim to treaty crisis
The EU is running the risk of putting its growth and jobs efforts on the backburner over the rescue mission for the Lisbon Treaty, British MEP Graham Watson, the leader of the ALDE faction in the European Parliament, warned in an interview with EurActiv.EU lagging behind on education, illiteracy on rise
The Commission's annual benchmark report finds that member states' progress towards the Lisbon Strategy's goals on education and training is too slow for them to be reached by 2010 and highlights growing illiteracy rates as a major problem.Austria’s Politics in Flux - Again
By Dimitris Tsarouhas
A year and a half ago, Austrian politics returned to its stable pattern of grand coalition governments. Following the turbulence of the centre- and far-right coalition, the 2006 election result led to the formation of yet another coalition between the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Peoples’ Party (ÖVP). Other than in Germany, however, the coalition was not to last for too long, and a few days ago ÖVP leader and Vice-Chancellor Wilhelm Molterer announced that the party ‘had enough’, and that it was going to the people to secure a new mandate. SPÖ was all too happy to oblige, and Austrians will go to the polls on 28 September. Why did the coalition collapse 18 months after its formation? What are the September election prospects, and is Austria in danger of imitating Italy in the frequency with which it holds general elections from now on?
[Comment] Is the EU certain of its own priorities?
EU struggles with growing teen illiteracy
EU biometric visa system must be secure and reliable
The European Parliament has today adopted a report concerning its requirements for the collection of biometric data from applicants for Schengen visas - digital photos and fingerprints - to make the EU Visa Information System operational.French EU Presidency: a strong ambition for results that remain to be obtained
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe welcomed the European ambition that Nicolas Sarkozy displayed today whilst speaking before the European Parliament. However, the Liberals underline that there is a real urge, now that the Irish voted against the Lisbon Treaty, to obtain concrete results during this sixth-month-term to bring Europe closer to its citizens.Enlargement: EU must learn lessons from past mistakes
The European Union has passed a progress report on the EU's enlargement strategy that reiterates the EU's firm commitment to candidate countries already on their way to achieving Member status and countries that have been given clear membership prospects. However, the report also notes that "future enlargements will require more stable democratic support from the EU's population". Whilst past enlargements have generally been a success, the report points out, more attention should be paid to future enlargements if the stability of the Union is to be maintained.Roma in Italy: Extraordinary measures are unjustified. EPP deft to appeals from civil society
Following a debate requested by the Alliance of the Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), today the European Parliament adopted a resolution "urging the Italian Government to refrain from proceeding to the collection of fingerprints of the members of the Roma minority and from the use of fingerprints already collected, awaiting the forthcoming announced evaluation by the European Commission of the measures envisaged".europe view no 90
A plague on small businesses
Jul 10th 2008
From Economist.com
A moving story of Polish bureaucracy
IN THE bureaucrats’ ideal world, people stay still. Movement creates unpredictability, uncertainty, confusion and the possibility that people will dodge taxes or defraud the taxpayer.
So in any country, the state creates a few obstacles to discourage too much flightiness. In Germany and many continental countries it is a minor misdemeanour not to register your home address with the authorities. You need official approval to change your name.
