July 02, 2008
June 20, 2008
" Turkey on its way to the EU " - another imprisonment...
Turkey widens EU talks, expects French fairness
Turkish officials said Tuesday they expect France, long an opponent of the Turkish European Union membership bid, to approach membership
Sarkozy’s Turcophobia
Since I traveled to France in February of this year and returned somewhat hopeful that French paranoia about Turkey was actually curable, I decided not to write about Mr. Sarkozy or France for some time.
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June 17, 2008
"EU vows to pursue Lisbon treaty...
EU vows to pursue Lisbon treaty
EU foreign ministers agree to keep the Lisbon reform treaty alive despite its rejection by voters in Ireland.
March 25, 2008
"Why France and Britain must join forces
Why France and Britain must join forces
Brown and Sarkozy can use their summit to start a debate on Europe's role in the world, write Dominique Moïsi and David ManningContinue reading ""Why France and Britain must join forces" »
March 10, 2008
"Spring Summit to address economy and climate change
Victorious Spanish PM urges unity
Spain's PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero promises a new era in politics after his Socialist Party is re-elected.Socialists win Spanish elections
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's ruling Socialist Party wins Spain's general elections, but falls short of a majority.Poll setback for Sarkozy's party
Partial results in French local elections put the opposition socialists ahead of President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP party.Continue reading ""Spring Summit to address economy and climate change" »
February 28, 2008
"Microsoft fined 900 million by Brussels
Microsoft fined 900 million by Brussels
The European Commission on Wednesday (26 February) fined Microsoft €899 million for not complying with a 2004 anti-trust order – the largest single fine the EU has ever imposed on a company.
According to Brussels, the software firm charged "unreasonable" prices for licences sold to rivals to enable access to secret interoperability information that allows other software to 'plug' into the company's Windows operating system.
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February 25, 2008
"Communist takeover in Cyprus!
Cypriots elect pro-unification communist as president
Communist Party leader Dimitris Christofias won the crucial second round of presidential elections in Cyprus yesterday (24 February) and immediately reached out to the leader of the Turkish Cypriots in a bid to revive stalled talks to reunify the island.
Politicians behaving badly
Shocking behaviour at the weekend as Hello Magazine pin-up Nicholas Sarkozy verbally abused an unfriendly bystander at the Salon International de l’Agriculture. When have French farmers ever deserved such treatment?Happily, video footage of the incident is all over Youtube. The clip I saw already had over 200,000 hits - see below
Masterpieces of the Department of Prints and Drawings Opens at The Stadel MuseumEmil Nolde (1867 – 1956), Lake Lucerne, c. 1930
February 17, 2008
"Multicultural citizenship and the anti-sharia storm
Multicultural citizenship and the anti-sharia storm
An intense public debate and media controversy was triggered in Britain after a lecture delivered by the Archbishop of Canterbury - the spiritual head of the Church of England - on 7 February 2008. The speech - entitled " Civil and Religious Law in England: a Religious Perspective" - raised important questions of law, state, faith and citizenship in a modern, plural society; and its bitter, polarising aftermath equally highlights the issue of what kind of civic discourse about these questions is necessary if they are to be properly addressed. This essay responds to the debate and controversy by viewing them in the perspective of "multicultural citizenship", a concept which allows for nuanced understanding of the inter-relationship of "secular" and "religious" notions in civic life........
Hurray! They're not capitulating
Within hours after a plot to murder Kurt Westergaard was foiled, yesterday Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten republished the cartoonist's drawing of Mohammed which is depicting the Muslim prophet with a bomb under his turban....
Facebook group: Undskyld Muhammed
Update 17.02.08:
In the last 48 hours the ”Undskyld Muhammed” (”Sorry Muhammed”) group and its founders have received an overwhelming response.
We wish to thank everyone who has joined the group and everybody participating in the discussions.
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January 22, 2008
"The stock exchange crisis is worrying Europe
Global shares tumble on US fears
World stock indexes, including the UK's FTSE 100, post their biggest falls since 11 September 2001.Eurogroup chief warns of 'excessive pessimism' as stocks plunge
EU finance ministers said a US recession could have grave implications for Europe's economy but warned against overreacting, as stock exchanges around the world tumbled on Monday (21 January).In Depth: Davos 2008
EU, US expect trade progress on Davos sidelines
The World Economic Forum, which starts in Davos today (22 January), could help towards achieving a much-awaited breakthrough in WTO negotiations on freeing up global trade, top EU and US trade officials have announced.
@ haha.nu: "A cartoon, published in 1989 on International Herald Tribune. 20 years later, it is still very relevant. Thanks to Gilbert for sending in."
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January 21, 2008
"Nationalist heads Serbia's presidential poll
Nationalist heads Serbia's presidential poll
Nationalist Tomislav Nikolic took most votes in Sunday's first round of presidential elections in Serbia ahead of the incumbent Boris Tadic, but the two front-runners failed to win an absolute majority and thus face a second round in the beginning of February.
A huge round up on state of Europe below....
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January 18, 2008
"European leaders: average age 55
European leaders: average age 55
True or false: younger heads of state have less experience but more liberal policies than older heads of state, who have more experience? Plus an interactive map of Europe's old - and not so old - fogies 
Bruni's 'Terminator smile' has proved highly successful
Bruni's 'Terminator smile' has proved highly successful
Profile: Carla Bruni
Profile of Carla Bruni, a former model who may soon become France's First Lady.US fears Europe-based terrorism
One of the biggest threats to US security may now come from within Europe, the US Homeland Security head says.January 15, 2008
"Doubts over EU president's start date
Doubts over EU president's start date
Bloc's first full-time president may not be able to start work as planned on January 1 next year, because of delays in ratifying the Lisbon treaty that creates the job, according to EU diplomatsEU rethinks biofuels guidelines
The EU's environment chief admits it did not foresee the problems raised by its policy of boosting biofuels use.January 11, 2008
"While America votes, Europe cannot sleep....
Guardian While America votes, Europe cannot sleep. The to-do list looks like this Timothy Garton Ash: Progress in three vital areas - jobs, Muslims and neighbours - will enable our leaders to look the new president in the face
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