Economic crisis grips Europe, it is reported. No need to repeat, Americans were already under the grip when I visited Houston back in December. … and Turks? Economic crisis always but always grips Turks…
Swedish EU presidency logo (Photo: Swedish government website)
‘Life on hold’
Fears for the future as economic crisis grips Europe
MAIN FOCUS: No to Eastern European rescue package | 02/03/2009
The EU countries want to better coordinate their national bank rescue plans and economic stimulus programmes. At an informal summit meeting in Brussels on Sunday the heads of state and government also rejected protective measures for individual industries and an aid package for Eastern Europe.
Media blamed for Eastern Europe panic
At an EU informal summit on Sunday (1 March), leaders from Central and Eastern European countries strongly criticised Western media for depicting their countries as "black holes" and major threats to economic stability.
MAIN FOCUS: A new division? | 03/03/2009
The longer the financial and economic crisis persists the more political commentators see European unity at risk. Cracks are now particularly apparent in relations between Eastern and Western Europe.
On the upcoming EU elections
Interest in and turnout for elections is in pretty much direct proportion to how important and likely to have an impact the public perceive them to be. So European election campaigners should be discussing why the elections matter – and come up with some convincing arguments along those lines, because I haven’t heard any yet.
The majority of people don’t know what MEPs actually do, or what influence they can actually have. For most people, the answer to the latter (and probably the former, thanks to all those stories about MEPs turning up to sign the register and then buggering off again) is “very little”.
No need for Anglican Angst
79 per cent of Muslims say Christianity should have strong role in Britain
by Nick Allen, The Guardian, Feb 2009
Nearly 80 per cent of Muslims say life in Britain should be guided by Christianity, according to a poll.
People were asked to agree or disagree with the statement “Our laws should respect and be influenced by UK religious values”.
The proportion of Muslims who agreed (79 per cent) was higher than for Christians themselves (70 per cent).
Regions can improve EU’s image, survey says
A new survey published last week (27 February) indicates that EU citizens trust their local and regional authorities above all other bodies, believing that they have a role to play in increasing understanding and trust in the Union.
Three ads from the German animal rights organisation NOAH.
Victime, Torture, Mort.
Make a donation against animal testing. found in Animal testing: Victime, Torture, Mort
The End for the Airbus A400M?
Repercussions and Alternatives for the German Military
SWP Comments 2009/C 02, February 2009, 4 pages
The A400M programme is in big trouble. Production has been stopped and
there is no sign when the transporter might make its maiden flight or
enter service. Manufacturer EADS and the states waiting… more
European Conflict Management in the Middle East
Toward a More Effective Approach Joint Publication of SWP and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
SWP Research Paper 2009/RP 04, February 2009, 60 pages
Euroscepticism is yesterday’s creed
Plans for a political union in Europe were always crazy. But the four freedoms already established by the EU – free movement of goods, people, services and capital – are huge and tangible achievements. It would be terrible to see them rolled back, writes Gideon Rachman
What This Weekend’s EU Summit Did And Did Not Achieve
Well reading the press this morning it would be fairly easy to reach the conclusion that nothing really happened yesterday in Brussels, and that a great opportunity was lost. The latter may finally be true, but the former most certainly is not.
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