Is the EU too big to be democratic?, Peter Baldwin
Back in the days ? let?s say 1932 just to pick a moment ? when European politics were really polarized, the spectrum ran from Moscow-faithful communists at one extreme all the way to monarchists and fascists. During the same time, the US political spectrum spanned all the way from Republicans to Democrats, which is to say from what Europeans would call center right liberals to center left liberals. Neither extreme questioned the premises of democracy, neither sought the embrace of the state in a socialist fashion, or even ? on the far left of American politics ? in more than a very moderate quasi-social democratic manner. The answer to Sombart?s classic query, why is there no socialism in America, also served largely as the answer to its necessary pendant: why is there no fascism in America? American politics in the twentieth century was a model of consensus compared to the ideological extremes found across the Atlantic.
France?s fiscal troubles weaken case against German austerity
Wilders’ chance of Dutch cabinet post fades
Holland: confused and divided
European strategy for jobs and growth: Credible implementation? (European Council 17 June 2010)
In the previous blog post we saw the European Council 17 June 2010 confirm the five headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy.
In addition, the European Council politically endorsed the integrated guidelines for economic and employment policies (Conclusions point 3, page 3):
MAIN FOCUS: EU makes banks more transparent | 18/06/2010
The European Union wants to publish information by the end of July on how fit roughly 30 major banks are to deal with crises. The results of the so-called stress tests are meant to bolster confidence in the banks, calm the markets and prevent speculation. A step in the right direction, writes the European press, but far too small.
Europe 2020 strategy: Barroso?s reform flotilla (flagship initiatives)
EU 2020 reform delivery of three priorities and five headline targets is promised through seven flagship initiatives.
The spring European Council gave the Commission green light to prepare the thematic programmes of the Europe 2020 strategy for jobs and growth:
Europe 2020 strategy: Three flavours of growth (priorities)
Like Phoenix, from the ashes of the Lisbon strategy Europe rises on the wings of the EU 2020 strategy, we are told. The European Council, which in today?s Europe has taken the place of the Delphic oracle, endorsed the following priorities at its spring meeting:
Poland: Initial Microblog Coverage of the Presidential Elections
The first round of the presidential elections in Poland finished at 8 PM tonight. You can see profiles of all the candidates, as well as the initial results of a poll, on this Gazeta.pl website [PL]. According to this poll, Bronis?aw Komorowski received an estimated 45.7% of the votes, which puts him only a few percent away from winning the elections in this first round. Jaros?aw Kaczy?ski, the brother of the late president Lech Kaczy?ski, is said to have received 33.2% of the votes. Grzegorz Napieralski, with his 13.2% of the votes, comes in the third place.
Europe 2020 strategy: Flagship initiative Innovation Union
This blog post presents the European Commission?s proposed flagship initiative Innovation Union.
MAIN FOCUS: Kaczy?ski still in the race for president | 21/06/2010
In Poland’s presidential elections the government’s candidate Bronis?aw Komorowski attained 41 percent of the vote, falling short of an absolute majority. At 36 percent his Eurocritical challenger Jaros?aw Kaczy?ski still has a chance in the run-off vote on July 4, writes the press, and if elected could pose a threat to the liberal-conservative government.
Olli Rehn on improving EU and eurozone economic policy coordination
Olli Rehn, the commissioner for economic and monetary policy, outlined the reform steps the European Union needs, in a speech in Brussels 22 June 2010 (SPEECH/10/329):
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found in Two new paintings by Amy Crehore
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