Italy?s Napolitano re-elected as head of state
from FT.com – World, Europe
The manner of Napolitano?s election by the mainstream parties after a closed doors deal is likely to fuel support for the Five Star Movement
European Federalist Papers
by Ralf Grahn
The Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution of the United States of America (1787) remain inspirations for mankind. The Federalist Papers, written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay, brilliantly defended the US Constitution during the ratification battle, leaving a lasting legacy. We can only speculate what North America would look like today, had the anti-federalists won and the weak Articles of Confederation (1777) remained in force (from 1781). Read European Federalist Papers
Chronicle of a lie foretold: or, how I failed to stop Spain?s rightwing press from intervening in the 2013 Venezuelan presidential election
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Asa K Cusack
I replied to individual tweets with my concerns. But I have 50 followers; they had hundreds of thousands. I was like a cartoon character plugging holes in my boat as the water rose around my ankles.
What?s Stopping Europe?
from Project Syndicate by Allan H. Meltzer
After five years of decline in living standards in much of Europe, voters oppose more austerity and further retrenchment without growth. Restoring a sound euro requires policies that revive growth, rein in government spending, and reform heavily regulated labor and product markets.
The Worden Report : Is the E.U. Relying Too Much on the IMF?
from Bloggingportal.eu – Today’s posts
According to the New York Times, the IMF had more influence in the European debt crisis than did many E.U. states. Put another way, Christine Lagarde, head of the organization, became ?a quasi head of state.? Without the advice and money.
Democracy in Europe (21 April 2013)
from Grahnlaw by Ralf Grahn
Democratic government and fundamental rights are the foundation of the relationship between citizens and the government of municipalities, regions and states in Europe. However, the ‘enlightened’ elites behind the project of European integration have refused to empower the citizens of their union. In the blog entry Democracy in Europe (14 April 2013) I illustrated the growing chasm and the necessary quantum leap to a Basic Law for a European republic. Now you can read Democracy in Europe (21 April 2013) featuring the ?Let them eat cake? prize
Detained and Desperate ? Undocumented Migrants in Greece
from Global Voices Online by Maria Sidiropoulou
Stories of despair were transmitted through Twitter, when politicians, journalists and anti-racism activists visited a detention facility within the Drapetsona police station in Piraeus city, where more than 100 unauthorized migrants are living in cramped, dark and deplorable conditions.
Croatia: From isolation to EU membership
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
EU within reach after driving change in Croatia
Transparency International raises serious concerns about corruption in the UK
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Stuart Weir
The creep of the market into almost all areas of public life has brought with it a steady and damaging growth in corruption. Both the media and the political class insist the UK is largely free of corruption, a claim that no longer stands up.
Gross attacks UK and eurozone austerity
from FT.com – World, Europe
Pimco chief warns that expansionary monetary policies are failing to spur higher economic growth and instead favours encouraging investment
Algerians in London protest against shale gas and the lack of a national debate
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Rachida Lamri, Meriem Ais, Amine Mouffok and Hamza Hamouchene
Fracking has raised major concerns for its substantial use of water (particularly worrying for the Sahara) and for the potential leaking of these chemical substances into groundwater.
European Federalist Paper number two
from Grahnlaw by Ralf Grahn
This Paper deals with the question what belongs to the essence of a federal organization. Klinkers describes this on the basis of what he has learned over the years by Tombeur. He raises a number of questions with the intention to get his thoughts about federalism improved or supplemented by Tombeur. Read comments onEuropean Federalist Paper number two.
The aging Union: EU politicians and the dominance of the upper middle-aged
from Ideas on Europe by Ronny Patz
German newspaper Die ZEIT yesterday published an article titled ?Demografie: Die schon wieder? (Demography: Them again) about how the generation of baby boomers, those born in the early second half of the 20th century, is dominating politics, economy, society.
The political deadlock of Italy is the political deadlock of the EU
Italy is blocked. And it is blocked for a quite long period of time after the national elections did not achieve to provide a clear result over the clear win of a certain political party. It goes without doubt that the deadlock of Italy is foremost a political deadlock of the entire European Union. Relatively, as there is no hope for overcoming this deadlock, lack of governance can definitely lead to democratic instability.