EU?s top telecoms official rules out government control of the internet
The European Commission is trying to carve a mediator role for itself in the global debate over the future of internet governance, taking its distance from the US but also from the idea of a United Nations’ leadership of the Web, supported by Russia and China.
With global negotiations over the future of the Web in a standstill, the EU made its position clearer yesterday (12 February).
Neelie Kroes, the EU?s digital agenda commissioner, presented a strategy calling for a “clear timeline for the globalisation of ICANN,” the US-backed, non-profit corporation which de facto runs the internet.
French court of auditors worried about the country?s deficit
France has promised to bring its public deficit under 3% but the Court of Auditors doubts it can be done.
There was no room for optimism in the latest annual report from the French court of auditors on France?s ability to bring its public deficit under 3% of GDP.
?We are hungry in three languages?: citizens protest in Bosnia
Demonstrations have spread rapidly across Bosnia, with citizens organizing popular assemblies to voice their frustration with the country?s institutional paralysis. Through the adamantly non-ethnic nature of the demonstrations, the protesters are taking aim at the entire political elite. Valerie Hopkins reports from Sarajevo.
On Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after a Sarajevo canton?s premier declared that the people of Sarajevo would not riot because there was ?no hunger? in Bosnia?s capital, his administrative building was in flames. So was the presidency and 16 other government buildings across the country, in what has been the worst episode of violence since Bosnia?s 1992-1995 war.
The UK government’s stand against humanitarian disarmament strategy
Why is the UK government boycotting a key multilateral conference on the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons? Rebecca Johnson analyses the implications for British nuclear policy as governments and civil society convene in Mexico to take forward a new humanitarian disarmament process
From Kiev to Kosovo: a critical juncture
From Ukraine to the Balkans, the last twenty-four years have witnessed political elites preaching democracy while surreptitously undermining every single democratic institution, atomizing individuals through economic hardship and reducing freedom to a fake political independence.
Greek police make life “unliveable” for asylum seekers
The head of the Greek police was secretly recorded saying that asylum seekers who land in Greece must be made to reside in “unliveable” conditions before being “repatriated”.
Corruption is not an abstract thing in Romania
The recent Commission report on corruption in the 29 member countries reveals a difference how older and newer EU member such as Romania deal with corruption, writes Sabina Iosub.
Sabina Iosub is a journalist and anchor of ?Previziunile Zilei? (the Day?s Predictions) on Antena 3 television in Romania.
The power may corrupt! This statement is as old as politics is. Historians believe that the first corrupted politician was the leader of the prehistoric man tribe.
Greek minister slams Troika, says surplus will be ?big surprise?
Greek finance minister Yannis Stournaras attacked the Troika for its austerity prescriptions, saying a primary budget surplus will be announced soon and will be much larger than expected, EurActiv Greece reports.
Stournaras said the budget surplus would be a ?a very very big surprise?, slamming Greece?s international lenders for the forecasts they made from September 2013. At that time, the Troika asked for additional austerity measures to the tune of ?3 billion
MAIN FOCUS: Switzerland faces first repercussions | 13/02/2014
In reaction to the Swiss referendum “Against Mass Immigration“, the EU has broken off negotiations on a common energy market and announced further consequences. Some commentators see the threats as nothing but sabre-rattling because the EU has more to lose than Switzerland. Others fear that the country could suffer huge economic losses
Switzerland to table immigration quota law by yearend
The Swiss government said today (12 February) it would draw up a draft law to limit immigration by the end of the year, after Swiss voters narrowly backed proposals to curtail the number of migrants from the European Union.
Switzerland risks losing its privileged access to the European single market following the successful vote spearheaded by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) to reintroduce immigration quotas, which has also unsettled businesses
Bosnia mines still kill 20 years later
People continue to die near former front lines, but one NGO is trying to help those affected to recover
Europe?s Educational Evolution
Facing economic crisis, high unemployment, shifting demographics, and rising competition from developing economies, Europe must adjust to technological advances and new modes of working. That means focusing on education to nurture people?s talents and potential ? and thus to spur economic and social recovery
Germany’s constitution: Who’s protecting whom?
In Germany, the observation of so-called “extremists” by the intelligence agency known as the Verfassungsschutz is based on an outdated understanding of constitutional democracy. The organization is in dire need of reform, writes Horst Meier
Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has announced he will tender his resignation to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano tomorrow. The dramatic development comes after Italy’s centre-left leader Matteo Renzi addressed a meeting of his Democratic Party earlier today. A few minutes before Renzi took the floor, it emerged Letta would not be attending the meeting – a clear sign of where things were going.Earlier this month the South Korean export agency announced that, following an international campaign supported by Campaign Against Arms Trade, they would cancel a shipment of 1.6 million gas canisters to Bahrain. This sets an important precedent which Europe should be following.
“In my eyes, there is nothing in the Scandinavia model that suggests that we cannot compete. Actually, there is a lot to suggest that we are the most competitive social model on earth”. Interview.
Despite official denials, evidence has emerged that the Home Office has deliberately waited until UK citizens it plans to deprive of their citizenship have left the country. This requires no judicial approval?and greatly hinders any appeal.
