Regarding the arrest of Gerry Adams
open Democracy News Analysis – by Lorcan Mullen
In Northern Ireland, the the arrest of Gerry Adams highlights the tensions between justice and peace.
The issue of language and politics has long been a problem in Ukraine. Recent developments and unrelenting Russian propaganda have made the problem centre-stage once more.
The two heads of state will meet on 9-10 May in Stralsund, Germany, for an informal discussion on the future President of the European Commission. EurActiv France reports.
EU finance ministers met today, with the financial transaction tax (FTT) once again topping the agenda.
The First Semi-Final of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest has just finished and congratulations to all the acts and to DR for a great show.
Here are the countries that have qualified for the Final on Saturday.
- Montenegro
- Hungary
- Russia
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- San Marino
- Ukraine
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Iceland
Those who vote ?euro-sceptic? and the citizens of the Europe to come
open Democracy News Analysis – by Stephan Scheel
The abolition of freedom of movement within the EU, widely regarded as one of the central achievements of the European project, is not only a real possibility, but already an emerging reality. But so is the fightback. A contribution to the discussion betweenEtienne Balibar,Bo Stråth andSandro Mezzadra.
MAIN FOCUS: Violence escalates in Odessa | 05/05/2014
Street fighting between pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian demonstrators in Odessa and a fire in a trade union building claimed the lives of 46 people on Friday. Meanwhile the Ukrainian army continued its operations against separatists in the east of the country. Commentators see a turning point in the crisis and call on theWest to end its unconditional support for Kiev.
Europe?s Underappreciated Success: 10 Years Of Post-Enlargement Convergence
Social Europe Journal by Andrew Watt
Andrew Watt
On May 1st 2004 ten countries joined the EU in the biggest enlargement of the Union to date. Moreover it was a step heavy with symbolism. Eight of the ten ? the exceptions being the two Mediterranean island economies Cyprus and Malta ? had until just over a decade earlier been part of the Warsaw Pact and indeed, in the case of the Baltic states, part of the Soviet Union itself. There was considerable fanfare in the media about the healing of the historical East-West rift across the European continent. In some cases immediately, in others with a delay, west European labour markets were opened to people from the new member states seeking employment. Two further eastern European countries, Bulgaria and Romania, followed in 2007, amid greater concern about these countries? poverty and democratic credentials
EU sees steady, modest eurozone growth
The European Commission tweaked its 2014 and 2015 economic forecasts Monday but left intact the overall outlook for gradual recovery from a record recession
Scotland’s ‘No’ campaign is a downer
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)
Critics say ‘Better Together’ campaign’s negativity could help Scotland’s pro-independence side win referendum.
open Democracy News Analysis – by Rod Jones
As the European election looms, far-right parties are seeking to exploit the fears of the losers of globalisation to spur the politics of division.
Far-right politics is on the move in Europe. Municipal elections in France at the end of March saw the Front National (FN) make stunning gains, returning to support last enjoyed in 2002. Taking 9 per cent of the vote and gaining mayors in 12 cities (including Béziers, Fréjus, Belfort and Hénin-Beaumont) gave some substance to the claim by the FN leader, Marine Le Pen, that it was now ?a third great political force in our country?. Not unreasonably, Le Pen hopes to translate this success into seats in the European election
MAIN FOCUS: Ban wants to mediate in Ukraine | 06/05/2014
euro|topics
Ukrainian government troops continued their offensive against separatists in Slavyansk on Monday. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has meanwhile called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict and offered to act as mediator. Commentators see little chance of Ban’s proposal being successful and stress the importance of the European elections for securing peace on the continent.
Hubris and nemesis: the nine lives of Mr Berlusconi
open Democracy News Analysis – by Carlo Ungaro
In Italy, the European elections are gaining importance because they could well constitute a watershed in the long and chequered political career of Silvio Berlusconi. Euro elections landscape, 2014.
Is Gerry Adams an Irish Nelson Mandela?
open Democracy News Analysis – by Cas Mudde and Donald M. Beaudette
Acknowledgments of culpability from leaders on both sides of the South African conflict to the vaunted Truth and Reconciliation Commission, were fundamental to helping the country move beyond its deeply divided past into a more peaceful future.
Europe will be remain dependent on Russian gas for years, ministers from the Group of Seven industrial nations said yesterday (6 May), condemning the use of energy as a weapon of political coercion.
The current conflict in Ukraine has shown the importance of close cooperation between the United States and the European Union to defend the system of international law. We support the aspirations of the Ukrainian people to seek their destiny with Europe, even as Russia seeks to thwart their right to make their own sovereign decisions. The United States joins Ukraine in mourning the loss of life that resulted from the tragic events in Odesa, when a pro-Russian mob attacked a peaceful demonstration for Ukrainian unity. We have called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and end to violence. The United States stands ready to support the immediate implementation of the commitments made in Geneva on April 17 and calls on all parties to work to prevent further tragedy.
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