The EU’s heads of state and government plan to nominate Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission president today, Friday, despite the UK’s opposition to the move. This will be the first time that the European Council is not unanimous in its decision on who takes this top post. Some commentators see Juncker’s nomination as strengthening the European Parliament and its voters. Others fear it will only widen the rift between the EU and its citizens
Far-right parties from the Netherlands and France have failed to form an anti-European Union parliamentary group in the European Parliament, Dutch Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders said in a statement late on Monday.
The French Front National and the Dutch PVV have failed to meet Tuesday’s deadline for forming a far-right group in the European Parliament. That comes as no surprise since radical positions don’t lend themselves to cooperation, some commentators write. Others lament that Europe will now remain without a strong opposition voice.
MAIN FOCUS: EU sets its bearings at Ypres summit | 26/06/2014
euro|topics
A month after the European elections, the European heads of state and government will meet today in the Belgian town of Ypres to set the course for EU policy over the next five years. Jean-Claude Juncker looks set to be nominated European Commission president on Friday. Commentators fear this decision will lead to Britain exiting the Union, and call on the politicians to develop true visions for the future of the EU.
Juncker: The first European Commission President we can get rid of
Ideas on Europe by Ronny Patz
The news today reported that both Sweden and the Netherlands – i.e. their prime ministers – have dropped their previous opposition to Jean-Claude Juncker to becoming European Commission President.
This pretty much means that Juncker will get the first EU top job nomination at the European Council meeting tomorrow and after-tomorrow, as only Cameron (UK) and Orban (Hungary) remain opposed to him
MAIN FOCUS: Socialists back Juncker | 23/06/2014
euro|topics
At a meeting in Paris on Saturday the EU’s leading Social Democrats agreed to back Jean-Claude Juncker for the post of European Commission president. In return they want top EU posts and a relaxing of the Stability Pact. Commentators see this as a victory for Angela Merkel and believe it will further weaken the British government.
Meet Britain First: the UK’s fastest growing far right group
open Democracy News Analysis – by Matthew Collins
A child of the BNP and the EDL, Britain First has shifted the glare of bigots from race war to faith war. Meet the man behind the fastest growing far right movement in Britain, and find out what makes him tick.
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