Anti-austerity parties soar in Spanish elections as Greece threatens default Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow Two new, anti-establishment parties (including one that grew out of the indignados movement — a kind of Spanish precedent to Occupy) took key seats in regional and municipal elections in yesterday’s Spanish election, which is a kind of dress rehearsal for the … Read more
The Riga Summit: Enter, pursued by a bear by Centre for European Reform The Eastern Partnership summit in Riga on May 21st-22nd will be a gloomy affair. Russia’s aggressive behaviour has put EU member-states on the defensive. Enthusiasm for further integration between the EU and its Eastern neighbours is on the wane. But Europe should be … Read more
Stage set for biggest-ever Eurovision BBC News | Europe | World Edition Sweden, Russia and Italy are among the favourites to win the 60th annual Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place in Vienna later. Juncker greets Orbán with ‘Hello dictator!” EurActiv.com European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker teased Hungarian Premier Viktor Orbán over his strongman reputation Friday, jokingly … Read more
INFOGRAPHIC: The facts about asylum seekers in Europe EurActiv.com Although Germany and Sweden are not front-line countries exposed to immigration, they were among those receiving the largest number of asylum seekers in 2014. ‘Lipstick Protester’ Jasmina Golubovska:Macedonians Want to ‘Start from Scratch’ Global Voices Online by Danica Radisic The image of protester Jasmina Golubovska taken by Reuters … Read more
Populism in Europe: a primer open Democracy News Analysis – by Cas Mudde EU President Herman van Rompuy has called populism “the greatest danger for Europe”. But what exactly is populism? And why are EU leaders feeling so threatened by it? EU officials mull military action to stop migrants AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) Destroying boats used … Read more
MAIN FOCUS: EU at odds over refugee quotas | 12/05/2015 euro|topics The European Commission will present plans for a quota system that distributes refugees among the 28 member states on Wednesday. Several countries oppose the initiative. This is the right response to the refugee crisis, some commentators note approvingly. Others argue that Brussels is overstepping its … Read more
The David Cameron story BBC News | Europe | World Edition What factors got David Cameron to the top? PM selects his first Tory cabinet BBC News | Europe | World Edition David Cameron is spending the weekend deciding the make-up of his first all-Conservative cabinet after his party won a majority for the first time since … Read more
France outcry over school skirt ban BBC News | Europe | World Edition France faces a fresh backlash against its ban on religious signs in schools after a 15-year-old Muslim girl is sent home for wearing a long black skirt. Charlie artist ends Muhammad cartoons BBC News | Europe | World Edition Charlie Hebdo artist “Luz”, who … Read more
Academic work and careers in Europe Ideas on Europe Changing working conditions at European universities are studied in a recent book ‘Academic Work and Careers in Europe – Trends, Challenges, Perspectives’, edited by Tatiana Fumasoli, Gaële Goastellec and Barbara Kehm. Tatiana Fumasoli tells about the main findings presented in the book. The Mediterranean migrant crisis: What can … Read more
Why the Finnish elections matter for Europe Open Europe blog by Mats Persson Why the Finnish elections matter for Europe The Finnish elections on Sunday are unlikely to lead to a radical change in the country’s Eurozone policy – however, they will still have relevance for the rest of Europe. Mats Persson investigates. Finland elections: Candidate putting … Read more
Thousands across Europe protest against TTIP EurActiv.com Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Europe on Saturday (18 April) to oppose what could be the world’s biggest free trade deal, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the US and European Union. MAIN FOCUS: Another refugee tragedy in the Mediterranean | 20/04/2015 euro|topics What is … Read more
EU tackles Google over search ‘abuse’ BBC News | Europe | World Edition The European Union’s competition commissioner has announced details of its case against Google over its search engine. 400 immigrants drown off of Libya, say survivors EurActiv.com Up to 400 illegal migrants died after their vessel capsized off the Libyan coast on Sunday (12 April), … Read more
Five things you should know about foreign policy this election open Democracy News Analysis – by Bernard Goyder Half a century ago, the US Secretary of State Dean Acheson said that Britain “has lost its empire, but has yet to find a role”. The same is true today. Are we still stuck in the imperial mindset? … Read more
Germany snubs Greece’s war reparations call as ‘dumb’ Germany snubbed Greece’s call for more than 278 billion euros ($306 billion) in war payments April 7, calling it “dumb” to mix World War II claims with Athens’ negotiations for more aid. MAIN FOCUS: Moscow lures Athens with investments | 09/04/2015 euro|topics Russian President Vladimir Putin and Greek Prime … Read more
How the Pirates in Germany have lost their way open Democracy News Analysis – by Alessio Colonnelli Is there any connection between the decline of the Pirate Party and the rise of the right-wing Alternative for Germany? MAIN FOCUS: Milk quotas come to an end | 01/04/2015 euro|topics The EU will abolish the milk quota system … Read more