Massive rally with world leaders to start in Paris while an Arson attack on German newspaper that reprinted Charlie Hebdo cartoon…

France’s trauma: a hard question open Democracy News Analysis – by Paul Rogers The Paris massacre and its aftershocks must also be considered in the context of the larger war being fought in the Middle East and Africa. The attack in Paris on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo on 7 January 2014 continues to have a … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: [Not in Turkey but] Confidence in the EU on the rise…Greek political crisis

Confidence in the EU on the rise  EurActiv.com Citizens’ confidence in the European Union has grown since the European elections in May 2014. The uncertain economic situation and immigration are among the main issues still causing concern for the electorate. EurActiv France reports.   Greek political crisis: Huge amount at stake BBC News | Europe | World … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Merkel coalition partners’s strange desire…

Merkel coalition partners want immigrants to speak German at home  EurActiv.com Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Bavarian allies have caused outrage by suggesting immigrant families that want to remain in the country should be obliged to speak German at home.   ‘Speak German at home’ row erupts BBC News | Europe | World Edition A call by German conservatives … Read more

New EU foreign policy chief Mogherini in Turkey to encourage [possibly in vain] for anti-ISIL fight…

EU to press Turkey for help in anti-ISIL fight New EU foreign policy chief Mogherini makes her first visit to Turkey with ISIL on top of her agenda EU to press Turkey over IS militants BBC News | Europe | World Edition EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is in Turkey to urge it to participate fully … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Audit report shows errors in ‘all main spending areas’ of EU budget

Mass Surveillance of Personal Data by EU Member States and its Compatibility with EU Law Source: Centre for European Policy Studies Abstract: In the wake of the disclosures surrounding PRISM and other US surveillance programmes, this paper assesses the large-scale surveillance practices by a selection of EU member states: the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and the … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: EU vs. Israel on settlements…

EU hardens stance on Israeli settlements New guidelines will prevent any grants to companies based on occupied land as the EU hardens its opposition to expansion of Israeli settlements Israeli PM Netanyahu rejects EU ‘external dictates’ on borders Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu angrily rejected European Union guidelines barring the bloc’s 28 member states from funding … Read more

Kerry is again in Istanbul… Mavi Marmara Compensation issues…

Turkey‘s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) attend a news conference after the Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul April 20, 2013. REUTERS/Osman Orsal   Top US diplomat meets Palestinian President Abbas in Istanbul to push Mideast peace from Hurriyet Daily News U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met … Read more