Is this a new chance for Cyprus? My readers know I have rarely been hopeful about a Cyprus settlement. My skepticism only increased after the demise of the Annan Plan that I supported in 2003-2004 in my various articles and commentaries at the time Erdoğan-Gülen rift hits European Parliament talks The suggestion from … Read more
PM Erdoğan: Turkey freer than some EU states ‘When you refer to the Gezi Park events, why do you not see the events in Hamburg?’ Erdoğan asked *********************** Turkey Outlook Revised To Negative On Economy: S&P Turkey’s outlook was cut to negative from stable by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services on Friday S&P?s … Read more
Making Sense of Turkey?s Foreign Policy MARC PIERINI It has become an understatement in Western diplomatic circles to say that Turkey?s foreign policy is becoming more difficult to understand. In the eyes of Turkey?s Western partners, Ankara frequently fluctuates on international issues, displays a distinct lack of consistency in dealing with its friends and … Read more
European Commission understood AKP’s democratic potential capacity in its early years belatedly, and now it downplays the increasingly obvious authoritarian tendencies, a harsher critique will appear belatedly, I assume… Here are the documents in Turkish and in English… AB Komisyonu İlerleme Raporu – 2013 Turkiye Strategy Paper – COM 700 – EN final TURKEY … Read more
France breaking own rules on Roma camps: ombudsman France’s official defender of citizens’ rights on Friday accused the government of flouting its own rules related to the expulsion of Roma migrants Eurostat: English reinforces its status as Europe?s ?lingua franca? Ninety four percent of upper secondary students learn English as a foreign language, according to new … Read more
When Reality TV Meets Humanitarian Action in Italy RAI 1, the flagship television channel of the national public service broadcaster and the most watched channel in Italy, is developing a humanitarian aid show in reality form. The first episode is planned to be broadcast next 4 December 2013. German elections TV duel produces no winner … Read more
2012 EU Youth Report Source: European Commission The 2012 EU Youth Report is a joint report by the Council and the European Commission. It summarises the results of the first work cycle of the EU Youth Strategy (2010-2012) and establishes employment, social inclusion and health and well-being as new priorities in the youth field for … Read more
Kurdish autonomy in Syria alerts Turkey Two days after the capture of the Syrian border post of Turkey near the town of Rasulayn on July 17 Kurds cement power in war on Turkish border Clashes between Islamist rebel forces and Kurdish fighters spread to a second Syrian province on July 20, activists said, as factional … Read more
MAIN FOCUS: EU outraged over US spying | 02/07/2013 After media reports about spying activities of the US intelligence services in EU offices, the European Union is checking its facilities for bugging devices. The European Commission has demanded speedy explanations from the US. Some commentators say Europe should stand up to America, while others … Read more
Turkey EU accession ?in member states? hands? Germany is leading the opposition to progressing Turkey?s EU accession bid due to a crackdown on protests Turkey’s PM defends crackdown Turkey’s PM has told a crowd of supporters it was his ‘duty’ to order a crackdown on protests in Istanbul **************** The Impact of EU Membership on … Read more
EU agrees guidelines for rescue fund Eurozone finance ministers agree guidelines on how the eurozone’s emergency bailout fund can inject money directly into struggling banks. Q&A: Albanian parliamentary election Albania election seen as test of democratic progress Q&A: the Greek crisis revisited Greece?s woes are again troubling eurozone policy makers and rattling markets as renewed … Read more
MAIN FOCUS: EU wants to give deficit sinners more time | 30/05/2013 The EU Commission wants to give six euro countries more time to reduce their debts, allowing them to introduce growth-stimulating reforms. The sanctions on excessively high budget deficits are to be suspended, Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn announced on Wednesday. Some commentators welcome … Read more
Murder sparks anti-Muslim backlash There has been a huge increase in anti-Muslim incidents since the murder of a British soldier in London, an inter-faith charity says. MAIN FOCUS: Soldier killing shocks Britain | 24/05/2013 After the allegedly Islamist motivated murder of a soldier in London, security has been increased around military installations there. The authorities … Read more
Turkish Defense Ministry denies claims used army uniforms given to Syrian rebels Turkish Defense Ministry officials have denied a claim by the main opposition Republican. The Obama-Erdoğan meeting and economic conduct Finally, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan?s meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama. Peres sends condolences over Reyhanlı bombings as Netanyahu opts out: Report … Read more
IMF sees a mixed outlook for Europe – calls for more ECB action and a fiscal union by Open Europe blog team The IMF today released its latest World Economic Outlook forecasts. As usual the forecasts are not overly different from the previous ones – published in October last year – but there are a … Read more