EU has reached its ‘lowest point in history’ from EurActiv.com Despite having achieved peace and prosperity, the European project has reached its “lowest point in history,” according to policymakers gathered in Florence to celebrate the 61st anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. Why there is no serious blogging scene in Brussels from Ideas on … Read more
FT video: Eurozone crisis nears crux from Brussels Blog by FT Portugal?s prime minister has resigned on the eve of an EU summit that is supposed to move towards a ?grand bargain? to bolster the eurozone and strengthen its crisis prevention ability. The currency bloc is in a bind. Lex?s Edward Hadas and Vincent Boland … Read more
photo source Belgium beats Iraq from Brussels Blog by Stanley Pignal Belgium sets a dubious record on Thursday when it overtakes post-war Iraq as the country that has gone longest without a government. It?s a surreal achievement greeted with a mix of amusement and quiet despair in the streets of Brussels. (I speak of ?Brussels? … Read more
As Tunisian migrants begin to arrive, Italy fears ‘epic emergency’ from FP Passport by Joshua Keating More than 4,000 Tunisian migrants have arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa in since the fall of longtime strongman Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. The perils of ‘stability,’ Europe edition from FP Passport by Cameron Abadi EU walks diplomatic tightrope on Tunisia migrants … Read more
Ms Le Pen looks set to be a genuine contender in the 2012 presidential elections Far right anoints Marine Le Pen from BBC News | Europe | World Edition France’s far-right National Front confirms Marine Le Pen to succeed her father Jean-Marie as leader following a party vote. End of an ETA from FP Passport … Read more
Germany flexes muscle, loses friends from FP Passport by Cameron Abadi At next week’s EU summit in Brussels, you can expect the usual photos of backslapping European leaders sharing broad laughs and whispered asides. But behind closed doors, things are likely to be a lot frostier: by all indications, personal relations among EU power players … Read more
Georgieva named European of the Year from European Voice – RSS – News & analysis European commissioner for international co-operation, humanitarian aid and crisis response wins European Voice award. Weapons makers, multinationals among top beneficiaries of EU regional funds from EUobserver.com – Headline News EU citizenship: What is progress? by Grahnlaw Yesterday I thought about … Read more
The European Social Fund The key findings of this survey are that Europeans: ? Want the European Union to address unemployment as a priority for the EU (63%); ? Consider poverty as the second EU priority (42%); ? See job creation as the priority area for the EU to invest its resources in (56%); ? … Read more
Sarkozy to journalists: ‘See you tomorrow, paedophile friends’ from FP Pasaport by Joshua Keating Sarko’s temper flares again in response to a reporter’s question about allegations that he took kickbacks from a weapons deal with Pakistan to fund his presidential campaign: Access to scientific data: European Court of Human Rights judgement from Ideas on Europe … Read more
MAIN FOCUS: EU budget power games | 17/11/2010 from euro|topics Negotiations on the EU Budget in Brussels have met with resistance from several member countries and run aground. The press complains that this wrangling for power blocks important new projects in the EU. Barroso’s case of the Budget Blues by Open Europe blog team After … Read more
Irish resisting bail-out pressure from BBC News | Europe | World Edition The Irish Republic insists it does not need financial assistance from the EU amid speculation that a bail-out is increasingly likely. MAIN FOCUS: Ireland threatened by debt crisis | 15/11/2010 from euro|topics The Irish government is no longer excluding the possibility of asking … Read more
What currency wars mean for the eurozone by Centre for European Reform By Simon Tilford The dollar has now fallen to $1.40 against the euro. This is still below the low of almost $1.60 that it reached in the middle in July 2008, but it represents a steep decline from under $1.20 in early June. … Read more
“Two young French muslim women decided to protest the recent French ban against wearing veils that cover the face, by walking around Paris in Niquab veil and ….. mini-skirt. Creating quite a stir. French article and video here. English article here.” Found here. Greek taxing madness by Open Europe blog team Today’s gloomy revelations from … Read more
found in TIAGO HOISEL
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The Franco-German axis, which for so long has defined the European Union, has taken some serious hits lately. Following the trauma of the eurozone crisis, the relationship between the two countries is heading towards a historic post-war low – to the point that Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy are no longer on speaking terms according to whispers in Brussels. This wasn’t helped by Sarkozy’s comments the other week that “95 percent” of the bailout package deal agreed corresponded to French demands.