A roundup as usual… last updated: 14:30 (4 Nov)
Europe, World – The Independent
“Merkel and Sarkozy unite to end Blair’s European dream
Former prime minister’s bid for EU presidency founders as continent’s most powerful leaders announce they would prefer candidate from smaller country
A. Gorskiy. Missed in action. in Soviet War Paintings.
The Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker has declared his willingness to run for the post of EU president in an obvious bid to prevent British politician Tony Blair from obtaining the post and becoming too powerful. But in the end the EU may decide not to elect either of these two formidable politicians and opt for a lacklustre candidate instead.
The proposed President of the European Council is very far from being ?President of Europe? ? either in terms of profile or power.
Whoever lands the job (and it?s highly unlikely to be Tony Blair) will have practically zero influence on anything, acting instead as little more than a moderator between the governments of the member states as they continue to run the EU show. And will be in office for just two and a half years ? which is no time at all in EU terms (hell, it?s just taken more than a decade to get agreement on a treaty which doesn?t solve half the problems it was meant to?)
The EU Parliament has on several occasions stated that access to the Internet is one of basic human rights. Now, Finland has become the first country to actually declare fast (broadband) Internet access a legal right.