germany

Not easy to choose the Europe's first president…

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On ?the President of Europe?

from Nosemonkey’s EUtopia

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?)

Sakharov Prize goes to Memorial

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Russia rights group wins EU prize

from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
Russian rights group Memorial wins the European Parliament’s annual Sakharov Prize in memory of activist Natalya Estemirova.
A Euronews roundup:

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Membership by 2015?

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That’s a Foreign Ministry hope or fantasy. I am not too pessimistic about the EU membership process but it is a bit early. Super-slowness is the rule and targetting 2015 is to fasten the process which could disorient all the parties:)
Ah well, while EU membership process is a little peripherialized in the current state of Turkish foreign policy making, still it makes news, still happenings. A huge roundup on related issues:
People gather under The Eiffel Tower, lighted in the colours ...

People gather under The Eiffel Tower, lighted in the colours of Turkey as part of events marking the “Season of Turkey in France”, in Paris October 6, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

Turkish FM: ?Turkey seeks EU membership by 2015?

Turkey is counting on joining the European Union by 2015 to bolster both its and the EU?s global role, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said on Friday. ?Even 2015 is too late, not only for us, it will be too late for the EU as well,? Davutoğlu said at the European Policy Centre in Brussels.

The Eiffel Tower is seen lighted in the colours of Turkey as ...

The Eiffel Tower is seen lighted in the colours of Turkey as part of events marking the ‘Season of Turkey in France’, in Paris October 6, 2009. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes

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Turks may not have liked the German election results

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source: Hürriyet
source: Hürriyet

updated: 28 Sept 2009- 18:20

Turkish newspapers lament the results as triumphant center-right coalition means continuing obstacle to Turkey’s EU membership (see Hürriyet)

Victorious Merkel vows recovery

German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledges to focus on reviving Europe’s largest economy after winning a second term in office.
A good round up by Grahnlaw:

German elections and the European Union

by Grahnlaw

The German elections have caused a shift in the federal parliament Bundestag, and they will bring in a new government coalition (Bundesregierung). The conservative parties, the Christian Democratic CDU and the Bavarian CSU, suffered some vote losses, but remain the largest group by far.

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