Eurosphere agenda: Grexit debate…

Grexit divides politicians in Athens  EurActiv.com Eurozone membership is “irrevocable”, the European Commission said today (5 December), after media reports about Greece leaving the single currency that triggered strong reactions in Athens. EurActiv Greece reports.   MAIN FOCUS: EU Commission joins Grexit debate | 06/01/2015 euro|topics The EU Commission stressed on Monday that according to the EU treaties a … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Euro slides to a nine-year low…”In Europe, Pirates and The Copyright Law

Northern Ireland’s incomplete peace: young feminists speak out open Democracy News Analysis – by Claire Pierson and Maria Deiana   Organising around a belief in feminism’s ability to articulate and represent visions of peace and politics, a new generation of feminists is emerging to challenge the traditional rigidity of Northern Irish politics.   Pipes for South Stream … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Rise of Syriza… Rise of Anti-Muslim sentiments…

People react to mosque attacks in Sweden joyously independent.co.uk – Jan 2 – A Muslim community in Sweden that faced a series of Islamaphobic attacks recently has been taken aback after residents ‘love-bombed’ the local mosque in an outpouring of support. After anti-Muslim rhetoric was scrawled into an Uppsala mosque… One in 8 Germans would join … Read more

Turkish government continues to pursue to block internet access without legal order… Dispatches from Turkey…

Turkish gov’t in new bid to block Internet access without legal order Hurriyet Daily News The Turkish government has been preparing to make yet another move which would add insult to injury for those who have been concerned over plight of freedom of expression in the country Prosecutor Requests Arrest of Journalist After Release  Bianet :: English … Read more

Istanbul authorities are keen to destroy another park: Validebağ, Üsküdar… Istanbul news roundup…

Police escorted bulldozer enters Istanbul grove at dawn, driving locals to streets The Validebağ grove on Istanbul’s Asian side has become the latest disputed green space in the city Court suspends controversial mosque construction at Istanbul grove  Hurriyet Daily News An administrative court has suspended the controversial construction of a mosque in the Validebağ grove VIDEO: Turkish, German … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: He is back (!) “Sarkozy announces return to politics

Sarkozy announces return to politics French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy returns to politics, announcing on his Facebook page that he will seek the leadership of main centre-right party. Sweden: Immigrants dismayed by far-right gain  AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) Anti-immigration Sweden Democrats party – with roots in the neo-Nazi movement – recently won 12.9 percent of the vote. … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Russia is no longer the EU’s strategic partner… “women in right-wing extremist groups in Germany..

  Ukrainian soldiers battling Russian tanks at Lugansk: Army Ukrainian troops on Sept. 1 were battling a Russian tank contingent in the eastern city of Lugansk, Kiev said, accusing Moscow’s army units of moving into large cities in the region What further sanctions is the EU considering against Russia? Open Europe blog Given the recent escalation in … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Gender inequality in Spain…

Britain is no longer a world power  open Democracy News Analysis – by Ben Waite Britain faces a turning point in its foreign policy; it is no longer capable of delivering the ‘interventions’ its leaders crave, while its much vaunted ‘soft power’ seems so soft as to barely make an impact at all. A change of mindset … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: #EP2014 results… Anti-semitic attack in Belgium…

Fascists and ultra-rights @ #EP2014:25% France23% Denmark22% UK20% Austria15% Hungary13% Finland12% Greece8% Germany — Wolfgang Lünenbürger @luebue@norden.social (@luebue) May 25, 2014   MAIN FOCUS: European elections: triumph of the Eurosceptics | 26/05/2014 euro|topics Despite a loss of votes the conservatives remain the strongest force in the EU Parliament, while right-wing populist and Eurosceptic parties made massive … Read more

Cyberculture agenda: Eurobloggers… “Google Challenged by ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Ruling in Europe…

  Euro elections 2014: You Tell Us bloggers discuss open Democracy News Analysis – by Alex Sakalis Young bloggers from across the EU discuss the euro elections as seen from their countries. See also, Whatever happened to the European elections debate? European elections, European democracy? The lead-up to the European elections in Bulgaria: how not to do politics … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: ” Ukrainian Crisis: a Quick Guide to Key Internet Links… and more…

  Ukrainian Crisis: a Quick Guide to Key Internet Links Docuticker Source: Parliamentary Library of Australia This Quick Guide provides Parliamentarians with a list of key resources and commentary about the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.   + Direct link to Guide (PDF; 268 KB)   Uncle Sam’s Ukraine Failure in Russia Global Voices Online by Kevin … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Finland risks losing triple A rating…

    MAIN FOCUS: Huge demand for Greek bonds | 11/04/2014   Greece issued government bonds on capital markets on Thursday for the first time in four years. The bonds sold like hotcakes, netting Athens a total of three billion euros. For some commentators it’s the end of the euro crisis. Others warn that neither Greece … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Crimea Crisis continues… Gender Equality in Europe…Europe?s Middle-Age Trap

Shots as Crimea observers stopped Warning shots are fired as international observers are turned back from entering Crimea where pro-Russian forces have tightened their grip. On the Front Lines: Exclusive Photos of the Ukraine-Russia Standoff Evgeny Feldman, a staff photographer for the Russian publication, Novaya Gazeta, visited a checkpoint Saturday on a road a few kilometers … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Italian PM Letta has resigned…”EU?s top telecoms official rules out government control of the internet…

EU?s top telecoms official rules out government control of the internet The European Commission is trying to carve a mediator role for itself in the global debate over the future of internet governance, taking its distance from the US but also from the idea of a United Nations’ leadership of the Web, supported by Russia … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Corruption costing bloc $162 billion annually…

MAIN FOCUS: Heavy cost of corruption for Europe | 04/02/2014   Corruption costs the EU economy around 120 billion euros per year, the EU’s first Anti-Corruption Report published  on Monday reveals. According to a Eurobarometer survey, more than half of the respondents believe that bribery has increased in the last three years. Commentators call on … Read more