ukraine

Eurosphere agenda: Aydan Özoğuz, Germany’s first ever Turkish-origin Cabinet member

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Germany names first ever Turkish-origin Cabinet member Deputy leader of Germany?s Social Democrats (SPD), Aydan Özoğuz, has been announced as the country?s new state minister for immigration, refugees and integration ********************** The Ukrainian revolution is European and national Ukrainian civil society wants a truly independent Ukrainian and European nation. And Ukrainians understand that, in order … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: “France’s new surveillance law…EU bank bailout fight…

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France’s new surveillance law creates a police state   Jeremie from La Quadrature du Net writes, “France just turned into a surveillance state, adopting a sneaky surveillance framework in article 13 of its Defense Bill (Loi de programmation militaire). MAIN FOCUS: Final spurt towards banking union | 12/12/2013   The project of a banking union is taking … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Renzi wins Italian centre-left leadership…”Escalating protests in Ukraine… “How Internet Tools Turned Ukraine’s #Euromaidan Protests Into a Movement

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Renzi wins Italian centre-left leadership     Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi won a primary vote to become leader of Italy’s centre-left Democratic Party (PD), preliminary results showed on Sunday (8 December), giving him influence over the fragile coalition government and the timing of the next elections. Please, Mr. Renzi, debunk this Europe   Primary elections held yesterday … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “EU imposes record fine on major banks…

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  MAIN FOCUS: EU imposes record fine on major banks | 05/12/2013   In the scandal over the manipulation of international interest rates, the European Commission has imposed a record fine. Six major banks are to pay a total of 1.7 billion euros, EU Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia announced on Wednesday in Brussels. Commentators welcome … Read more

Ukraine’s Black Saturday… #Euromaidan protests continue…

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  Ukraine’s Black Saturday Yesterday was Black Friday in the west ? people out shopping; in Ukraine, today will be remembered as Black Saturday ? people running for their lives. Have the Ukrainians been shopped by the Europeans? Ukraine: Understanding the #Euromaidan Protests It may seem to many that the #Euromaidan protests in Ukraine grew out … Read more

In the mean time in Europe: #euromaidan protests in Ukraine…

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  From a #euromaidan in Ukraine   How do we (and Ukrainians) make sense of what is happening in Ukraine? Is the hashtag #euromaidan of any help in understanding the choice being made between the EU and Russia, or yet another symbol of a general failure to understand anything? Truncheon-wielding police break up Ukraine pro-EU rally, injuring … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: European Commission to restore faith in US-EU data sharing in a post-PRISM world… Berlusconi.. Scotland… Ukraine…

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European Commission outlines steps to restore faith in US-EU data sharing in a post-PRISM world The European Commission (EC) has drafted measures designed to restore faith in the flow of data between the US and Europe following revelations about the NSA?s spying activities with its PRISM programme. The EC today outlined what it views as … Read more

EU supporters battle on in Ukraine… Empowering Europe?s Roma… Eurosphere roundup…

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MAIN FOCUS: EU supporters battle on in Ukraine | 26/11/2013 Opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko began a hunger strike on Monday in a bid to have theassociation agreement signed. Meanwhile tens of thousands continue to demonstrate for the country to strengthen its ties with the EU. The Ukrainians still believe in the European dream, commentators write, calling on the EU’s … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Jubilant of the Iran nuclear deal… Interactive Map of #Euromaidan Protests in Support Ukraine’s EU Integration…

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EU will likely lift some Iran sanctions in December: France France’s foreign ministe said the EU would likely lift some sanctions on Iran in December MAIN FOCUS: Breakthrough in nuclear dispute with Iran | 25/11/2013   The US, Russia, China, the UK, France and Germany reached a provisional agreement with Iran in the nuclear dispute … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Iran nuclear deal… Ukraine abandons EU…

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Did the United States Just Grant Iran the Right to Enrich Uranium? For weeks, Western negotiators have huddled in a luxury hotel in Geneva with their Iranian counterparts to defuse tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program. In the early hours Sunday, the diplomats finally secured their long-sought prize: a deal that puts the breaks on Iran’s nuclear ambitions in … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Audit report shows errors in ‘all main spending areas’ of EU budget

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Mass Surveillance of Personal Data by EU Member States and its Compatibility with EU Law Source: Centre for European Policy Studies Abstract: In the wake of the disclosures surrounding PRISM and other US surveillance programmes, this paper assesses the large-scale surveillance practices by a selection of EU member states: the UK, Sweden, France, Germany and the … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: “15-Year-Old Roma Girl’s Deportation Shakes Up France’s Immigration Debate…

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  German coalition talks cast long shadow over EU elections   German chancellor Angela Merkel said there was no ?automatic link? between the party that wins next year’s EU election and the next European Commission president, casting doubt over a pledge by the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) to “put a face” on the election.   … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: “Merkel possibly spied on by US…

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MAIN FOCUS: Merkel possibly spied on by US | 24/10/2013 The German government has evidence that Chancellor Merkel‘s mobile phone may have been tapped by US intelligence services. Merkel complained to US President Barack Obama about the matter on Wednesday. The chancellor is only making the spying affairher business because she is personally affected now, commentators criticise, … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: EU summit: Leaked draft conclusions…NSA scandal reaches France….

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EU summit: Leaked draft conclusions Herman Van Rompuy during a public appearance at the European Council building on Wednesday EU leaders are gearing up for their first summit in four months tomorrow ? the longest hiatus since the outbreak of the eurozone crisis three years ago. MAIN FOCUS: NSA scandal reaches France | 22/10/2013 The US’s NSA … Read more

Refugee tragedies in the Mediterranean… A Eurosphere roundup…

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MAIN FOCUS: Austerity and hope in Ireland | 16/10/2013 The Irish government presented the budget for 2014 on Tuesday – the seventh austerity budget in a row. Prime Minister Enda Kenny stressed that the top priority was to create jobs and exit the bailout programme. Ireland’s success is proof that the stringent austerity policy is the right … Read more