February 21, 2008
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
Quick question: why is there so little condemnation from the pro-EU camp of the European Parliament’s recent actions in trying to stifle eurosceptic proponents of referenda on the Lisbon Treaty? To redress the balance: I’m pro-EU and I’m anti-referendum – … Continue reading
February 20, 2008
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
“Oh noes!” Say the eurosceptics. “Teh Lisbon tweety dat am weely teh constitootion am gonna make teh EU a state and stuff! Got foreign minister! Oh noes! Dat mean common foreign policy! Our sovereignty gone bye-byes! Waaah!” I really can’t … Continue reading
February 20, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on links for 2008-02-20
Nationalists Obsess Over Medvedev’s Roots Could anti-semitism scupper Medvedev’s chances (hint: no – but an interesting article nonetheless) (tags: Russia) EU to relax internal restrictions on trade And about bloody time too… Well, depending on the details, of course – … Continue reading
February 20, 2008
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
Tiny Liechtenstein is currently at the centre of a storm that says a lot about how much independence non-EU Europe really has. Continue reading
February 19, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on And so it begins…
After the little-reported grenade attack on a UN court on Sunday afternoon, it seems that Kosovo’s Serbs aren’t going to accept independence without a fight. Reuters: U.N. police pulled out from a Kosovo border post that was destroyed on Tuesday … Continue reading
February 19, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on links for 2008-02-19
Serbian President Warns UN Over Kosovo Independence is “a flagrant violation of Security Council Resolution 1244” (tags: kosovo serbia UN) Tadic’s speech to the UN in full And in English, thankfully… (tags: Serbia Kosovo UN) “Europeans Hide Behind the Unpopularity … Continue reading
February 19, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Two dictators gone in the same day
Hurrah, etc. One supported by America throughout his time in power, one persecuted by America for half a century. But there aren’t any double standards, oh no… (And yes, I know Musharraf hasn’t gone, and it was only parliamentary elections … Continue reading
February 18, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on links for 2008-02-18
Why Tony Blair would make a good EU president An alternate take from Global Power Europe (tags: EU) Economic Interdependence Knits Europe Together (Perhaps) A fascinating (and worrying) case study from the Balkans that could prove significant in the coming … Continue reading
February 18, 2008
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Spotted in a decent French article on Kosovo’s independence, a throwaway line that made me ponder: L’indépendance du Kosovo se fera sous supervision internationale. Malgré ces divisions, l’Union européenne a décidé, sans l’aval de l’ONU, de déployer au Kosovo une … Continue reading
February 16, 2008
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Nutty eurosceptics are always good for a giggle, but can be deeply frustrating for the more sensible anti-EU types, as Tory MEP Daniel Hannan has recently discovered following his (rather silly) expulsion from the EPP – and as those who … Continue reading
February 15, 2008
by Nosemonkey
13 Comments
With Kosovo having just declared a controversial independence, it’s time for a look at some of Europe’s other wannabe countries… Continue reading
February 15, 2008
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
The blog of the Deputy Head of the British Office in Pristina Hadn’t noticed this before. It’s being regularly updated, and should prove an interesting resource over the next weeks and months (tags: Kosovo, Blogs) Outgoing President Putin Talks Tough … Continue reading
February 15, 2008
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
As you may have noticed, I’ve been pondering the EU’s proposed mission to Kosovo quite a lot over the last day or two, and getting increasingly concerned that the province’s impending independence hasn’t been quite thought through. Overnight, a rather … Continue reading
February 14, 2008
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
European Commission calls for creation of a European border patrol “The far-reaching package… would involve setting up a comprehensive electronic register of travelers’ biometric data.” Christ – not another one… What’s the betting this idea has been sponsored by the … Continue reading