Not least because one of the engineers has the gloriously Pynchonian name Wayco Scroggin… (Yes US army prototype-Gundam robosuits have nothing to do with the EU, but I want one.)

“If the two largest political groups oppose enhanced transparency arrangements it must be because they have something to hide”. Nice one, MEPs. Way to inspire confidence.

It’s up there with the CAP (largely because of the CAP) as one of the most difficult areas of the EU to reform, so what’s the current thinking on the way forward, and is there any chance of agreement?

At least, so claims an anti-abortion Christian group. Doubtless not quite that simple – but would be an important and overdue step in the right direction, towards overturning the outmoded dominance of medievalist Catholic doctrine

Ah.. The Kosovo precedent! Looks like politics is being played in the Caucasus with South Ossetia and Abkhazia gaining support from Moscow – but Russian eyes are firmly on the Balkans and the planned new gas pipeline through Serbia

Is Silvio planning to cozy up to Russia? It rather looks like it, what with Putin being the first foreign leader Berlusconi’s meeting with (today) since regaining the office of Prime Minister. A potentially very interesting development…