January 2, 2010
by Nosemonkey
16 Comments
A new year, and we should be looking to the future. I’ve also (appropriately) been looking to the past, though, and pondering how little has changed. Five years ago: Complaining about the nature of the EU debate and lengthy attempts … Continue reading
December 23, 2009
by Nosemonkey
34 Comments
Just to be provocative, like (I obviously don’t entirely believe this headline – I’m a big fan of the subsidiarity principle, after all, and am an advocate of greater localism in politics – but still)… This taken from a reply … Continue reading
December 16, 2009
by Nosemonkey
20 Comments
We’ve seen all the intra-European arguments about Lisbon (now in force for a full fortnight) – what we really need is some expert extra-European opinion. So ta very much to Philip H Gordon, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian … Continue reading
November 27, 2009
by Nosemonkey
17 Comments
UKIP, love them or hate them, have been fairly consistent in one thing over the years – arguing against the EU because it is run by unelected bureaucrats. Just one of their arguments, perhaps – but the democratic deficit claim … Continue reading
November 19, 2009
by Nosemonkey
18 Comments
So, it’s looking like it’s lightweight, little-known Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy for the President of the European Council, and lightweight, little-known Baroness Ashton (current UK European Commissioner, Peter Mandelson’s almost invisible replacement) for the High Representative of the … Continue reading
November 5, 2009
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Apropos of not a lot, now that the Treaty of Lisbon’s all over, what was being said when the similarly disputed and unsatisfactory Treaty of Nice was finally passed back in 2001? From The Economist, Vol. 360, Issue 8232 (28th … Continue reading
November 4, 2009
by Nosemonkey
54 Comments
So runs the argument of increasingly prominent anti-EU Tory, Daniel Hannan MEP – still advocating a UK referendum despite the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. This is, of course, very true. Since the 1975 referendum on EEC membership, the … Continue reading
November 3, 2009
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
With Vaclav Klaus’ low-key signature this afternoon, the Lisbon Treaty – which its critics have long accused of being capable of altering the very fabric of European life – has been ratified. I was in London, reporting the reactions live … Continue reading
November 2, 2009
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
A guest post from that rare beast, an openly pro-EU Tory – in this case Thomas Byrne of the blog Byrne Tofferings, who is keen to sound out the thoughts of a more international audience to his suggestion for the … Continue reading
October 30, 2009
by Nosemonkey
11 Comments
Yes, I KNOW it’s confusing… Continue reading
October 27, 2009
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
A few vague thoughts towards predicting a new global geopolitics Continue reading
October 25, 2009
by Nosemonkey
19 Comments
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 … Continue reading
October 4, 2009
by Nosemonkey
114 Comments
How eurosceptics are damaging their cause, and what they can do to win more converts Continue reading
October 3, 2009
by Nosemonkey
23 Comments
In last year’s Irish Lisbon Treaty referendum, turnout was 53.1%, with 53.4% voting No and 46.6% voting yes. That’s 862,415 No voters – 28.3% of the Irish electorate, and just 0.17% of the EU’s population – holding up the ratification … Continue reading