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 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
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 13, 2008
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Kosovo’s imminent independence could give the EU its biggest challenge yet. Continue reading
February 12, 2008
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Shutting down an entire university due to breaches of fire regulations would sound a little harsh at the best of times. When the university in question is St Petersburg’s European University, however, suspicions are naturally raised – not least thanks … Continue reading
February 2, 2008
by Nosemonkey
18 Comments
Allow Tony Blair to become the EU’s first permanent president and I’m very likely to turn anti-EU again. My feelings have already been succinctly summed up by Ari – a Finn, lest anyone get the idea this is yet another … Continue reading
November 16, 2007
by Nosemonkey
7 Comments
Well, he may have ignored it for months, but now it’s finally taking shape – although it hardly seems to be overly well thought-out. So, was Foreign Secretary David Miliband’s choice of Bruges to deliver his first EU policy speech … Continue reading
November 15, 2007
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
For a largely foreign policy-focussed blog, Gordon Brown’s offered little of any interest since becoming Prime Minister. He simply doesn’t seem to have much interest in the rest of the world, happily ignoring both the EU and the US for … Continue reading
November 12, 2007
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
To be fair, it’s taken the far right Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty European Parliament group – that delightful organisation that combines everyone from convicted fraudsters to French presidential runners-up and the granddaughters of fascist dictators – far longer to disintegrate than … Continue reading
November 3, 2007
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Ah yes – that’s a nice easy thing to try and summarise, isn’t it? Nonetheless, I gave it pop – trying to wrap up the dLiberation blog I’ve been writing/editing for openDemocracy for the last few weeks. Warning: it’s a … Continue reading
October 24, 2007
by Nosemonkey
14 Comments
It’s hard not to find the idea that the EU could be moving in to the old Tory Smith Square HQ quite amusing, considering the decided shift against Europe in the party during the last thirty years. The Tories moved … Continue reading
October 20, 2007
by Nosemonkey
28 Comments
So, the deal’s been done – and it would be rather amiss of a blog focussing on European politics not to have another quick look, even though we’ve all known this was pretty much inevitable for months now. The only … Continue reading
October 15, 2007
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
OK, people, I’m trying to number-crunch the demographics of the participants of this weekend’s Tomorrow’s Europe poll to see whether they really can be seen as “representative” of the EU as a whole. But my statistical knowledge is non-existent – … Continue reading
October 12, 2007
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
If I’ve been a bit quiet recently, it’s because I’ve been insanely busy. This is being written from a hotel alongside the European Parliament buildings in Brussels. I’m slightly tipsy on free wine, and yet rather wishing I was back … Continue reading