April 3, 2010
by Nosemonkey
12 Comments
If you want to understand Britain’s rather odd relationship with the EU, you could do far worse than read this really rather good overview in this week’s Economist, especially considering its focus on the Conservative party – likely to form … Continue reading
March 29, 2010
by Nosemonkey
24 Comments
It’s worth remembering this – no one understands the EU. No one *can* understand the EU. Continue reading
February 6, 2010
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
From five years ago (originally published 4th February 2005) – a repost seemed appropriate as someone asked about my views on European Identity just the other day, soon after a user purporting to be Jurgen Habermas cropped up on Twitter. … Continue reading
January 31, 2010
by Nosemonkey
12 Comments
Forgot all about this, as the interview was originally conducted back in October, but it’s in the latest issue of Shift Mag, which focusses on Euroscepticism. Have a gander at the whole lot here or, below the fold, check out … Continue reading
January 21, 2010
by Nosemonkey
42 Comments
As such, a letter just sent to Private Eye (aimed at that publication’s always entertaining Pedantry Corner): In Eye 1254, Brussels Sprouts begins with “The new EU Spanish presidency (not to be confused with the EU’s first actual president, Herman … Continue reading
January 17, 2010
by Nosemonkey
47 Comments
Many eurosceptics profess to be libertarians. To me this makes no sense at all. Continue reading
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 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