January 13, 2007
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on A weekend European roundup
The Economist’s Edward Lucas’s [tag]central Europe[/tag]an diary is well worth a read: “it is odd that Poland gets so much mockery. There is a kind of snobbish disdain for Europe’s east rooted very deeply in the British psyche. Before writing … Continue reading
December 18, 2006
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
The BBC has a handy press summary of Europe-wide reactions to the EU’s mind-numbingly tedious and unproductive summit last week (which, like DJ Nozem, I simply couldn’t bring myself to pay any attention to, I’m afraid). EU Observer has a … Continue reading
December 13, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on The French presidency and the internet
Via the really rather good French Élection 2007 blog, two little pieces on the rival candidates for the French presidency and their attitudes to this here interweb. Following current President Jacques Chirac’s decision to launch his own French 24 hour … Continue reading
December 13, 2006
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Has anyone got the full version of Menzies Cambell’s speech on Britain’s relationships with the EU and US? Because this looks to be the second speech by a relatively minor British politician (with a certain amount of influence) in a … Continue reading
December 9, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on French elections update
Good roundup of the conservative UMP party’s presidential primary process courtesy of Charles Bremner at the Times – including the latest challenge to Sarkozy in the form of Defence Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie. Considering socialist candidate Ségolène Royal’s apparent foreign policy … Continue reading
November 29, 2006
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy has, as expected, announced his candidacy for the conservative UMP party’s presidential nomination. With 70% support amongst the party faithful, in recent months it has looked as if the only thing that could lose him … Continue reading
November 22, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Simon Heffer: Blogger
(Originally published on The Sharpener) Simon Heffer is not a columnist for whom I usually have much time – although his biography of Enoch Powell was relatively interesting, that was more down to the subject than the author. If anything, … Continue reading
November 16, 2006
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
France’s next president could be decided today as the Socialists vote in a three-way primary for their candidate to take on Chirac’s expected conservative successor, Nicholas Sarkozy. The front-runner for the socialists (on 49% – via) is currently thought to … Continue reading
August 30, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on “Une sorte de maladie de langueur, de fatigue generalisee”
Thus spake France’s Minister for European Affairs, Catherine Colonna, giving her opinion of the state of the EU to the assembled ranks of the French Ambassadorial elite. Packed with (if we’re honest, fairly astute) criticisms of the current way the … Continue reading
July 28, 2006
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
The Department for the Environment, Foor and Rural Affairs (Defra) under Margaret Beckett – now off fixing the Middle East as Condoleeza Rice’s bitch Britain’s Foreign Secretary – has repeatedly cocked up farm subsidy payments through an ongoing mismanagement that … Continue reading
October 10, 2005
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Looks like the balance of power in europe has shifted – Angela Merkel to take over the German Chancellorship. So, the left(ish) anti-war, pro-France leader of Europe’s largest economy is replaced with a right-wing, pro-war, pro-Busher who has hinted at … Continue reading
July 17, 2005
by Nosemonkey
14 Comments
Newsweek – why doesn’t Chirac step down? Chirac acts like a man who doesn’t know his wife has moved out. Asked last week who he thought was most likely to succeed him, the president smiled widely and replied, “I think … Continue reading
July 15, 2005
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on France better than Britain
France better than Britain – official! (Or not, as the case may be…) Plus some Chirac interview goodness.
July 15, 2005
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Then again, we have been going on about business as usual, so it’s only right that the fight with our European neighbours kicks off again, unimpeded by the actions of four nutters from the north. The Commission, a tad miffed, … Continue reading