With the Commons voting on an EU referendum today, what is Cameron’s real EU gameplan? Continue reading
March 5, 2008
by Nosemonkey
20 Comments
Category Archives: Europe
March 4, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on One day since Medvedev’s election…
One day since Medvedev’s election…
…and Russia’s energy blackmail steps up once again, with Ukraine’s gas supplies being cut by a quarter by Gazprom. The energy giant headed by, erm… one Dmitry Medvedev. Yay!
February 29, 2008
by Nosemonkey
15 Comments
The state of EU debate
When it comes to the EU, rational discourse seems impossible. Neither the pro- or the anti- camps are happy with this, but is there really any solution? Continue reading
February 28, 2008
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
“Underestimating Europe’s power is a mistake”
Just stumbled across an intriguing article in The Moscow Times (reprinted from the rather good Project Syndicate) by leading American international relations theorist (and former Carter and Clinton administration wonk) Joseph S Nye – intriguing because it’s a rare example … Continue reading
February 27, 2008
by Nosemonkey
7 Comments
EU-apathy
The lack of outrage over the lack of a referendum on the new EU treaty may be annoying the eurosceptics, but it should come as no surprise… Continue reading
February 26, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on A cultural quickie
A cultural quickie
If you haven’t seen these already, and are based in the UK, watch today via the really rather fun BBC iPlayer: Jonathan Meades: Magnetic North – yet another top-notch contribution from the almost always fascinating Meades, this time looking at … Continue reading
February 22, 2008
by Nosemonkey
7 Comments
In defence of MEPs
Yes, I’ve been slagging them off a lot over the last couple of days – but there are always two sides to everything. Jon Worth makes a lot of sensible points about the current expenses scandal: MEPs get the same … Continue reading
February 22, 2008
by Nosemonkey
10 Comments
Erm, you remember that democracy thing?
Well, according to the European Parliament it can go jump in a lake. Because they’ve voted not to respect the result of the Irish referendum (constitutionally required, lest we forget) on the Lisbon Treaty. What we effectively have here is … Continue reading
February 21, 2008
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
On free speech in the European Parliament
Quick question: why is there so little condemnation from the pro-EU camp of the European Parliament’s recent actions in trying to stifle eurosceptic proponents of referenda on the Lisbon Treaty? To redress the balance: I’m pro-EU and I’m anti-referendum – … Continue reading
February 20, 2008
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
On a common EU foreign policy
“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 20, 2008
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
Better off out?
Tiny Liechtenstein is currently at the centre of a storm that says a lot about how much independence non-EU Europe really has. Continue reading
February 19, 2008
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on And so it begins…
And so it begins…
After the little-reported grenade attack on a UN court on Sunday afternoon, it seems that Kosovo’s Serbs aren’t going to accept independence without a fight. Reuters: U.N. police pulled out from a Kosovo border post that was destroyed on Tuesday … Continue reading
February 18, 2008
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Five years after the Iraq protests, a question
Spotted in a decent French article on Kosovo’s independence, a throwaway line that made me ponder: L’indépendance du Kosovo se fera sous supervision internationale. Malgré ces divisions, l’Union européenne a décidé, sans l’aval de l’ONU, de déployer au Kosovo une … Continue reading
February 16, 2008
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Why I’m (largely) pro-EU
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