With Kosovo having just declared a controversial independence, it’s time for a look at some of Europe’s other wannabe countries… Continue reading
February 15, 2008
by Nosemonkey
13 Comments
Category Archives: Europe
February 15, 2008
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Kosovo – some more causes for concern
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 14, 2008
by Nosemonkey
9 Comments
So much for independence outside the EU…
One of the strangest assertions of the withdrawalist anti-EU camp is that if Britain were to pull out, she would instantly become independent and able to act freely, unhindered by legislation from Brussels that they see as damaging and unnecessary. … Continue reading
February 13, 2008
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
“No alternative to Europe”
Kosovo’s imminent independence could give the EU its biggest challenge yet. Continue reading
February 12, 2008
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
“The new stage… the stage of totalitarianism”
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 12, 2008
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Russia’s energy blackmail
My big worry over Gazprom boss Dmitry Medvedev becoming president of Russia is his use of the country’s gas supplies as political weapons. Continue reading
February 2, 2008
by Nosemonkey
18 Comments
President Blair… Christ alive…
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
January 22, 2008
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
And you thought Haliburton was bad?
Rather than wait until after the elections, Serbia’s already signed that gas pipeline deal with Russia, effectively scuppering the EU-backed alternative. Now we’re going to end up with a president of Russia, Medvedev, who’ll not only be the former head … Continue reading
January 18, 2008
by Nosemonkey
9 Comments
Serbian elections: why you should care
Monday sees the first round of the Serbian presidential elections – and they could well prove vital for the future of Europe. If power shifts we could all, to coin a phrase, end up exponentially screwed. But surely, you might … Continue reading
November 16, 2007
by Nosemonkey
7 Comments
Brown, Miliband and the EU
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
On foreign policy speeches, the elephant in the room, and a slight shift in focus
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
Xenophobes – dontcha just love ’em?
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
The problems of democratic reform
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
Labour and Tory EU attitude shifts
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