December 28, 2006
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
The EU’s going to be having a hard time once again in 2007 – but will it be enough to finally kick off the radical reforms that are needed? Although the Economist notes that “in 2006 the large continental economies … Continue reading
December 22, 2006
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Handy forward-planning article from Cafe Babel, worth a gander.
December 21, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on The EU and data retention
(Yep a contender for “most exciting post title of the year”…) Via the EU Law blog, a PDF of an article due to appear in the Spring 2007 edition of the Chicago Journal of International Law by Professor Francesca Bignami … Continue reading
December 20, 2006
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Via Erkan, the World Economic Forum‘s Lisbon Review 2006 (1 meg PDF) – “Measuring Europe’s Progress in Reform” – is out, seeing how far the EU has got with the Lisbon Strategy, six years in to the ten year plan. … Continue reading
December 19, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Blair’s foreign policy: the aftermath
I done gone done a post over at The Sharpener based on the latest Chatham House report on Blair’s foreign policy legacy. Word of warning – get yourself a thermos of tea ready before you start… It’s a long ‘un…
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 16, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Political union (and Belgian confusion)
Eurozone watch runs over the benefits of closer European political integration, while Kosmopolit and Crooked Timber have the lowdown on the political breakup of Belgium earlier in the week.
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
December 7, 2006
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Phil Edwards has yet another of his handy round-ups of what the hell’s going on in Italian politics. Because, as he points out, there’s always something going on in Italian politics – and generally speaking, it’s a bit mad, from … Continue reading
December 6, 2006
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Set up by dear old Devil’s Kitchen (utterly deluded when it comes to most matters political (he’s actually joined UKIP, for God’s sake…) but a stout fellow nonetheless – and he’d no doubt say much the same about me), is … Continue reading
December 6, 2006
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Blair’s foreign policy: the aftermath
(Originally published on The Sharpener) Professor Victor Bulmer-Thomas, in his last briefing paper as Director of non-profit foreign policy analysts Chatham House, is suitably damning of our dear foreign policy obsessed PM – with a few nice little digs to … Continue reading
December 5, 2006
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
I was going to do something on the EU constitution again the other day, as Angela Merkel’s recently reiterated her intention to use the German presidency of the EU to kick-start the stalled talks when she takes over the reigns … Continue reading