February 20, 2005
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
77% for, apparently. Of course, the ignorance of the constitution amongst the Spanish voters is just as high as it is in the UK. But they also know what it’s like to live under a genuinely totalitarian system, so may … Continue reading
February 15, 2005
by Nosemonkey
24 Comments
Via Political Theory Daily Review, a pdf article providing an interesting (if flawed) overview of the development of the concepts of “sovereignty” and “the nation state” which EU-sceptics often seem to get so worked up about, as well as the … Continue reading
January 20, 2005
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Yuschenko inauguration confirmed for Sunday
Announced on the day Bush’s second term officially begins – how rare! Russia’s Vladimir Putin also seems to be trying to patch up relations, releasing a congratulatory message to the guy he was opposing to the extent of sending in … Continue reading
January 19, 2005
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Ukraine is planning on shifting its “philosophy of co-operation with the European Union”, hinting that membership is the country’s final aim following Yushchenko’s victory in the re-run presidential elections. Could all that noise about a Yushchenko victory meaning a shift … Continue reading
January 17, 2005
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Free constitution for every reader! (And news round-up)
Now there’s an idea. In preparation for their referendum on the EU constitution on 20th February, the Spanish dailies El Pais, El Mundo, ABC and Razon yesterday all provided free copies of the vast document with their regular papers. Not … Continue reading
January 17, 2005
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Fascinating blow-by-blow account in the NY Times of the role of the SBU (successor to the Soviet-era KGB) in Ukraine’s “Orange Revolution”. This is far from being my area of expertise, but it casts an interesting new light on the … Continue reading
January 14, 2005
by Nosemonkey
6 Comments
Following yesterday’s decision by the European Parliament to approve the constitution, things are kicking off a bit (even though the parliament’s decision actually means very little with all these referenda coming up). Blogging Labour MEP Richard Corbett, co-rapporteur for the … Continue reading
January 6, 2005
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Ukrainian crisis – the aftermath
Discoshaman provides a roundup of recent developments, including the news that “Yanukovych has brought a fifth complaint to the Supreme Court, hoping to overturn the elections. Even his own spokesman doesn’t sound hopeful. The Court will consider his complaint tomorrow. … Continue reading
December 28, 2004
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Hope everyone had a nice Christmas / non-denominational festive celebration thing, and congrats to those Ukrainian chappies I’ve been on and off in touch with for the apparent victory of their man. Let’s hope he can live up to the … Continue reading
December 20, 2004
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Ukraine TV debate
So, Yuschenko and Yanukovych are going to slug it out on TV, are they? I’m desperately trying to work out the point, as the whole rhetoric of the last few weeks seems to be made up almost exclusively of personal … Continue reading
December 15, 2004
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on “Politically incorrect, xenophobic, racist and who knows what else”
Nope, not the usual UKIP suspects, but – supposedly – European politicians’ real reactions to the proposed Turkish accession to the EU: Even after 40 years of attempts to get closer, Brussels and Ankara are still strangers. That could be … Continue reading
December 11, 2004
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Eurosavant reckons that Ukrainian NATO membership is simply not on the cards, while Elmar Brok, chairman of the European Parliament�s foreign policy committee, has said explicitly that “Ukraine belongs to Europe… Over the last few years we have given the … Continue reading
December 6, 2004
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Ukraine crisis – EU implications
A well-considered and interesting article on the impact the Ukrainian election crisis has had on the EU: “while the western establishment failed quickly to grasp the import of the Kiev events, the rapid engagement of Polish politicians in the unfolding … Continue reading
December 3, 2004
by Nosemonkey
7 Comments
Via Tulipgirl, it sounds like the right result seems to have been achieved: The Supreme Court has ruled that: 1. The election from November 21 is invalid. 2. There will be another run-off election, between Yushchenko and Yanukovich. 3. The … Continue reading