It’s worth remembering this – no one understands the EU. No one *can* understand the EU. Continue reading
March 29, 2010
by Nosemonkey
24 Comments
Category Archives: Politics
February 11, 2010
by Nosemonkey
11 Comments
Pigs fly: Sensible EU-related commentry in a usually eurosceptic British newspaper
I nearly dropped my copy of today’s London Evening Standard in amazement at the 2/3rds of a page comment piece by Financial Editor Anthony Hilton. He’s got a strong track-record for saying moderately sensible stuff when it comes to European … Continue reading
February 6, 2010
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Reblogged: Towards a European Identity
From five years ago (originally published 4th February 2005) – a repost seemed appropriate as someone asked about my views on European Identity just the other day, soon after a user purporting to be Jurgen Habermas cropped up on Twitter. … Continue reading
January 31, 2010
by Nosemonkey
12 Comments
Nosemonkey interviewed: On euroscepticism
Forgot all about this, as the interview was originally conducted back in October, but it’s in the latest issue of Shift Mag, which focusses on Euroscepticism. Have a gander at the whole lot here or, below the fold, check out … Continue reading
January 21, 2010
by Nosemonkey
42 Comments
The “EU president” meme’s still running…
As such, a letter just sent to Private Eye (aimed at that publication’s always entertaining Pedantry Corner): In Eye 1254, Brussels Sprouts begins with “The new EU Spanish presidency (not to be confused with the EU’s first actual president, Herman … Continue reading
January 17, 2010
by Nosemonkey
47 Comments
The libertarian case for European integration
Many eurosceptics profess to be libertarians. To me this makes no sense at all. Continue reading
January 2, 2010
by Nosemonkey
16 Comments
Looking back (and forward)
A new year, and we should be looking to the future. I’ve also (appropriately) been looking to the past, though, and pondering how little has changed. Five years ago: Complaining about the nature of the EU debate and lengthy attempts … Continue reading
December 23, 2009
by Nosemonkey
34 Comments
Why regulating and legislating at an EU level is almost always a good thing
Just to be provocative, like (I obviously don’t entirely believe this headline – I’m a big fan of the subsidiarity principle, after all, and am an advocate of greater localism in politics – but still)… This taken from a reply … Continue reading
December 16, 2009
by Nosemonkey
20 Comments
The US State Department on the Lisbon Treaty
We’ve seen all the intra-European arguments about Lisbon (now in force for a full fortnight) – what we really need is some expert extra-European opinion. So ta very much to Philip H Gordon, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian … Continue reading
November 27, 2009
by Nosemonkey
17 Comments
UKIP’s new leader, Lord Pearson
UKIP, love them or hate them, have been fairly consistent in one thing over the years – arguing against the EU because it is run by unelected bureaucrats. Just one of their arguments, perhaps – but the democratic deficit claim … Continue reading
November 5, 2009
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
Nine years ago…
Apropos of not a lot, now that the Treaty of Lisbon’s all over, what was being said when the similarly disputed and unsatisfactory Treaty of Nice was finally passed back in 2001? From The Economist, Vol. 360, Issue 8232 (28th … Continue reading
November 4, 2009
by Nosemonkey
54 Comments
“No one under the age of 52 has had the chance to vote on the EU”
So runs the argument of increasingly prominent anti-EU Tory, Daniel Hannan MEP – still advocating a UK referendum despite the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. This is, of course, very true. Since the 1975 referendum on EEC membership, the … Continue reading
November 3, 2009
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
Liveblogging the Lisbon apocalypse
With Vaclav Klaus’ low-key signature this afternoon, the Lisbon Treaty – which its critics have long accused of being capable of altering the very fabric of European life – has been ratified. I was in London, reporting the reactions live … Continue reading
November 2, 2009
by Nosemonkey
5 Comments
Guest Post: Chris Patten for ‘EU Foreign Minister’?
A guest post from that rare beast, an openly pro-EU Tory – in this case Thomas Byrne of the blog Byrne Tofferings, who is keen to sound out the thoughts of a more international audience to his suggestion for the … Continue reading