There’s a nasty conference centre that belongs to the European Commission in Brussels called the Albert Borschette building. It’s close to Place Jourdan and is a 1970s construction. But the story behind its name is an intriguing one. Albert Borschette was a Luxembourg diplomat who rose to the position of […]
As anyone who reads this blog often will know, I don’t make a habit of writing about sport. But today I’ll make an exception. For it was with considerable sadness that I read today that it has been confirmed that Thierry Henry has left Arsenal for Barcelona. Not only has […]
I’ve been away in Sweden for Midsommar, but have been reflecting on the Treaty compromise while sat on the plane back to London. Overall the actual result could have been a lot worse – the main elements of the Constitution have been maintained. But I do wonder the price that […]
I can’t remember in recent years getting to June and not having any plans for the summer. Anyway, things have now more or less fallen into place for a 2 week trip north with Helena at the end of July / start of August – train to Newcastle, then the […]
We’ve won! Harriet was elected deputy leader of the Labour Party with 50.43% of the vote. I’ve been responsible for the website of the campaign that has at least played a small part in the successful result. Harriet defeated Alan Johnson in the final round, after Blears, then Hain, Benn […]
It’s summit week. Finally. The EU news sites, and the mainstream media to a certain extent, have been trying to analyze what may or may not emerge from the European Council at the end of this week in Brussels. It looks like Poland is at least softening its tone slightly, […]
I’ve just spent the last 2 days in Brussels for work and I’m left asking myself this question: why did I ever leave? First of all I know so many people there – I keep on bumping into people I know in the street. That never happens in London. Yesterday […]
I’ve been reading ‘Britain and Europe: A City minister’s perspective’ by Ed Balls MP [more details from the CER]. It all strikes me as reasonably standard Brownite fare – realising that Britain has to be part of the EU, but not really enthusing about the European Union all that much. […]
Every Presidency has to have its logo. But it seems that ideas are running a bit thin. Finland, for its 2006 EU Presidency, choose the rather graceful logo pictured at the top. Germany, for its ongoing 2007 G8 Presidency has the logo below it. Bit too much of a resemblance? […]
The Commission wants to liven up EU party politics. One of the solutions is to create EU-wide political foundations that can organise debates about the main political issues – see EUObserver. There might be some budget available for these foundations, around 1 million Euro a year according to the article. […]
On the very same day (16 May) as his inauguration, Nicolas Sarkozy went to visit Angela Merkel in Berlin to affirm the importance of the Franco-German axis in driving European integration. On 23 May he was in Brussels, talking to Barroso, the Commission President. Next week (31 May) he’s off […]
Farmed animals produce more greenhouse gas emissions (18%) than the world’s entire transport system (13.5%). That’s according to the campaign website of National Vegetarian Week (thanks Mary for the tip) who cite rotting manure as the main cause. I’m not sure how they have calculated that figure, but the global […]
