EU Politics

01.02.2006 EU Politics

Commission White Paper on a European Communication Policy: noble effort, but it won’t work

OK, so am I writing it off before it has even started? Sorry, but I just cannot see how the European Union’s Communication Policy, laid out today in Margot Wallstr√∂m’s White Paper [PDF] can possibly work. The issue is simple.

01.02.2006 EU Politics

A good riposte to Gisela Stuart

Now, as readers of this blog who have ever discussed European politics with me will know, I am no fan of Gisela Stuart. All started so well for any Labour voter – her beaming face, winning in Birminigham Edgbaston in

01.02.2006 EU Politics

Could Toscani sell the EU?

My reflections after the Sound of Europe conference in Salzburg have been continuing over the last few days. I still don’t have everything clear in my mind about what could or should be learnt from the conference – a better

29.01.2006 EU Politics

Blogging the Sound of Europe: a dubious honour

Before the start of the Sound of Europe conference this weekend, I thought writing as many observations here would not be a bad idea. With free wireless in the conference centre, uploading things was quick and simple. Yet a quick

28.01.2006 EU Politics

If this is the future, we should be worried

The Sound of Europe is over, and I am sat in the relative silence of the press centre as the delegates leave the place. I can’t really write any profound analysis here and now. I am utterly gutted and drained

28.01.2006 EU Politics

Hypocrisy, contradiction, and sat behind Barroso

The more I reflect on the speeches yesterday, the more disappointed I become. First of all: enlargement. De Villepin, Moisi and many others seemed to be obsessed by the borders of Europe, and stated so much how important the borders

27.01.2006 EU Politics

Frisches Leitungswasser, and we don’t want Wagner

The afternoon panel of the Sound of Europe conference?? Wallström is back, but looked a bit nervous and had negative body language, Plassnik looked serene and calm, Danskeckguber looked smug, and Moisi too. The best quote at the start came

27.01.2006 EU Politics

First session of Sound of Europe: a bit off-key

The morning started with a quick and bland introduction from Wolfgang Sch√?ssel, followed by some words from Margot Wallstr√∂m. Nothing much of note, except the video Wallstr√∂m wanted to show did not work correctly. She then left the conference –

27.01.2006 EU Politics

The start of the conference, and meeting Moravcsik

It???s Friday morning and the conference will start in one hour. My real work will then commence, writing the minutes of the speeches and the discussions. I???m here to help out with this as an English native speaker yet trying

24.01.2006 EU Politics

Northern Europe the place to be for environmental protection

A new study of different nations’ environmental protection has been released today prior to the start of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The report is different to previous analysis by the same authors from Yale and Columbia universities in

23.01.2006 EU Politics

This week: the Sound of Europe [Updated, 23.01.2006]

New year, new EU Presidency, and a new debate about the European Constitution? This week should make things a bit clearer I hope… Friday and Saturday this week the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU is hosting a

23.01.2006 EU Politics

Is this hypocrisy from the Irish?

An opinion poll in today’s Irish Times finds that 78% of Irish citizens want to re-introduce a permit system for migrant workers from the new EU member states, and a majority of the population thinks that enough immigration has taken