Jon Worth's Euroblog

11.12.2005 EU Politics

A veritable goldmine of stats on quality of life and the Nordic model

It’s not too often that you stumble across so much useful and interesting research, but the EU seems to have managed that feat this week with its Urban Audit. It basically amounts to a vast survey of all aspects of

09.12.2005 EU Politics

More budget hypocrisy from the Brits

Facing the possibility that no budget deal will be agreed at the European Council 15-16 December, the UK Presidency has woken up to the fact that the European Parliament should also agree to any deal. The response – complaining about

08.12.2005 EU Politics

First test for Cameron: Europe [Updated, 08.12.2005]

The dust has barely settled after his leadership victory and David Cameron has already walked into a storm on that old issue that has blighted the Tories for so long: Europe. Prior to his victory, Cameron had pledged to withdraw

08.12.2005 EU Politics

Sweden and the UK – tired leaders and new upstarts?

An entry at Eric Sundstr√∂m’s blog started me thinking about the comparisons between the leaders of the UK’s two main parties now David Cameron has taken over as leader of the Tories, and the situation in Sweden where Fredrik Reinfeldt

28.11.2005 EU Politics

The EU budget, nuclear power, and the hypocrisy of costs

Less and less and less… That seems to be the tale of the negotiations over the EU budget. According to numerous reports (see this from the BBC), Tony Blair is dashing around Europe to shore up support for a 1.03%

28.11.2005 EU Politics

Inspiration from Sweden

I think there is some common theme emerging on this blog… The more I get concerned about issues in the UK, the more I look elsewhere, and especially to Sweden, for optimism! The good news from yesterday is that Maryam

27.11.2005 UK Politics

Getting turned off by UK politics

May 1997 and the euphoria of Tony Blair’s election victory feels a very long time ago. Blair suffered his first parliamentary defeat a few weeks ago over 90 day detention of terror suspects, and it seems that the tensions inherent

26.11.2005 UK Politics

The Brits cannot cope with snow

It has been quite a cold week, and in Cornwall and Wales there was even some snow – see the picture to the right – a road on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. But as ever, the British have proven to

25.11.2005 EU Politics

Angela Merkel’s charm offensive

I find myself a bit shocked to be saying this, but I was actually quite impressed by the way that new German Chancellor Angela Merkel approached her first visit to London. The approach was cooperative and practical, and above all

23.11.2005 EU Politics

Attack is the best form of defence? Systembolaget [UPDATED, 23.11.2005]

So once more we have a potential clash between the EU and the Swedish social model. A few weeks ago it was Commissioner McCreevy complaining about collective wage bargaining agreements, and now the Swedish state alcohol monopoly fears that it

23.11.2005 UK Politics

LME: was I too negative?

OK, so I did not manage to get to the launch of LME. But today I signed up to become a member via their new website. It might not really win too many design awards, but the site is functional