Current Affairs

Revolution in Hungary: Claim for a Change

It has been continuing almost for a week now. Unsatisfied or even angry people are to be seen in the metro, parks, shops, where ever one goes. Thus it is not surprising anymore, that citizens prefer to stay at home in the evening, as most probably the favorite places they would usually go to (...)

Monday 25 September 2006

Sarkozy and the Future of Europe: good, but can do better

In his Brussels speech delivered on Friday 8th September 2006 Nicolas Sarkozy has presented his views on Europe and called for a “mini-treaty” to get out of the current stalemate. Jan Seifert, president of JEF-Europe (the Young European Federalists), and Pauline Gessant, president of JEF-France, (...)

Monday 11 September 2006

What is a ’Social Europe’?

In light of the French and Dutch no votes on the European Constitution, calls for a ?Social Europe’ became ever stronger. Yet what does this term actually mean? And how might a ?Social Europe’ actually be achieved? These were the questions I had in mind when addressing the recent JEF-Europe / (...)

Tuesday 22 August 2006

Martinique mourning: Maracaibo crash... a year already

A year ago, on August 16th 2005, an aircraft from the West Caribbean airlines crashed in the middle of the Venezuelian forest, near the city of Maracaibo, taking away 160 lives. In this plane were 152 people from the French island Martinique. Up to now, no one knows the exact causes of this (...)

Monday 21 August 2006

The threat from the skies, the threat from within?

The UK woke once more on Thursday 10th August to terrorist threats dominating the everyday news, this time a supposed plot to use liquid explosives in hand luggage to blow up planes en route between London and destinations in the USA. With the 7th July 2005 bombings still fresh in every London (...)

Saturday 12 August 2006

When Trade is not only about Economics: Airbus vs Boeing

The commercial war between the European giant Airbus and its American counterpart Boeing continues order after order from the world airlines. But what is it all about? On 6 October 2004, the European Union requested consultations with the Governments of the Member States participating in the (...)

Friday 28 July 2006

Finland takes over the EU presidency

“We are realists” were the most often quoted words of the Finish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen in the last days before Finland took over the EU Presidency on July 1st. Which are the areas where the Finns will apply their realism? What are the focal points of their proclaimed priorities for the (...)

Tuesday 4 July 2006

Europe and the Sauna

A Nordic country will be taking over the rotating EU presidency from Austria for the second semester of 2006, in a period when the EU is in need of some Mediterranean sunshine. Finland is called to take on the EU leadership on July 1st and to focus on globalization and the EU, to improve (...)

Friday 30 June 2006

The Italian Elections and the visit of President Napolitano to Ventotene

The centre-left coalition led by Romano Prodi has won the elections: for Italy there arises the chance to reprise its traditional role of a country in the avant-garde of the process of European integration that was distorted under Berlusconi’s government. The electoral programmes were (...)

Monday 26 June 2006

The Services Directive: Take It or Leave It

With the purpose of eliminating remaining trade barriers in the European Union, the European Commission presented in 2004 a proposal for a directive on services in the Internal Market. Though highly controversial, the economic benefits of barrier reduction, less administrative burdens, and (...)

Saturday 24 June 2006

The “First Employment Contract” - a stillborn law doomed by non-existent dialogue?

In January 2006 France went through a social conflict of a rare extent after the proposal by the Cabinet of a bill aimed at tackling youth unemployment, the so-called “First Employment Contract” (CPE). The lack of consultation fostered a blockade of such proportions that some journalists called (...)

Thursday 22 June 2006

The ratification of the Constitutional Treaty by Finnish Parliament looms in the near future

All the big parties agree on the need for entry into force, as well as the Grand Committee of the parliament. Estonian government on its behalf, has stolen the place of Finland, previously dubbed as the “EU-pet child” because of its loyal attitude in enforcing EU-directives. After announcing (...)

Friday 12 May 2006
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