Press
Could the euro rule supreme? It's not worth it
27 November 2007
Financial Times
In the 1970s, John Connally, President Richard Nixon's treasury secretary, famously quipped to a group of visiting Europeans that "the dollar may be our currency, but it's your problem".
More than just a debate about the headscarf
07 November 2007
Financial Times
Turkey is about to give itself a new constitution. That is good because the current one was written by the army in 1982, after the last military coup. But the constitutional debate so far has been divisive. Attention has focused on the government's suggestion to scrap the ban on girls...
Liberalizar para protegerse mejor
07 November 2007
Cinco Dias
El respaldo a los planes para liberalizar el mercado del gas es la mejormanera de aliviar el temor al creciente papel de Gazprom en Europa, según la autora, que se sumaal Debate Abiertosobre los límites de laUE a la inversión extranjera. Ensu opinión, separar las redes evitaría el abuso de...
A new deal with Russia?
01 November 2007
Prospect
"The Soviet Union was easier to deal with than Russia is today," says a senior French diplomat. "Sometimes the Soviets were difficult, but you knew they were being obstructive in order to achieve an objective. Now Russia seeks to block the west systematically on every subject, apparently without a purpose."
Relations...
Relations...
Poland's position
23 October 2007
The Guardian
The departure of one half of the Kaczynski twins is good news for Poland's economy and for EU harmony. But those hoping for radical change may be disappointed.
The mood was certainly jubilant the day after the election: "Congratulations!" "Finally!" "Let's celebrate!" were some of the comments that Poles posted on...
The mood was certainly jubilant the day after the election: "Congratulations!" "Finally!" "Let's celebrate!" were some of the comments that Poles posted on...
The exit beckons for Britain
18 October 2007
New Statesman
As EU leaders gathered for their latest summit, Britain's Euro sceptics fired their heavy artillery rounds. The Conservatives, the Sun, Mail and Telegraph whipped themselves into a fury, convinced that if they took their analysis of the EU reform treaty to new hyperbolic heights, they could force the government to offer a referendum.
Why all the angst?
18 October 2007
The Guardian
As EU leaders meet to agree a new reform treaty in Lisbon this week, I am struck by the level of angst in Britain over what, to my mind, represents a fantastic negotiating success.
What impact will the EU reform treaty have?
17 October 2007
Financial Times
The European Union’s 27 member states expect to approve a ”reform treaty” in Lisbon on Friday, whose birth pangs have caused the bloc perhaps more distress than any episode in its 50-year history.
Yet European leaders regard the treaty as an essential starting point for strengthening the EU’s internal mechanisms and...
Yet European leaders regard the treaty as an essential starting point for strengthening the EU’s internal mechanisms and...
Europe's carbon market needs a policeman
28 September 2007
Financial Times
Leaders from across the world met this week at the United Nations in New York to discuss how to combat climate change. Europeans rightly queued up to criticise the US for refusing to cap emissions of greenhouse gases.
A newly confident Turkey is starting to bridge the gap
12 September 2007
Financial Times
Sir,
Geoffrey Wheatcroft rejects David Miliband's arguments for keeping the European Union's door open for Turkey ("Structural flaws in Miliband's Turkish bridge", September 10). Like most critics of Turkish accession, he argues that the country is too big, too poor and too Muslim. Like most critics, he is short-sighted.
He takes today's...
Geoffrey Wheatcroft rejects David Miliband's arguments for keeping the European Union's door open for Turkey ("Structural flaws in Miliband's Turkish bridge", September 10). Like most critics of Turkish accession, he argues that the country is too big, too poor and too Muslim. Like most critics, he is short-sighted.
He takes today's...
Recent elections were good for Turkey but it must now roll up its sleeves
06 September 2007
Progress online
Turkey is to be congratulated on the outcome of both its parliamentary and presidential elections. To see why, just consider possible alternatives.
Russia: Analyst sees potential in Europe's new relationship
17 July 2007
Radio Free Europe
Katinka Barysch, the head of the Russia research program at the London-based Centre for European Reform, has written extensively about politics and economics in Eastern Europe and advised Britain's House of Lords and European Commission on foreign policy.
State of the Union: The good deal
25 June 2007
The Wall Street Journal
The deal in Brussels on a new treaty this weekend is good news for those who hope the EU can become a more confident and effective contributor to global security.
We do not need a referendum
23 June 2007
The Guardian
Thank goodness for the agreement in Brussels last night. Without a deal, the EU would have been mired in arguments on treaties, institutions and process for a prolonged period.
Treaty would not concede new powers on foreign policy
21 June 2007
Financial Times
Sir,
Martin Wolf's critique of the proposed new EU treaty ("This is a cynical plan for an unnecessary European treaty", June 20) wrongly asserts that the new posts of "president" and "foreign minister" would "centralise decision-making in areas affecting security".
Each would replace the rotating presidency as, respectively, chair of the European...
Martin Wolf's critique of the proposed new EU treaty ("This is a cynical plan for an unnecessary European treaty", June 20) wrongly asserts that the new posts of "president" and "foreign minister" would "centralise decision-making in areas affecting security".
Each would replace the rotating presidency as, respectively, chair of the European...
Constitutional fudge
19 June 2007
The Guardian
So far, Britain's stance on the German attempt to revise the EU treaties has been - from a British perspective - broadly reasonable.
What future? France's Socialist party needs a rethink
07 May 2007
The Guardian
France's Socialist party needs to rethink its identity and its strategy. Having lost three presidential elections in a row, the party needs to learn from centre-left parties not only in Britain, but also in Italy, the Netherlands, the Nordic countries and Spain.
Sarkozy - the new Napoleon
23 April 2007
The Guardian
As a former activist in the French Socialist Party, it pains me to welcome the success of a right-wing populist in the first round of the presidential election. But I think that a Nicolas Sarkozy victory may be the best outcome for France and for Europe.
Britain would be unwise to thwart Europe's treaty
03 April 2007
Financial Times
Germany's ambition to salvage large parts of the European Union constitutional treaty may provoke a serious rift between Britain and its partners. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown may be heading for a collision over what to do about the German plan. But the general view in Britain seems to be...
What are European values?
25 March 2007
The Guardian
The larger the EU becomes, the more important it is for the people who live in it to realise that their union has been built on common values. So I am delighted that the Berlin declaration, issued at the special EU summit marking the union's 50th birthday, stresses European values...