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January 4, 2011
Starting January 1st 2011, tiny Estonia has joined the Euro zone as its 17th member country. After Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia it is the fifth Euro country among the 14 countries that have joined the EU after 2003. By joining the Euro zone Estonia fulfils the commitments taken in 2004 to introduce the Euro… » read more
November 11, 2010
This article is published in French by Le Monde, and in English by Zaman Daily, Kyiv Post and Moscow Times. Comments in English welcome here. Commentaires bienvenus, ici en français. Deutsche Fassung auf Anfrage erhältlich. This debate already triggered a number of reactions, following my speaking: – in June 2010, at an Istanbul conference, –… » read more
November 10, 2010
Mr. Oktay Ekşi, honorary chief editor of large selling daily Hürriyet, used to be one the most senior political columnists in Turkey..until he was forced to resign from Hürriyet. His crime? He was no longer relevant? His readership declined? Contractual disputes? No, in an article about which he later apologized, he wrote that AKP deputies… » read more
CHP chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu spoke to NTV, one of Turkey’s premier private news channels. Kilicdaroglu announced that in Wednesday’s party caucus meeting he’ll be consulting members on the make-up of the Central Administrative Committee, CHP’s top decision making body. Kilicdaroglu was also asked his reply to PM Erdogan’s comments that “He’ll get used to politics”.… » read more
November 9, 2010
(This current article is a part of my previous article “Some news regarding Turkey IV” published earlier this month. But I wish I suggested it separately with a new title. I also improved it with an additional comment and several lines). To start with, in my blog I denounce the treason of the EU towards… » read more
October 25, 2010
First of all, several governments of the European Union want absolutely to organize a referendum about Turkey’s EU membership. But it is revealing that they didn’t want to organize a referendum about the Lisbon treaty (Ireland only organized one). That is crystal clear: they were afraid that their citizens might vote against that treaty, that… » read more
October 21, 2010
Busloads of people from Serbia and Macedonia, two countries for which the visa requirement was abolished last December, are seeking asylum in Belgium, Sweden, Germany. The ethnicity of those people is not the point. The point is that their motivation is purely economic, while asylum is granted on political grounds. Most of […]
October 6, 2010
Time and again, the EU laments the divisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the Republika Srpska and the Bosnian-Croat federation live separate lives. In view of recent events, we should expect Bosnians to say to Brussels: you guys first try to tell the Belgians to stick together, then we can talk again. But the divisions… » read more
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Balkan politics, Balkans, English, Enlargement and Neighbours |
The EU has been in a process of permanent enlargements since its very beginning in 1958. In 2010 it is negotiating with two more candidate countries: Croatia and Turkey. It has given membership promises to six West Balkan countries (Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia, Albania and Kosovo). In the East, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia also cherish… » read more
October 4, 2010
Last Saturday and Sunday the citizens of two small European countries, Latvia and Bosnia, went to the polls to elect new parliamentary and presidential leaders, respectively. Both countries are experiencing severe ethnic tensions that could, if unchecked, drag into the fray larger neighbouring federations, such as the EU or Russia. Parliamentary elections in Latvia Latvians… » read more
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Guests, As the leader of the Republican People’s Party, I undertake my first journey to Brussels, the centre of the European Union. This has a special meaning for me and my party. This decision is a solid proof of our commitment to continue the accession process to the European Union,… » read more
September 30, 2010
Hey guys, look at those contradictory titles: EU to Take Legal Action Against France Over Gypsy Expulsions, against EU legal action ruled out against France over Roma. Or Brussels blinks in legal row with Sarkozy over Roma expulsion, and then Roma ultimatum given to France by EU: allow free movement or face court. I could… » read more
September 10, 2010
Whenever the two big political groups EPP and S&D decide to have a good match, the Roma issue appears to be a safe playground for them. Last winter, it was whether the then Commissioner-designate Maros Sevcovic had or not offended the Roma in a statement made years ago. The EPP lost, after a Roma activist… » read more
September 7, 2010
Since the crisis this week-end, the split of Belgium received further credits and some in Wallonia are effectively elaborating on their future without Flanders. The wheel of fortune turns. Now, Flanders appears to be afraid… Read background on Belgian politics for dummies… and EU-afficionados According to a recent survey by Dedicated Research, Flanders is afraid… » read more
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12676, 12677, 44460, Dutch, English, Enlargement and Neighbours, EU Priorities and Opinion, Geopolitics, Languages and Culture, Public Affairs, security, Social Europe |
September 1, 2010
Leader of the Opposition and the President of the CHP Mr Kilicdaroglu calls all the democrats to support his position on the constitutional amendments package put to the referendum. Please click here to view the letter of Mr Kılıçdaroğlu: http://bit.ly/bkxgEs Excerpts : The High Board for Judges and Public Prosecutors (HBJP) should be in compliance… » read more
August 6, 2010
The leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, is attempting to lower the country’s election threshold in parliament, which is the highest in Europe, ahead of a general election next year. EurActiv Turkey contributed to this article. Background The European countries whose election thresholds exceed 5% are Moldova (6%), Georgia (7%), Russia (7%) and… » read more
July 29, 2010
Recently, I had to answer this question and many others, such as is Islam the main obstacle for Turkey’s EU bid, in front of a Turkish audience in this beautiful country. Happily enough, I am a journalist, so I don’t need to be diplomatic. I started by saying that my country Bulgaria had the same… » read more
July 19, 2010
“So, when is Norway joining the EU?” That question surely comes a Norwegian’s way quite often when studying the EU abroad. However, with two negative referendums in the bag, as well as a strong opposition against membership, it might seem distant. Nevertheless, Norwegian integration into the EU is taking place anyway without a lot of… » read more
July 16, 2010
Sir, Regarding ‘Macedonia name dispute inspires exotic idea‘: As a European I would like to state that I am extremely disappointed with the current situation in the EU. Europe is currently in a state of confusion. Corruption, a general lack of sensibility and nationalism is emerging in all EU countries, old and new, of course… » read more
Fifteen years ago on 11 July 1995 the Bosniak town of Srebrenica, declared a safe area under United Nations protection, fell into the hands of Serb forces under the command of General Mladic. What followed was a merciless slaughter unparalleled in Europe since the end of the Second World War. Approximately 8 000 men and… » read more
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Balkan, Balkan politics, Balkans, Bosnia-Herzegovina, English, Enlargement and Neighbours, Serbia |
