The process of European integration is a puzzling one for integration theorists. This is due to its complexity and because integration of this nature had never occurred before. The result of this is that several theories have sought to explain the integration of Europe.
Archives for future of europe
European Parliament must drive integration
June 4, 2010
Guy Verhofstadt, president of the European Parliament (EP) Liberal Democrats and former Belgian prime minister, briefed the European Policy Centre today on his vision for Europe. In his view the main underlying issue at stake is whether the EU uses the ‘Community method’ or intergovernmentalism. The Union will only progress if it reduces its intergovernmental… » read more
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English, EU Institutions, EU integration, EU Opinions, EU Priorities, euro, future EU, future of europe |
Yes we can! Give an award.
October 10, 2009
Awarding president Obama the Nobel Prize for peace show how desperate the West is for leadership out of the economic, social and environmental crisis; for leadership in the times when it is worried about its decline. It demonstrates the lack of ideas. Instead, the bubbly economy and the virtual media society could use a reminder… » read more
Nonsense from the No Side ( or “No Nonsense”?)
September 9, 2009
I said the No side would take Ireland out of the EU. Take “Ireland’s Biggest Free Paper” a Catholic newspaper distributed at the entrance to churches in Ireland. http://www.alive.ie/ – in case you think I am making this up.) In a long feature piece entitled The Lisbon Treaty Your Right to Know, the paper lists,… » read more
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26573, English, EU Membership, EU Priorities and Opinion, future EU, future of europe, ireland, Irish referendum, lisbon treaty, referenda |
Nanny, please turn down the volume
February 10, 2009
Since the young in the West take peace between Germany and France for granted, and the young in the East got used to democracy without a fear of communism, the European Union and its institutions seems to be running out heroic missions. To be relevant to the “citizen” the EU needs to provide useful services… » read more
PSD talks about its impact assessments
December 9, 2008
We recently had the opportunity to talk to Richard Davis, Director of Approvals, from the UK’s Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) just a few days before the Directorate issued a revised impact assessment on the proposed revisions to existing pesticide legislation (Directive 91/414/EEC). PSD received a fair amount of criticism for its first report so we… » read more
Summary of ongoing European pesticide reform
October 6, 2008
Want to get up to speed on the reform of pesticide legislation in Europe? Read EurActiv’s Pesticides: Striking the right balance? to see who’s saying what and why, plus links to further resources. Original post by helendunnett
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European Regulation, Farming, Food and Health, future of europe, NGOs |
More democracy = More responsibility for the people. Or: How the result of today’s Austrian election could put us off a more politicized EU.
September 28, 2008
No one would suggest that the 2009 EP elections could provoke as much buzz and fuss as the current presidential elections in the US. While the elections in the US are centred around catchphrases such as ‘change’ or the personality of the individual candidates (or running mates) the 2009 EP elections will be […] Original… » read more
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2009 EP elections, Austria, far right, future of europe, Populism |
At last week’s British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium event (see entries below) we had a chat with Professor Alan Buckwell, Policy Director at the Country Land and Business Association in the UK, who chaired the event. We asked him how he thought the event had gone and whether industry’s demand for a full impact… » read more
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European Regulation, Events, Food and Health, future of europe |
On 23 June, the Agriculture Council agreed a common position on new rules for placing pesticides (aka plant protection products) on the market in the EU. View the filmed announcement in Luxembourg. The Council’s political agreement bans the marketing and use of substances proven to be carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction, amid claims from… » read more
Upon reading Robert Kagan’s commentary in the International Herald Tribune today (”Sliding toward irrelevance“), it’s tempting to quote the old adage that the people in democracies get the governments that they deserve. Mr. Kagan, author of the well-argued book “Of Paradise and Power” in 2003, argues that petty nationalism and navel-gazing are undermining Europe’s chance… » read more
I intended to start this blog a few days ago after the Irish rejected the Lisbon Treaty. I felt compelled to call on all the people who believe in an integrated Europe, to urge them to help create a positive discourse of the EU. The EU’s achievements alone, it seems, do not legitimise the Union… » read more
ADAS warning about pesticide proposals
June 23, 2008
ADAS has delivered a stark warning about the possible consequences of changes in pesticide regulations now being discussed by the European Union. James Clarke of ADAS has concluded that the potential impact on prices of the Commission proposals would be that farmers would need a 25 per cent increase in prices to make up for… » read more
British Crop Production Council discusses the consequences of EU pesticide legislation with UK food chain
June 17, 2008
The BCPC in the UK hosted a food chain forum in June, attended by growers, advisors, retainers, consumer organisations and government representatives. They came together to discuss the impact of EU’s proposed legislation on UK food production, availability and price. Not an uncommon theme right now in the media.The event was described as a “wake-up […]
The Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is a tragedy, yes, but a
tragedy in the sense of ancient Greek theater, in which both sides are
right and both wrong.
The Irish “no” camp claims it wants a better deal, more democratic,
with a directly elected foreign minister and president of the European
Council (EU summits). They’re right, the people […]
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democracy, future of europe, Irish referendum, lisbon treaty, Political, transparency |
1st Forum for the Future of Agriculture
March 31, 2008
European Landowners (ELO) joined forces with Syngenta last week (27 March) to host a forum on the future of European agriculture. With a great programme, not surprisingly the event was well attended by a diverse group of stakeholders. I was there too and for the first time with a video camera, trying to capture various… » read more
Comeback Continent?
January 18, 2008
This is fairly similar to the way I see the opportunities of Europe during the so-called Asian century: The Comeback Continent – New York Times: “Today I’d like to talk about a much-derided contender making a surprising comeback, a comeback that calls into question much of the conventional wisdom of American politics. No, I’m not… » read more