Treaty of Lisbon – English Blogactiv Posts

Archives for Treaty of Lisbon

Euro markets unnerved, despite tough controls ahead

November 8, 2010

Storm clouds loom once again over the eurozone. Interest rates on Portuguese, Irish and Greek government bonds are continuing to rise. Ten-year bond yields for Ireland reached a record 7.75 per cent on Monday, while for Portugal they were 6.67 per cent. The ECB started buying bonds again after several weeks’ abstention. There was some… » read more

banking, ECB, Economic Crisis, Economy - Finances, English, Eurozone, Treaty of Lisbon

Hague endorses EU foreign policy approach

July 8, 2010

So the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee has approved the set-up of Europe’s foreign service, as negotiated in Madrid two weeks ago. Formal agreement is expected in plenary after the holidays, allowing the European External Action Service (EEAS) to be operational by the end of the year. Creation of the EEAS is potentially the most… » read more

defence, English, International politics, Treaty of Lisbon, turkey, twitter, UK politics

A very Belgian contribution

June 23, 2010

It has always seemed a curious paradox that the major policy-making institutions of the European Union should have settled in Belgium, a country with a political system in a permanent state of turmoil, deeply divided on political and linguistic grounds, yet somehow able to keep functioning as coalitions come and go and politicians struggle with… » read more

English, EU Institutions, Eurozone, Treaty of Lisbon

Bilateral deals will open up EU trade

March 22, 2010

Eighteen months ago, when the world economy seemed on the brink of collapse, one of the biggest fears was that economic depression would trigger a global wave of protectionism. So it’s all the more surprising that Europe is busily working on new trade treaties. The EU is on the brink of finalising a major free… » read more

12058, 12059, 36354, English, EU Priorities and Opinion, Financial Services, international, Treaty of Lisbon

A new age for Europe or the old story?

February 13, 2010

It should be a time for celebration. The Lisbon Treaty has come into force, a new European Commission has been convincingly approved by the Parliament, the European Council has a permanent president and a European foreign policy structure has been created. Yet it feels as if Europe’s clock has been turned back ten years, to… » read more

ECB, English, EU Institutions, European politics, Eurozone, finance, International politics, Treaty of Lisbon

Conservative realpolitik after Lisbon

November 6, 2009

With the final ratification of the Lisbon Treaty the British Conservatives have set out the policy which an incoming Conservative government would apply towards the European Union. There is to be no referendum, but a series of legislative measures to limit the extent of EU jurisdiction, and negotiations to take employment and social policy law… » read more

English, European politics, international, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics

Irish vote launches the Lisbon end-game

October 6, 2009

It looks like end-game for the Lisbon Treaty at last. Ireland’s two-to-one majority in favour of ratification on October 2 was a convincing reversal of the 2007 “no” vote, especially given the increased turnout, which at 58 per cent of the electorate was six points up on last time. The convincing “yes” majority can be… » read more

English, European politics, Integration, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics

A rentrée of doubt and anticipation

September 8, 2009

Rarely has the Brussels rentrée occurred in such a muddle of doubt and anticipation. Doubt because the October 2 Irish referendum could kill the Lisbon Treaty for good; anticipation because approval of Lisbon should open up new capabilities for Europe and settle the constitutional uncertainty which has dogged the EU for so many years –… » read more

26477, English, EU Priorities and Opinion, European politics, ireland, referendum, Treaty of Lisbon

Iceland’s path to EU membership may be a rocky one

July 28, 2009

I see that the EU Council of Ministers has asked the European Commission to deliver an opinion on Iceland’s application to join the EU, just 10 days after Reykjavik submitted its formal request for membership. The Swedish presidency wants the report by the end of the year, and foreign minister Carl Bildt has implied that… » read more

Agriculture, English, enlargement, Eurozone, Fisheries, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics

Frustrating start for Sweden’s presidency

July 12, 2009

What a frustrating time this must be for Sweden’s EU presidency! Stockholm’s ambitious plans to demonstrate its dynamic management of the Union are becalmed. Two days after confirming the Council’s candidacy of Barroso, prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was obliged to announce that the European Parliament had postponed until mid-September its vote on renewing the Commission… » read more

English, European politics, Telecoms, Treaty of Lisbon

Barroso’s future in Parliament’s hands

June 28, 2009

Who’d be leader of the British Conservatives in the European Parliament? No sooner had the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) been formed, with representation of eight member countries, than Finland’s Hannu Takkula decided not to join the group after all. He has chosen to remain with the Liberal ALDE group in deference to home… » read more

English, European politics, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics

Economic crisis exacerbates tensions

February 17, 2009

The economic crisis is exacerbating tensions across the EU. President Sarkozy has done his bit, stating on television that while French manufacturers can make cars in India which are for sale to Indians, they should not make cars in the Czech Republic which would then be sold in France. He apparently called for the […]

English, European politics, Eurozone, Trade, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics

Reassuring words for an autumn vote in Ireland?

December 10, 2008

“The way forward is beginning to emerge”. So said Dick Roche, Ireland’s minister for European affairs, on the eve of the Brussels December summit. It looks like a second Irish referendum for the autumn of 2009. The Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen is expected to tell EU colleagues that he will seek a second referendum in… » read more

defence, Elections, European politics, finance, kosovo, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics

Force of the credit crisis drives EU forward

October 20, 2008

There are tentative signs that the dust is beginning to settle after the last few hyperactive weeks, with signs that world leaders have mounted an effective response to the credit crisis. Inter-bank lending seems to be recovering, stock markets appear more stable and the outline of a global approach is beginning to show, following three… » read more

Competition, Eurozone, finance, Treaty of Lisbon