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October 20, 2010
The big cuts in Britain’s defence capabilities announced in London earlier this week will have far-reaching consequences for European defence policy. The decision of Britain’s coalition government to reduce defence spending by 8 per cent over the next four years condemns the UK to closer co-operation with European allies, and especially with France. British Prime… » read more
October 4, 2010
It was a pleasure for me to look at the recent dispute around the seat of chair of the British labor party. A real campaign and a congress in Manchester, full of suspense. David Miliband lost the Labor leadership elections by just over 1%. It was very clear for me that after these results David… » read more
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
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defence, English, International politics, Treaty of Lisbon, turkey, twitter, UK politics |
June 18, 2010
This story about a UK opt-out agreed at the June 2010 European Council summit was published by EurActiv on 18th June 2010. UK Prime Minister David Cameron secured an opt-out on closer economic integration, claiming a victory at his first EU summit in Brussels yesterday (17 June). EU leaders agreed to greater surveillance and coordination… » read more
June 17, 2010
I was on the radio this morning discussing with eurosceptic Tory MP Bill Cash the proposal that there should be some kind of common discussion among the member state governments and the European Commission about the national budgets of the member states. The European budget is of course agreed by the member states, but it… » read more
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40558, Economy - Finances, Economy and Finance, English, financial crisis, financial economics, financial stability, UK politics |
While reading in detail the report of the group of experts on a new strategic concept for NATO, lead by Mrs Albright, I felt as if I was dreaming. Indeed, page 25, the experts dared writing: “The new strategic concept should recognise that the EU’s Treaty of Lisbon is designed, among other purposes, to strengthen… » read more
June 1, 2010
This story about the role of the UK Conservative Party in the European Parliament was published by EurActiv on 1st June 2010. Despite persistent rumours, the ruling British Conservative Party denied suggestions that they would eventually return to the mainstream centre-right EPP group in the European Parliament. EurActiv spoke to a leading party representative yesterday… » read more
May 25, 2010
In this exclusive article, Sir Stephen Wall, formerly the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Union, explains why the new coalition government in the UK faces a changing relationship with the EU. A few days after the British General Election, I saw a UK Press review which was full of downbeat comments from pro-European… » read more
May 24, 2010
Against the backdrop of a European economic crisis of monumental proportions, the creation of the UK’s coalition government must seem like “noises off” to the rest of the European audience. But at least the deal reached between Conservative leader David Cameron and Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats could provide political stability in Britain for… » read more
May 22, 2010
‘David & Nick’, prime minister and deputy prime minister leading a five year coalition. No political commentator seems to have predicted this. I don’t intend to go over events that have already been covered by thousands of words – just a few reflections. • Five days to agree the principles of a coalition deal, the… » read more
May 18, 2010
The United Kingdom is in economic and budgetary crisis. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have joined forces to provide a strong government, able to take the necessary unpleasant measures. David Cameron and Nick Clegg and their parties have admirably compromised to establish a much needed consensual political culture. There of course remain major differences. The… » read more
May 12, 2010
This story about the new coalition government in Britain was published by EurActiv on 12th May 2010. New Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives and the smaller Liberal Democrat party led by Nick Clegg struck an agreement early today (12 May) to form Britain’s first coalition government since 1945. Clegg is leading the Liberal Democrats back… » read more
The markets have been bowled over by the scale of the eurozone bail-out package announced this morning, after agreement by G-7 finance ministers, the European Commission, the 16 eurozone governments and the International Monetary Fund. An emergency funding facility of up to €720 billion is designed to protect weaker eurozone members and save the integrity… » read more
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banking, ECB, English, EU Institutions, European politics, Eurozone, finance, UK politics |
May 7, 2010
This story about the UK general election result was published by EurActiv on 7th May 2010. Preliminary results early on 7 May show that Britain’s opposition Conservatives look on course to become the largest party in parliament after the closest election in three decades. But the UK looks set for a hung parliament without a… » read more
April 26, 2010
There’s never been a British general election campaign like this one! With just over a week to go before the May 6 election day it seems from the opinion polls that big changes could be on the way. Here the Brits stand, midway between a Continental tradition of coalition government with multiple parties, and a… » read more
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English, EU Institutions, European politics, International politics, UK politics, Uncategorized |
April 23, 2010
This story about last night’s televised UK election debate was published by EurActiv on 23rd April 2010. UK Conservative leader David Cameron, who according to polls remains on track to become the next British prime minister, delivered a vintage Tory performance in last night’s televised election debate, declaring that his government wanted to be “in… » read more
April 15, 2010
On 14th April, the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium hosted a roundtable event at the European Parliament titled, “Britain and the EU – Odd man out – or odd man in?” We were able to speak to the keynote speaker at the event, Sir Stephen Wall, the former UK Permanent Representative to the EU,… » read more
April 7, 2010
Zero GDP growth in the eurozone for the last quarter of 2009 and a feeble recovery in the first quarter of 2010 is not what most of Europe’s finance ministers might wish to hear, but that’s the latest message from the OECD. It just shows what a challenge Europe faces in restoring the strength of… » read more
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ECB, English, EU Institutions, European politics, Eurozone, International politics, UK politics |
January 6, 2010
Writing about health issues also means thinking about how people learn — we all want our health professionals to be highly trained and educated. We are also generally mindful that talent should prevail over privilege. Such appears to be an issue for President Nicholas Sarkozy of France and the elitist Grandes Ecoles that enable the… » read more
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
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English, European politics, international, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics |
