Category: European Politics
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Irish diplomacy hailed at EU talks
CNN has a story on our own Bertie Ahern and his reputed expert negotiating skills. Curious that CNN make this kind of statement: A veteran of Northern Ireland’s peace process, Ahern’s diplomatic skills were honed helping to heal centuries-old sectarian divisions in the British province. Does Britain even have provinces?
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Politicus: Fischer's shifting vision of Europe's grand future: John Vinocur
John Vinocur as usual with some great insight into European politics. Crucially he points out that Joschka Fischer has some curious views on the future of the EU. More and more I see this kind of language coming from the EU, and to be blunt I think it’s a very very bad thing. Basically, Fischer…
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To claim a global role, the EU needs its own security council
Steven Everts and Antonio Missiroli in the IHT last week arguing that the EU needs more power…
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Close ally of Chirac guilty in jobs case
Time to catch up on all these things I meant to post… Former Prime Minister of France, Alain Juppe, found guilty of illegal party financing of a fake jobs plan. He could be barred from running for President in 2007. Apparently Irish politicians can’t be barred from public service due to constiutional requirements – I…
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Bomb in Istanbul
Looks like the work of al-Qaeda, again in Turkey. I’ll check the latest in the morning.
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Another Irish think-tank?
Frank points to the Popperian Irish think-tank, the Open Republic. I never knew Ireland had many think-tanks, it sounds good, and they are calling for papers! Hm. Popper is a fascinating philosopher. I had a great time reading Conjectures and Refutations a few years back, and I picked up the Open Society and It’s Enemies…
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Odd European out
The Economist had some interesting stories last week – among them a very interesting one on Germany’s economy, and another on the EU’s relationship with Russia. The one on Russia is available free here. As for Germany the Economist estimates some interesting figures. Germany used to be one of Europe’s richest nations. In the late…
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EU Commission plots global travel surveillance system
The EU commission, up to no-good. This is a very disturbing development.
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Enlargement could spell the end of the EU
A stark warning from Richard North, author of The Castle of Lies: Why Britain Must Get Out of Europe and former research director for the Europe of Democracies and Diversities Group in the European Parliament. If, against all the odds, the Constitution does go ahead, it would be like locking down the lid on a…
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Charlie McCreevy
Our own Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevy, was just on BBC Newsnight. God I hate that guy, he treats Irish people with contempt, and his arrogance knows no bounds.