cafebabel.com

Jacques Delors: ‘pessimism is reason, optimism is will’

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 10:55:38 -0000

‘Young people and Europe’ is the reason why this morning’s private and exclusive meeting is taking place in a small room at the catholic institute of Paris. There are around twenty seats and a huge platter of croissants on the centre of the table. All (French) eyes are on one of the speakers, a mister Jacques Delors

Eurozone summit: perspectives on economic crisis

('Brussels Blogger',) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:05:03 -0000

We have heard these words so often that they have lost all meaning: global crisis, market failure, bank recapitalisation. Tonight once again, European governments will be searching for a way to minimise the crisis. Yet even if grounded in good faith, these decisions could simply stimulate current problems and protests

Europe is more like a granddad than mother courage

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 10:00:00 -0000

Once more, the EU puts nation-state logic above mutual interest. The European virus strikes again with the nomination of the Belgian Herman Van Rompuy for the post of the permanent president of the EU council, explains Jean-Dominique Giuliani, director of the Robert Schuman foundation

Pierre Schellekens: ‘EU is partnership of member states, not rule of the strongest'

('Guy Dammann',) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:23:04 -0000

At 2 metres 09, the 37-year-old cuts an imposing figure. Politically active whilst a student in Gothenburg in the early nineties, he was appointed head of the Swedish EU delegation in February. At home in his apartment in the leafy, quiet area around Stockolm's Odengatan, he talks Sweden’s presidency of the EU, which runs from July to December

Punishment for governments, more independence for EU parliament

('Cat82',) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:45:32 -0000

The elections have led to a protest vote against national governments. As a result, the European parliament now has more power to counteract the European council

European parliament resists pressure about 65 hour weeks

('Lydia Bigos',) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:35:16 -0000

On 2 April, the Czech presidency of the EU failed to reach an agreement with the parliament about working hours, which the European council intend to extend to 65 hours a week

Sarkozy's last attack on the European parliament

('Helen Swain',) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:15:00 -0000

The French six-month presidency of the European Union is up on 31 December. Nicolas Sarkozy, who repositioned France at the centre of the EU and brought the political atmosphere up to date, is not happy with what the parliament is doing… and has not minced his words in Strasbourg!

Politicians work 65 hours - so why don't you?

('Matthew Pagett',) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:15:00 -0000

The fight over the length of the work week begins on 16 - 17 December in the European parliament. Socialists and liberals will face off in the chambers, in spite of some internal divisions in the political groups

Lisbon treaty says: European institutions

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Plans are afoot to stabilise the European council, thereby ensuring the continuity of its work and providing greater visibility of European power. But who will take charge?

What the fridge is the council of ministers?

('Neil Saddington',) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0000

Not to be confused with the European council, the council of ministers makes decisions which touch all member governments of the EU. But what do they really do?

British, Italian and German architects give Europe a face

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Openness, transparency, efficiency: which buildings need a democracy? We span the European parliament, palace, court of human rights and Central Bank

An Oscar for Geert Wilders please

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:31:00 -0000

'Fitna' the film means evil, European parliament has a fake birthday and ousted gay Iranians - it's your latest news from Brussels

No love for lobbyists?

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0000

In the upcoming weeks, conservative MEP Alexander Stubb is due to propose a new legislation to control the some 15, 000 lobbyists in Brussels

Frattini: send Roma gypsies home

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Applauding Sarkozy and EU bottom of the class in maths - it's the latest news from Brussels

Nationalism = 'Kaczinski' in Euro-speak

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

On the eve of the Intergovernmental Conference, Poland is still raking up the past

Last chance saloon: mini-treaty, or mini-Europe

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The next EU Summit takes place in Brussels from 21 - 22 June - an opportunity for German Chancellor Angela Merkel to encourage members to reconsider the idea of an EU constitution

'We need a new Single European Act'

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0000

There is an urgent need to reform the Union's economic and institutional plans. Claude Fischer, leader of European think tank 'Confrontations Europe’, proposes a simplified treaty

“The EU’s decision-making system is medieval”

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 02:00:00 -0000

Guido Montani explains why the nationalist route is a dead end street for Europe.

East-West divide

Mon, 18 Apr 2005 16:00:00 -0000

Since the Roma are legally defined as a minority in Europe, officially they benefit from a protection of their rights. However, the way that laws are applied varies within the Union