PPE
Sali Berisha: 'We are going to win the elections because Albanians are smart people'
The Albanian prime minister, 64, announced his country's official EU membership bid to the Czech presidency of the council on 28 April 2009. In Warsaw, the lively PM talk elections, internet and the EU at the two-day congress of the European people's party (EPP). Albania is one of its six non-EU members*
ppe, kosovo, heads of state, serbia, interview, nato, warsaw
'The Tories are all show and will return to us straightaway'
Warsaw’s palace of culture and science, a megalomaniac structure which was gifted to the Poles by Stalin, provided the setting for the centre-right's family conference, with protectionism and a social market economy being the main ingredients on the June 2009 electoral programme. 'Stars' attending the European people's party congress included Berlusconi, Merkel and Barroso, with the Brits missing
Valdis Dombrovskis: 37, ex-finance MP, to lead Latvia in economic crisis
The newest prime minister of Latvia is the youngest leader in Europe, after Frederik Reinfeldt was crowned Swedish PM in 2006 aged 42. The former finance minister may be the person to bring the country out of economic stagnation. Latest titbit of news from Brussels
ppe, euweek, crise économique, europe, latvia, power, european parliament
'European' VAT cut in sight
The European parliament has approved a report by the European people’s party in favour of lowering the rate of VAT in new sectors such as children’s clothing, funeral and agricultural services. Latest titbit of news from Brussels
ppe, economy, izquierda unitaria europea, money, iva, fiscalidad, politics
68% non-voting Europeans think their vote doesn’t count
Presenting very different political programmes could be the key to massive voter turnout in Europe for the elections in June 2009. It is still possible that the socialists will present a candidate to run against the current European commission president, conservative José Manuel Durão Barroso
ppe, los verdes, abstencionismo, guy verhofstadt, poul nyrup rasmussen, eurobarómetro, liberls
Politicians work 65 hours - so why don't you?
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
ppe, european council, socialism, employment, communism, conservadores, liberls
