What next for biodiversity protection in the EU?
By: EBR | Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The European Commission marked the opening of the International Year of Biodiversity with a paper setting out future options for biodiversity policy. Despite past efforts, species extinctions are continuing at alarming rates, and a new vision is required to halt these losses.
New Commissioners: Highlights of the hearings
By: EBR | Monday, January 18, 2010
Last week the European Parliament's József Antall building in Brussels was the centre of intense grilling of potential future commissioners. Questions for the candidates ranged on everything from the views, policies, political convictions to financial affairs.
The Crisis as opportunity for Global Governance
By: Anna Diamantopoulou | Friday, January 15, 2010
There is a growing consensus that global problems ranging from recession to climate change require an internationally-agreed response. The EU’s reactions since the outset of the current economic turmoil can best be summarized as coordinated rather than unitary.
Rehn to propose economic 'high representative'
By: Euractiv | Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Europe's economic recovery depends on greater fiscal co-ordination and speaking with a single voice at global economic fora, Olli Rehn, the EU's incoming economic and monetary affairs commissioner, told MEPs at a parliamentary hearing on January 11.
Spain vows to take backstage role as EU President
By: Euractiv | Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Spain vowed to take a backstage role during its stint as holder of the six-month rotating EU Presidency, saying the frontmen will be Herman Van Rompuy, the EU's first permanent President, and Catherine Ashton, the new High Representative for foreign affairs.
2009 in Review: The Year of Obama
By: EBR | Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Obama dominated 2009 as no freshman-year president has since Reagan. As with Reagan, the domination came not only from character and charisma but also from deep public disappointment with his predecessor. Reagan succeeded Jimmy Carter, who was seen as having led the country into a crisis.
‘Thank God it was Greenpeace and not Al-Qaeda!’
By: N. Peter Kramer | Monday, December 14, 2009
Eleven Greenpeace activists managed to get through the safety cordon around the European Council building in Brussels, where a European summit was being held.
European Commission welcomes the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon
By: EBR | Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The Treaty of Lisbon entered into force on December 1, 2009. The occasion was marked by a ceremony in the City of Lisbon organised jointly by the Portuguese Government, the Swedish Presidency and the European Commission.
European Parliament approves sweeping reforms on Europe’s telecoms markets
By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, December 2, 2009
The European Parliament’s approval of the reform follows a political agreement reached between Parliament, Council and Commission negotiators. It paves the way for the entry into force of the EU telecoms reform.
Lisbon Treaty: more power for the European Parliament
By: N. Peter Kramer | Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Let’s be happy! The European Union has its own ‘President’, a Minister for Foreign Affairs with EU Embassies all over the world, a new Commission, a new Parliament, and …. a Constitution (although it’s not allowed to call it like that!) So what is the problem?
President Barroso unveils his new team
By: EBR | Friday, November 27, 2009
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, announced the portfolios responsibilities for the next Commission. The President has held detailed consultations with all the Commissioners-designate in order to assign the right jobs to the right people.
First EU President Herman van Rompuy
By: EBR | Friday, November 20, 2009
The EU's first permanent president, Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy, is a camera-shy man who has been catapulted from relative obscurity. His tasks include, among others, liaising with EU leaders and arranging the bloc's annual summits.
A Baroness for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
By: EBR | Thursday, November 19, 2009
Baroness Catherine Ashton has been appointed as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She has been European Commissioner for Trade since October 2008.
Action for more women in the european “top jobs”
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Rodi Kratsa demands more women at the leadership positions of the European Union, uniting her voice with the voice of her colleagues MEPs from all political groups of the European Parliament. At a press conference that took place today in Brussels, organized by the Greens/EFA Group.
Recruiting EU’s Top Jobs
By: EBR | Tuesday, November 17, 2009
EU leaders are set to convene on Thursday for an 'early' working dinner starting at 6pm Brussels time to reach a political consensus on the top three posts created by the Lisbon Treaty once it comes into force on 1 December.
Herman van Rompuy favourite for EU presidency?
By: EBR | Saturday, November 14, 2009
He is a devout Roman Catholic with his own Facebook page and a penchant for writing Japanese-style poems. But his best qualification for the post of EU president is that few have ever heard of him.
Choosing ‘Mr(s). Europe’
By: EBR | Thursday, November 12, 2009
The European Union's heads of state and government will name a president and foreign policy chief over dinner on 19 November, but diplomats say agreement on the appointments has still not been reached.
Decisive action on zombie banks from…the European Commission
By: EBR | Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Neelie Kroes has, according to one analyst in London, “cut through all the bullshit”. Europe’s competition commissioner has trod where national regulators dare not, by imposing harsh penalties on the banks that received the biggest bail-outs in Europe.
E-commerce doing well despite crisis but legal challenges ahead
By: EBR | Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A new OECD report finds that while the retail sector has been hit hard by the crisis, e-commerce has fared well and seen continuing growth in many countries. As consumers have become more cost-conscious, they are increasingly going online to compare products and save money.
Rent-seekers’ Nirvana
By: EBR | Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The practice of investment banking and derivatives trading should have radically changed after this economic crisis. But this does not seem to be the case. As Martin Hutchinson writes, Wall Street banks like Goldman Sachs are taking advantage of this situation to make more money than ever.
By: N. Peter Kramer
