Silvio Berlusconi today denied that his government authorised secret Italian payments to Taleban fighters that left French soldiers exposed in Afghanistan, amid a furious reaction to the details published in The Times. The Italian Prime Minister said that he was also unaware of any such action undertaken under the previous Government of Romano Prodi. The Times has learnt that when French soldiers arrived to assume control of the Sarobi area, east of Kabul, in mid-2008, they were not informed that the departing Italians had kept the region relatively peaceful by paying local Taleban fighters to remain inactive. Western officials say that because the French knew nothing of the payments they made a catastrophically incorrect threat assessment.
Silvio Berlusconi today denied that his government authorised secret Italian payments to Taleban fighters that left French soldiers exposed in Afghanistan, amid a furious reaction to the details published in The Times.
The Italian Prime Minister said that he was also unaware of any such action undertaken under the previous Government of Romano Prodi.
The Times has learnt that when French soldiers arrived to assume control of the Sarobi area, east of Kabul, in mid-2008, they were not informed that the departing Italians had kept the region relatively peaceful by paying local Taleban fighters to remain inactive.
Western officials say that because the French knew nothing of the payments they made a catastrophically incorrect threat assessment.
The French Defence Minister was called on today to give an urgent account to Parliament of the Taleban ambush that led to the deaths of ten soldiers in Afghanistan. As the Socialist Party reacted with anger to The Times report, the ministry said that it had long been aware of "rumours" that linked Italian bribery to the ambush in Sarobi, east of Kabul in August 2008. The reports had no basis, it said. Jean-Marc Ayrault, the Socialists' parliamentary leader, told Hervé Morin, the Defence Minister that the denial was not enough. "This is very serious, if it is true, and I ask the minister to come in the immediate future before the Defence Committee to explain and tell us what information he has," said Mr Ayrault. "If operations of this type are being used to administer certain areas . . . distributing money to the Taleban creates a general problem for the co-ordination of military operations," he added.
The French Defence Minister was called on today to give an urgent account to Parliament of the Taleban ambush that led to the deaths of ten soldiers in Afghanistan.
As the Socialist Party reacted with anger to The Times report, the ministry said that it had long been aware of "rumours" that linked Italian bribery to the ambush in Sarobi, east of Kabul in August 2008. The reports had no basis, it said.
Jean-Marc Ayrault, the Socialists' parliamentary leader, told Hervé Morin, the Defence Minister that the denial was not enough. "This is very serious, if it is true, and I ask the minister to come in the immediate future before the Defence Committee to explain and tell us what information he has," said Mr Ayrault.
"If operations of this type are being used to administer certain areas . . . distributing money to the Taleban creates a general problem for the co-ordination of military operations," he added.
When ten French soldiers were killed last year in an ambush by Afghan insurgents in what had seemed a relatively peaceful area, the French public were horrified. Their revulsion increased with the news that many of the dead soldiers had been mutilated -- and with the publication of photographs showing the militants triumphantly sporting their victims' flak jackets and weapons. The French had been in charge of the Sarobi area, east of Kabul, for only a month, taking over from the Italians; it was one of the biggest single losses of life by Nato forces in Afghanistan. What the grieving nation did not know was that in the months before the French soldiers arrived in mid-2008, the Italian secret service had been paying tens of thousands of dollars to Taleban commanders and local warlords to keep the area quiet, The Times has learnt. The clandestine payments, whose existence was hidden from the incoming French forces, were disclosed by Western military officials. US intelligence officials were flabbergasted when they found out through intercepted telephone conversations that the Italians had also been buying off militants, notably in Herat province in the far west. In June 2008, several weeks before the ambush, the US Ambassador in Rome made a démarche, or diplomatic protest, to the Berlusconi Government over allegations concerning the tactic.
When ten French soldiers were killed last year in an ambush by Afghan insurgents in what had seemed a relatively peaceful area, the French public were horrified.
Their revulsion increased with the news that many of the dead soldiers had been mutilated -- and with the publication of photographs showing the militants triumphantly sporting their victims' flak jackets and weapons. The French had been in charge of the Sarobi area, east of Kabul, for only a month, taking over from the Italians; it was one of the biggest single losses of life by Nato forces in Afghanistan.
What the grieving nation did not know was that in the months before the French soldiers arrived in mid-2008, the Italian secret service had been paying tens of thousands of dollars to Taleban commanders and local warlords to keep the area quiet, The Times has learnt. The clandestine payments, whose existence was hidden from the incoming French forces, were disclosed by Western military officials.
US intelligence officials were flabbergasted when they found out through intercepted telephone conversations that the Italians had also been buying off militants, notably in Herat province in the far west. In June 2008, several weeks before the ambush, the US Ambassador in Rome made a démarche, or diplomatic protest, to the Berlusconi Government over allegations concerning the tactic.
However, it would be worthwhile to put this in perspective. It is not uncommon in war to pay off local insurgents. In Afghanistan it has been a long standing practice to "rent" rather than "buy" local chiefs. Recently the US complained to the British for having done the same. Nor is French military intelligence in the dark on the matter. It is becoming a political issue with French MP's on the warpath.
It would certainly be more cost effective to just buy up allegiances- or rather rent them.
Murdoch: "I steal your milkshake!" Burlesconi: "I keel you!"
Whatever happened in Afghanistan is useful collateral damage in the media war.
Three Russian opposition parties, including those seen to be pro-Kremlin, staged an unprecedented walkout of Wednesday's session of the lower house of parliament to protest fraud in local elections. A total of 135 deputies in the 450-seat Duma were part of the protest, including the Communists, the far-right wing Liberal Democratic Party and the Just Russia party.Russia's beleaguered opposition alleged widespread fraud as the Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's dominant United Russia party tightened its grip on politics with a sweeping victory in the weekend's local elections.
A total of 135 deputies in the 450-seat Duma were part of the protest, including the Communists, the far-right wing Liberal Democratic Party and the Just Russia party.
Russia's beleaguered opposition alleged widespread fraud as the Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's dominant United Russia party tightened its grip on politics with a sweeping victory in the weekend's local elections.
The EU's annual report on Turkey's membership bid has praised Ankara for its reform and foreign policy initiatives. But this is being met with little enthusiasm in Turkey as doubts over its bid continue to grow. The European Commission's annual progress report on Turkey's bid to join the European Union will have been welcome reading for the Turkish government. It was largely positive, stressing important steps on reforms to improve freedom of expression, efforts to resolve the conflict with Kurdish rebels and significant diplomatic initiatives, like improving relations with Armenia. Brussels did voice concerns about press freedom in relation to a multi-billion-euro tax-evasion case against media group Dogan Media Holding, a vocal critic of the current government. Even so, Ergemen Bagis, the cabinet minister responsible for Turkey's bid to join the EU, welcomed the report's largely positive findings. "EU membership is one of the basic goals of our government," Bagis said. "We will continue our efforts with great determination and will work hard to get a more positive report next year."
The European Commission's annual progress report on Turkey's bid to join the European Union will have been welcome reading for the Turkish government. It was largely positive, stressing important steps on reforms to improve freedom of expression, efforts to resolve the conflict with Kurdish rebels and significant diplomatic initiatives, like improving relations with Armenia.
Brussels did voice concerns about press freedom in relation to a multi-billion-euro tax-evasion case against media group Dogan Media Holding, a vocal critic of the current government.
Even so, Ergemen Bagis, the cabinet minister responsible for Turkey's bid to join the EU, welcomed the report's largely positive findings.
"EU membership is one of the basic goals of our government," Bagis said. "We will continue our efforts with great determination and will work hard to get a more positive report next year."
As the political situation on its periphery evolves, the EU needs to clearly define its borders, argues geopolitician Michel Foucher in Le Monde, especially in regard to Turkish accession, on which the Commission is publishing its annual report today. Up to 2004-2007, the implicit mental map upon which the EU's ultimate borders were to be traced was actually an open secret, though not up for debate. It was taken for granted in Brussels and in most country capitals that the territorial expansion of the Union should continue until it covers the whole continent, bar Russia. But for this exception, in other words, the EU territory should eventually coincide with that of the Council of Europe, the only European institution to have explicitly defined its perimeter, back in 1994. This scenario of maximum enlargement expresses the vision of an organised Europe nurtured by successive administrations in the US, and the continuity of America's European project is indeed remarkable, from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama, who, in this regard, confirmed in his Ankara address the stance previously taken by George W. Bush.
As the political situation on its periphery evolves, the EU needs to clearly define its borders, argues geopolitician Michel Foucher in Le Monde, especially in regard to Turkish accession, on which the Commission is publishing its annual report today.
Up to 2004-2007, the implicit mental map upon which the EU's ultimate borders were to be traced was actually an open secret, though not up for debate. It was taken for granted in Brussels and in most country capitals that the territorial expansion of the Union should continue until it covers the whole continent, bar Russia. But for this exception, in other words, the EU territory should eventually coincide with that of the Council of Europe, the only European institution to have explicitly defined its perimeter, back in 1994.
This scenario of maximum enlargement expresses the vision of an organised Europe nurtured by successive administrations in the US, and the continuity of America's European project is indeed remarkable, from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama, who, in this regard, confirmed in his Ankara address the stance previously taken by George W. Bush.
the EU needs to clearly define its borders
What for? That was not at all clear to me from the article...
I wonder how Emmanuel Todd would react to this. (Todd claimed that the notion that 'we have to draw a line' in a continuum is central to Anglo-Saxon thinking and comes from inheritance customs, while it isn't present in French/Romanesque thinking, also due to inheritance customs.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
the EU needs to clearly define its borders What for?
What for?
Council of Europe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Article 4 of the Council of Europe Statute specifies that membership is open to any "European" State. This has been interpreted liberally from the beginning (when Turkey was admitted) to include any Eurasian state with a toe-hold in Europe. As a result, nearly all European states have acceded to the Council of Europe, with the exception of Belarus (human rights concerns) and Kazakhstan (human rights concerns) as well as Kosovo which is not considered an independent state by some Council of Europe member states.
Article 4 of the Council of Europe Statute specifies that membership is open to any "European" State. This has been interpreted liberally from the beginning (when Turkey was admitted) to include any Eurasian state with a toe-hold in Europe.
As a result, nearly all European states have acceded to the Council of Europe, with the exception of Belarus (human rights concerns) and Kazakhstan (human rights concerns) as well as Kosovo which is not considered an independent state by some Council of Europe member states.
the continuity of America's European project is indeed remarkable, from Bill Clinton to Barack Obama
In American foreign-policy thinking the most widespread argument for pushing the EU to accept Turkey into its arms is the supposed transformational power of the decision. By taking up a Muslim, second world country the EU is supposed to show the world that the cultural and economic standards of what we still call the west are open to everyone. This is one of the few really bipartisan foreign-policy ideas, supported by Clinton as well as by both Bush 41 and 43. The view was repeated in recent comments by US undersecretary of State Nicolas Burns:"Historians will say it is one of these important decisions the Europeans made ... at the beginning of the 21st century, to open the EU up to this major Muslim secular democracy"In the EU, we should be extremely careful about this kind of view, because in a way, it asks us to embrace Turkey precisely because of the aspects that separate us. We will be ill-served by this kind of enlightened idealism when we want to work on the things that unite the EU, like respect for diversity, human rights, international law and a dynamic economic system that rewards all people's efforts. Turkey still has some way to go on all of these. The potential reward of welcoming Turkey is also belied by the more detailed cleavages that exist in the Middle East. Turkey's neigbours are Arabs - who dislike Turkey for having been an occupying country and not being or speaking Arab; Iranians, who are of a different Islamic denomination; Armenians, who are Christian and have some old issues with Turkey, and Georgians who are also Christian. Turkish entry into the EU could well serve to enlarge instead of bridge these cleavages, especially those with the Arab world.
"Historians will say it is one of these important decisions the Europeans made ... at the beginning of the 21st century, to open the EU up to this major Muslim secular democracy"
The potential reward of welcoming Turkey is also belied by the more detailed cleavages that exist in the Middle East. Turkey's neigbours are Arabs - who dislike Turkey for having been an occupying country and not being or speaking Arab; Iranians, who are of a different Islamic denomination; Armenians, who are Christian and have some old issues with Turkey, and Georgians who are also Christian. Turkish entry into the EU could well serve to enlarge instead of bridge these cleavages, especially those with the Arab world.
Germany's new government will not slam the door on Turkey's EU membership bid, according to sources close to the coalition talks. However, Turkey is still a long way from meeting the EU's criteria for entry. Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats agreed "unanimously" to stick with the last government's position on Turkey's EU membership bid, sources from both parties told AFP on Thursday. The previous coalition of the Christian Democrats with the center-left Social Democrats had called the negotiations an "open-ended process" with no guarantee of membership. The deal between the parties is expected be worded in a similar fashion to Merkel's 2005 coalition agreement. In that document, the parties said "if the EU is not in a position to take on new members or Turkey cannot fully meet all the criteria necessary for membership, Turkey must be bound closely to European structures in a way that allows its privileged relationship with the EU to develop further."
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats agreed "unanimously" to stick with the last government's position on Turkey's EU membership bid, sources from both parties told AFP on Thursday.
The previous coalition of the Christian Democrats with the center-left Social Democrats had called the negotiations an "open-ended process" with no guarantee of membership.
The deal between the parties is expected be worded in a similar fashion to Merkel's 2005 coalition agreement.
In that document, the parties said "if the EU is not in a position to take on new members or Turkey cannot fully meet all the criteria necessary for membership, Turkey must be bound closely to European structures in a way that allows its privileged relationship with the EU to develop further."
Europe's aging population is going to put a heavy strain on public finances, according to a new European Commission report. This "time bomb" can be defused, but it will not be easy and it will not be cheap. According to the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) website, the ratio of older people to total population is higher in Europe than on any other continent and this phenomenon will continue well into this century. This growing population of retirees will create additional economic pressures for European countries where debt levels are already high. Governments, faced with the current global financial downturn, have taken on new debt in an attempt to spend their way out of the recession. Yet the money they are currently spending is miniscule in comparison to the money governments will have to spend on healthcare and pensions in the future, the report said. The projected impact on public finances will dwarf the effect of the current financial crisis "many times over," said the commission paper.
According to the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) website, the ratio of older people to total population is higher in Europe than on any other continent and this phenomenon will continue well into this century.
This growing population of retirees will create additional economic pressures for European countries where debt levels are already high. Governments, faced with the current global financial downturn, have taken on new debt in an attempt to spend their way out of the recession. Yet the money they are currently spending is miniscule in comparison to the money governments will have to spend on healthcare and pensions in the future, the report said.
The projected impact on public finances will dwarf the effect of the current financial crisis "many times over," said the commission paper.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission plans to set wheels in motion for visa-free travel with Kosovo despite its non-recognition by five EU states and high levels of both corruption and poverty. The EU executive in a report on Kosovo out on Wednesday (14 October) said it "proposes to draft a comprehensive strategy to guide Kosovo's efforts to meet the EU's requirements for visa liberalisation." Everyday life in Kosovo: weapons and mobile phones, but no sewage The process is open-ended for now, with visas to be scrapped only "when the necessary reforms will have been undertaken." The move is a political response to popular feeling among Kosovar Albanians that Serbia, which is held responsible for the 1999 war and numerous atrocities, is being given privileged treatment by the EU, while the victims of the conflict are left behind. Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro will enjoy visa-free EU travel from January 2010.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission plans to set wheels in motion for visa-free travel with Kosovo despite its non-recognition by five EU states and high levels of both corruption and poverty.
The EU executive in a report on Kosovo out on Wednesday (14 October) said it "proposes to draft a comprehensive strategy to guide Kosovo's efforts to meet the EU's requirements for visa liberalisation."
Everyday life in Kosovo: weapons and mobile phones, but no sewage
The process is open-ended for now, with visas to be scrapped only "when the necessary reforms will have been undertaken."
The move is a political response to popular feeling among Kosovar Albanians that Serbia, which is held responsible for the 1999 war and numerous atrocities, is being given privileged treatment by the EU, while the victims of the conflict are left behind.
Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro will enjoy visa-free EU travel from January 2010.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday (14 October) came out in favour of "Forza Blair" as president of the European Council. "Tony Blair has all the credentials to become the first president of the European Council," Mr Berlusconi wrote in a letter that appeared in Il Foglio, a conservative daily. Forza Italia's former leader has backed 'Forza Blair' The Italian leader was responding to an editorial entitled "Vote Tony, vote Tony!" in the paper that had appeared on Monday. "Dear editor, I absolutely agreed with your idea, even before you could think of it," the prime minister wrote. He added that the former British prime minister should be "appointed to that post as soon as legally and politically possible." On Tuesday, the newspaper known for its Fox-news style neo-conservatism, said that Mr Blair's candidacy was an opportunity both for Europe and for "Il Cavaliere."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday (14 October) came out in favour of "Forza Blair" as president of the European Council.
"Tony Blair has all the credentials to become the first president of the European Council," Mr Berlusconi wrote in a letter that appeared in Il Foglio, a conservative daily.
Forza Italia's former leader has backed 'Forza Blair'
The Italian leader was responding to an editorial entitled "Vote Tony, vote Tony!" in the paper that had appeared on Monday.
"Dear editor, I absolutely agreed with your idea, even before you could think of it," the prime minister wrote.
He added that the former British prime minister should be "appointed to that post as soon as legally and politically possible."
On Tuesday, the newspaper known for its Fox-news style neo-conservatism, said that Mr Blair's candidacy was an opportunity both for Europe and for "Il Cavaliere."
The remarks by Mr Sarkozy to Le Figaro, the newspaper that is considered to be his house organ, dampened hopes in the Blair team that French arm-twisting would win the day when EU leaders meet later this month in the aftermath of Ireland's approval of the Lisbon Treaty. French commentators said that Mr Sarkozy appeared to be dumping Mr Blair as a liability. The candidacy of Mr Blair is supported by eastern and southern Europe but opposed by the Netherlands and Belgium, founder states of the Common Market. It is also opposed by the European Left and much of the European Parliament. His support of the war in Iraq and free market capitalism damns him in many eyes. ... Mr Sarkozy's aides have been saying for weeks that France is not aiming to force Mr Blair on Europe. He has been canvassing other names, including Felipe González, the Socialist former Spanish Prime Minister. The games is far from over, French diplomats noted. The decision will come down to a bout of traditional EU horse-trading, probably at the leaders' summit in Brussels at the end of this month.
The remarks by Mr Sarkozy to Le Figaro, the newspaper that is considered to be his house organ, dampened hopes in the Blair team that French arm-twisting would win the day when EU leaders meet later this month in the aftermath of Ireland's approval of the Lisbon Treaty. French commentators said that Mr Sarkozy appeared to be dumping Mr Blair as a liability.
The candidacy of Mr Blair is supported by eastern and southern Europe but opposed by the Netherlands and Belgium, founder states of the Common Market. It is also opposed by the European Left and much of the European Parliament. His support of the war in Iraq and free market capitalism damns him in many eyes.
...
Mr Sarkozy's aides have been saying for weeks that France is not aiming to force Mr Blair on Europe. He has been canvassing other names, including Felipe González, the Socialist former Spanish Prime Minister. The games is far from over, French diplomats noted. The decision will come down to a bout of traditional EU horse-trading, probably at the leaders' summit in Brussels at the end of this month.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The idea of Tony Blair becoming president of the European Council is not particularly popular with people in Britain, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 47 per cent of respondents oppose the former British prime minister taking on this role. ... Polling Data Under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, EU leaders will choose a President of the European Council for a two and a half year renewable term. Would you support or oppose Tony Blair becoming president of the European Council? Strongly support..............9% Moderately support...........23% Moderately oppose............12% Strongly oppose..............35% Not sure.....................20% Source: Angus Reid Strategies Methodology: Online interviews with 2,005 British adults, conducted on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 2009. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent. Complete Poll (PDF)
Polling Data
Under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, EU leaders will choose a President of the European Council for a two and a half year renewable term. Would you support or oppose Tony Blair becoming president of the European Council?
Strongly support..............9%
Moderately support...........23%
Moderately oppose............12%
Strongly oppose..............35%
Not sure.....................20%
Source: Angus Reid Strategies Methodology: Online interviews with 2,005 British adults, conducted on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 2009. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.
Complete Poll (PDF)
Terror legislation was used to stop a British climate change activist from travelling to Denmark, it has emerged. Chris Kitchen, 31, said he was prevented from crossing the border on Tuesday at about 5pm when the coach he was travelling on stopped at the Folkestone terminal of the Channel Tunnel. Mr Kitchen told the Guardian that police officers boarded the coach and, after checking all passengers' passports, took him and another climate activist to be interviewed under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, a clause which enables border officials to stop and search individuals to determine if they are connected to terrorism. He was asked what he intended to do in Copenhagen and also about his family, work and past political activity. Mr Kitchen said he pointed out that anti-terrorist legislation did not apply to environmental activists but said the officer replied that terrorism "could mean a lot of things". His coach had left by the time his 30-minute interview had finished and police paid for a ticket for him to return to London.
Terror legislation was used to stop a British climate change activist from travelling to Denmark, it has emerged.
Chris Kitchen, 31, said he was prevented from crossing the border on Tuesday at about 5pm when the coach he was travelling on stopped at the Folkestone terminal of the Channel Tunnel.
Mr Kitchen told the Guardian that police officers boarded the coach and, after checking all passengers' passports, took him and another climate activist to be interviewed under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, a clause which enables border officials to stop and search individuals to determine if they are connected to terrorism.
He was asked what he intended to do in Copenhagen and also about his family, work and past political activity.
Mr Kitchen said he pointed out that anti-terrorist legislation did not apply to environmental activists but said the officer replied that terrorism "could mean a lot of things".
His coach had left by the time his 30-minute interview had finished and police paid for a ticket for him to return to London.
Lisbon treaty has been eight years in making and is on brink of coming into force, but not if Klaus gets his wayFor a man standing alone between Europe and its future, Vaclav Klaus is playing hard to get. Last week a trip to Albania, this week Russia; the Czech president has performed a vanishing act just when he has the rest of Europe dancing to his tune.He relishes being at the centre of a showdown. But it appears he is currently more interested in selling copies of his tract on global warming denial.Last week, as a panicky campaign was launched in Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Stockholm, and Prague to try to force Europe's biggest renegade into line, Klaus was dining by the Adriatic.For five days he refused to return phone calls from Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister and current EU president saddled with the Klaus emergency. Jan Fischer, the Czech Republic's caretaker prime minister, has an even less enviable task, as mediator between Klaus and the rest of Europe's leaders. But Klaus won't give him the time of day. Fischer admitted he had managed to get him briefly on the phone, but not to arrange a meeting.
For a man standing alone between Europe and its future, Vaclav Klaus is playing hard to get. Last week a trip to Albania, this week Russia; the Czech president has performed a vanishing act just when he has the rest of Europe dancing to his tune.
He relishes being at the centre of a showdown. But it appears he is currently more interested in selling copies of his tract on global warming denial.
Last week, as a panicky campaign was launched in Berlin, Paris, Brussels, Stockholm, and Prague to try to force Europe's biggest renegade into line, Klaus was dining by the Adriatic.
For five days he refused to return phone calls from Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister and current EU president saddled with the Klaus emergency. Jan Fischer, the Czech Republic's caretaker prime minister, has an even less enviable task, as mediator between Klaus and the rest of Europe's leaders. But Klaus won't give him the time of day. Fischer admitted he had managed to get him briefly on the phone, but not to arrange a meeting.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The next European Commission is set to be filled with conservative and liberal commissioners, feature several familiar faces, and plenty of new job titles. However, when it will be set up remains the great unknown. With just over two weeks to go before the current commission officially ends its term, and with weighty portfolios the most desired, member states have begun jostling to get a substantial seat at the commission table for the next five years. Several commissioner hopefuls have expressed an interest in an economic portfolio. A few member states, including Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Spain and Slovakia, have either officially re-nominated the same commissioner or are thought likely to do so. But for the vast majority of the 27 member states, there is a question mark over who they will send to Brussels. Most notable among the not-yet-named list are Germany, France and the UK. Those who are nominated late may find that the plum positions are already taken.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The next European Commission is set to be filled with conservative and liberal commissioners, feature several familiar faces, and plenty of new job titles. However, when it will be set up remains the great unknown.
With just over two weeks to go before the current commission officially ends its term, and with weighty portfolios the most desired, member states have begun jostling to get a substantial seat at the commission table for the next five years.
Several commissioner hopefuls have expressed an interest in an economic portfolio. A few member states, including Finland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Spain and Slovakia, have either officially re-nominated the same commissioner or are thought likely to do so.
But for the vast majority of the 27 member states, there is a question mark over who they will send to Brussels. Most notable among the not-yet-named list are Germany, France and the UK. Those who are nominated late may find that the plum positions are already taken.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it was worried about U.S. talks on the use of Ukrainian radar stations as part of a revised missile defense shield, a step that could hinder efforts to reset ties between the two Cold War foes.Russia, which is extremely sensitive to any hint of U.S. cooperation with former Soviet republics, initially welcomed President Barack Obama's scrapping of Bush-era plans for a missile defense system in central Europe. But Moscow has been irked by a U.S. statement that countries like Ukraine could contribute early warning information as part of the revised shield plan and reports that talks between the U.S. and Ukraine on the issue had already begun. "We feel concerned," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by RIA news agency as saying when asked about the possible use of Ukrainian radars by the United States.
Russia, which is extremely sensitive to any hint of U.S. cooperation with former Soviet republics, initially welcomed President Barack Obama's scrapping of Bush-era plans for a missile defense system in central Europe.
But Moscow has been irked by a U.S. statement that countries like Ukraine could contribute early warning information as part of the revised shield plan and reports that talks between the U.S. and Ukraine on the issue had already begun.
"We feel concerned," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted by RIA news agency as saying when asked about the possible use of Ukrainian radars by the United States.
The law firm Carter-Ruck has made a fresh move that could stop an MPs' debate next week by claiming a controversial injunction it has obtained is "sub judice". The move follows the revelation of the existence of a secret "super-injunction" obtained by the firm on behalf of the London-based oil traders Trafigura. The injunction not only bans disclosure of a confidential report on Trafigura and toxic waste, but also banned disclosure of the injunction's very existence, until it was revealed by an MP this week under parliamentary privilege. Carter-Ruck partner Adam Tudor today sent a letter to the Speaker, John Bercow, and also circulated it to every single MP and peer, saying they believed the case was "sub judice". If correct, it would mean that, under Westminster rules to prevent clashes between parliament and the courts, a debate planned for next Wednesday could not go ahead.
The move follows the revelation of the existence of a secret "super-injunction" obtained by the firm on behalf of the London-based oil traders Trafigura.
The injunction not only bans disclosure of a confidential report on Trafigura and toxic waste, but also banned disclosure of the injunction's very existence, until it was revealed by an MP this week under parliamentary privilege.
Carter-Ruck partner Adam Tudor today sent a letter to the Speaker, John Bercow, and also circulated it to every single MP and peer, saying they believed the case was "sub judice".
If correct, it would mean that, under Westminster rules to prevent clashes between parliament and the courts, a debate planned for next Wednesday could not go ahead.
This seems to be outright contempt of Parliament. Sure, parliament doesn't discuss cases before the courts - but purporting to tell them they cannot (rather than them choosing not to) is attempting to interfere with MPs in the course of their duties, a classic contempt.
These scumsucking lawyers have gone way too far this time...
Of course the situation is farcical, the libel law is farcical and should be repealed, these total gagging orders are ridiculous and should be repealed. They are an abuse of the system and totally against any understanding of the concept of free speech.
But that's what happens when a bunch of lazy MPs tug their forelocks and serve the interests of rich and powerful people and corporations who want to ensure that nobody gets to hear about their disgusting behaviour.
F-C's behaviour is not outrageous under the alw as it stands. It's the law itself which is outrageous. It should be changed. But there's too much money flowing through the system for it to stand a chance of being changed. keep to the Fen Causeway
Time: Opposition Grows to Tony Blair's Bid for E.U. President
Here's a riddle: What unites French Socialists and British Conservatives, brings feminists together with the editors of prurient tabloid newspapers and gives shared purpose to a clutch of small European countries and more than 37,000 signatories to an online petition? Answer: Tony Blair. Across Europe, natural adversaries and strange bedfellows are finding common purpose in their efforts to stop Britain's former Prime Minister from assuming the role popularly known as president of Europe. [...] Indeed there will. France's President, Nicolas Sarkozy, is Blair's most persuasive champion, and the Italians, Poles and Spanish are also on board. But two things could still scupper Blair's chances when the E.U. horse-trading begins: a coalition of small countries coalescing around an alternative candidate or a "nein" from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the leader of Europe's largest economy. Westminster insiders say Merkel will back Blair, though without enthusiasm. A German government source is more nuanced. "The Chancellor worked well with [Blair] during the 2007 German E.U. presidency when the Lisbon Treaty was sealed. But of course, she worked well with others too."
[...]
Indeed there will. France's President, Nicolas Sarkozy, is Blair's most persuasive champion, and the Italians, Poles and Spanish are also on board. But two things could still scupper Blair's chances when the E.U. horse-trading begins: a coalition of small countries coalescing around an alternative candidate or a "nein" from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the leader of Europe's largest economy. Westminster insiders say Merkel will back Blair, though without enthusiasm. A German government source is more nuanced. "The Chancellor worked well with [Blair] during the 2007 German E.U. presidency when the Lisbon Treaty was sealed. But of course, she worked well with others too."
Tony Blair's Bid for E.U. President: Opposition Growing - TIME
What unites French Socialists and British Conservatives and brings feminists together with the editors of prurient tabloid newspapers? Answer: Tony Blair.
They're scared of us, that's what it is.
