En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
Ahead of the Spanish presidency of the Council, which begins in January, EP President Jerzy Buzek and leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament will be in Madrid on Thursday and Friday for meetings with Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, other ministers and members of the Spanish Parliament. The delegation will also be received by King Juan Carlos. ... The European Parliament Conference of Presidents is made up of the leaders of the political groups and is chaired by the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek. On this occasion, the participants in the meetings will be: Joseph Daul (FR), EPP group leader, Martin Schulz (DE), S&D group leader, Guy Verhofstadt (BE), ALDE group leader, Raül Romeva I Rueda (ES), deputy leader of the Greens/EFA group, Adam Bielan (PL), deputy leader of the ECR group, Lothar Bisky (DE), leader of the GUE/NGL group and Nigel Farage, co-leader of the EFD group.
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The European Parliament Conference of Presidents is made up of the leaders of the political groups and is chaired by the President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek. On this occasion, the participants in the meetings will be: Joseph Daul (FR), EPP group leader, Martin Schulz (DE), S&D group leader, Guy Verhofstadt (BE), ALDE group leader, Raül Romeva I Rueda (ES), deputy leader of the Greens/EFA group, Adam Bielan (PL), deputy leader of the ECR group, Lothar Bisky (DE), leader of the GUE/NGL group and Nigel Farage, co-leader of the EFD group.
Catherine Ashton, the EU's new High Representative for foreign policy, assured MEPs on Wednesday that she had the qualities needed to do the job. During a discussion with the Foreign Affairs Committee she said she would help Europe "punch its weight" politically. Baroness Ashton will face a full parliamentary hearing in January as her appointment - along with that of the rest of the future European Commission - is subject to Parliament's approval. ... Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/EFA, AT) stressed that "Europe needs a strong, united voice, a single face, a clear and transparent foreign and security policy". Lady Ashton reassured MEPs that she wouldn't be "an extended arm of the UK government". She added she was proud to be known as a pro-European in Britain and elsewhere. ... David Campbell Bannerman (EFD, UK) referred to Catherine Ashton's past as treasurer of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in the early 1980s, as he asked if she "did or did not take money from any Soviet block country" or from any other communist source. Lady Ashton insisted she had not taken any "direct money from communist countries". Much of the organisation's funds had been "collected in buckets" at marches and demonstrations, she said, adding that she was the first to order an audit of CND's finances.
Ulrike Lunacek (Greens/EFA, AT) stressed that "Europe needs a strong, united voice, a single face, a clear and transparent foreign and security policy". Lady Ashton reassured MEPs that she wouldn't be "an extended arm of the UK government". She added she was proud to be known as a pro-European in Britain and elsewhere.
David Campbell Bannerman (EFD, UK) referred to Catherine Ashton's past as treasurer of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in the early 1980s, as he asked if she "did or did not take money from any Soviet block country" or from any other communist source. Lady Ashton insisted she had not taken any "direct money from communist countries". Much of the organisation's funds had been "collected in buckets" at marches and demonstrations, she said, adding that she was the first to order an audit of CND's finances.
A common patent system can be viewed as the single most important factor to improve the climate for innovation in the EU. The issue is on the ministers' agenda when they meet in the Competitiveness Council on 3-4 December. The overall theme of the meeting is the EU's strategy for growth and jobs after 2010. The research ministers will create a platform to revitalise European research policy. ... Also on the agenda is a guideline debate on the proposal for a directive on consumer rights. The proposal involves the revision and consolidation of the current directives on distance contracts (contracts via the Internet, telephone, etc.), doorstep sales, consumer sales and unfair contract terms. After intensive discussion between the Member States, the proposal will now be debated for the first time at ministerial level. The idea is that the discussion will provide guidance for the ongoing negotiations. The questions that will form the basis for the discussion concern both specific issues relating to distance and doorstep sales, and more general questions on other parts of the proposal. ... The ministers will discuss the establishment of a new form of company - the European Private Company. The proposal aims to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises by facilitating establishment on the market. Another aim is to reduce the costs incurred owing to differences in the rules on setting up and running a company between the Member States. It is hoped that the Council will be able to reach a political agreement at the meeting.
Also on the agenda is a guideline debate on the proposal for a directive on consumer rights. The proposal involves the revision and consolidation of the current directives on distance contracts (contracts via the Internet, telephone, etc.), doorstep sales, consumer sales and unfair contract terms. After intensive discussion between the Member States, the proposal will now be debated for the first time at ministerial level. The idea is that the discussion will provide guidance for the ongoing negotiations. The questions that will form the basis for the discussion concern both specific issues relating to distance and doorstep sales, and more general questions on other parts of the proposal.
The ministers will discuss the establishment of a new form of company - the European Private Company. The proposal aims to strengthen the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises by facilitating establishment on the market. Another aim is to reduce the costs incurred owing to differences in the rules on setting up and running a company between the Member States. It is hoped that the Council will be able to reach a political agreement at the meeting.
Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis has urged Muslim nations to withdraw their money from Swiss banks. Bagis' comments came in response to a recently approved ban on the construction of new minarets in Switzerland. ... He suggested that Muslims could deposit their money in Turkish banks instead of Swiss banks.
Bagis' comments came in response to a recently approved ban on the construction of new minarets in Switzerland.
He suggested that Muslims could deposit their money in Turkish banks instead of Swiss banks.
A Swiss vote to ban new minarets could irk some Muslim investors at a time when Swiss private banks are hoping to replace dwindling growth in European and U.S. assets with fresh funds from emerging markets. Switzerland has traditionally attracted wealth from the Middle East due to its political stability and proximity to the region. French-speaking Geneva has been the main Swiss hub for Arab clients, bankers say, although no there are no official figures available due to Swiss bank secrecy law. Top Swiss bankers and politicians sought to reassure the Muslim community on Monday by saying that the ban on the constructions of new minarets in the country was not a vote against the right to profess the Muslim faith.
Switzerland has traditionally attracted wealth from the Middle East due to its political stability and proximity to the region. French-speaking Geneva has been the main Swiss hub for Arab clients, bankers say, although no there are no official figures available due to Swiss bank secrecy law.
Top Swiss bankers and politicians sought to reassure the Muslim community on Monday by saying that the ban on the constructions of new minarets in the country was not a vote against the right to profess the Muslim faith.
Muslims and human rights groups have expressed outrage at the decision, depicting it as an attack on Islam and a setback for religious freedom. ... "It's an indication that fascist and far-right groups are growing in number and in strength," Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra, Assistant Secretary-General for the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and an imam for the Muslim community in Leicester told The Media Line. "This should be very worrying for all decent Europeans who wish to see the diversity of our continent continue in order to help our communities be cohesive and peaceful," he said. "The MCB is extremely disappointed that a country in modern-day Europe has such a significant population with such a dislike for diversity, particularly for Islam and for Muslims."
"It's an indication that fascist and far-right groups are growing in number and in strength," Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra, Assistant Secretary-General for the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and an imam for the Muslim community in Leicester told The Media Line.
"This should be very worrying for all decent Europeans who wish to see the diversity of our continent continue in order to help our communities be cohesive and peaceful," he said. "The MCB is extremely disappointed that a country in modern-day Europe has such a significant population with such a dislike for diversity, particularly for Islam and for Muslims."
the author of nine books, most recently "The Age of American Unreason" and "Alger Hiss And The Battle for History." ... But, alas, much as I would like to blame the Swiss, I suspect that a similar anti-Muslim proposition would have passed in nearly every country in Europe. And I'm not sure that it wouldn't pass if a national vote were taken in the United States -- if it weren't for that pesky Bill of Rights. For that matter, I doubt that the Bill of Rights would pass today if it were put to a popular vote. I certainly don't think that the First Amendment would be ratified by the dumbo legislators whose comments have so edified us during the health care debate. Freedom of speech and of the press--put a Hitler mustache on the text and call it a Nazi document! Or add a hammer-and-sickle and call the First Amendment "socialistic" or "communistic." Anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States--and make no mistake, it is considerable--is, I think, largely a product of fears of Islamist terrorism. In much of Europe there is a deeper dimension, fostered by the unwillingness of formerly homogeneous societies to admit people with different cultural backgrounds to full citizenship. And Muslim communities in some countries (though not, apparently, in Switzerland) have made their own contribution by expressing open contempt for European values and laws, such as those prohibiting domestic violence and discrimination against women, because they conflict with a traditionalist interpretation of Islam.
But, alas, much as I would like to blame the Swiss, I suspect that a similar anti-Muslim proposition would have passed in nearly every country in Europe. And I'm not sure that it wouldn't pass if a national vote were taken in the United States -- if it weren't for that pesky Bill of Rights. For that matter, I doubt that the Bill of Rights would pass today if it were put to a popular vote. I certainly don't think that the First Amendment would be ratified by the dumbo legislators whose comments have so edified us during the health care debate. Freedom of speech and of the press--put a Hitler mustache on the text and call it a Nazi document! Or add a hammer-and-sickle and call the First Amendment "socialistic" or "communistic."
Anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States--and make no mistake, it is considerable--is, I think, largely a product of fears of Islamist terrorism. In much of Europe there is a deeper dimension, fostered by the unwillingness of formerly homogeneous societies to admit people with different cultural backgrounds to full citizenship. And Muslim communities in some countries (though not, apparently, in Switzerland) have made their own contribution by expressing open contempt for European values and laws, such as those prohibiting domestic violence and discrimination against women, because they conflict with a traditionalist interpretation of Islam.
Euro zone unemployment remained stable at an 11-year high in October but September jobless numbers were higher than previously reported, showing the labour market has yet to feel the effects of nascent economic recovery.Unemployment in the 16-country area totalled 9.8 percent of the workforce, unchanged from September's upwardly revised reading, the European Union statistics agency said.
Eurostat produces harmonised unemployment rates for individual EU Member States, the euro area and the EU. These unemployment rates are based on the definition recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The measurement is based on a harmonised source, the European Union Labour Force Survey (LFS). Based on the ILO definition, Eurostat defines unemployed persons as persons aged 15 to 74 who: are without work; are available to start work within the next two weeks; and have actively sought employment at some time during the previous four weeks.
Adding a green sheen to a business is a common strategy for a company seeking to impress its customers, but what if that company makes missiles? Fire away, says the 10:10 climate change campaign. In a potentially controversial move, the campaign has accepted MBDA Missile Systems, a UK-based arms manufacturer, after it pledged to meet the campaign's single aim - to cut its carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. But 10:10 has rejected Manchester Airport Group. The campaign's leaders said the decision to accept an arms manufacturer had caused considerable debate, but it could not exclude an organisation operating lawfully on the grounds of ethical objections to its product.
In a potentially controversial move, the campaign has accepted MBDA Missile Systems, a UK-based arms manufacturer, after it pledged to meet the campaign's single aim - to cut its carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. But 10:10 has rejected Manchester Airport Group.
The campaign's leaders said the decision to accept an arms manufacturer had caused considerable debate, but it could not exclude an organisation operating lawfully on the grounds of ethical objections to its product.
Berlin - Germany is still paying World War I reparations, more than 90 years after that conflict ended with a peace treaty at Versailles in 1919. The country is expected to pay off the remaining 56 million euros (84 million dollars) in interest and repayments by October 3, 2010, Germany's Bild newspaper reported Wednesday, citing a spokesman of the German Finance Agency, which manages the government's debts and borrowing.
The country is expected to pay off the remaining 56 million euros (84 million dollars) in interest and repayments by October 3, 2010, Germany's Bild newspaper reported Wednesday, citing a spokesman of the German Finance Agency, which manages the government's debts and borrowing.
