Ad astra per aspera
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Billionaire investor George Soros has said the European Union must do more to help its struggling eastern region, including a fast-tracking of member state applications to join the euro currency. In an interview with EUobserver on Thursday (12 November), he also called on the EU to develop a dedicated strategy to alleviate the difficulties faced by the region's Roma population.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Billionaire investor George Soros has said the European Union must do more to help its struggling eastern region, including a fast-tracking of member state applications to join the euro currency.
In an interview with EUobserver on Thursday (12 November), he also called on the EU to develop a dedicated strategy to alleviate the difficulties faced by the region's Roma population.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Alliance of National Movements (AENM), the coalition of far-right parties formed last month in Budapest, has failed in its an attempt to get its hands on European Parliament cash, as the jumble of reactionary rightists did not manage to file the application on time.
Pan-continental europarties are structurally distinct entities from the political families of MEPs in the Strasbourg chamber, though at the same time remain linked ideologically. A grouping in the European Parliament requires a certain number of MEPs from seven EU member states; for a europarty, the rules are more relaxed and national MPs and regional representatives may also count towards the seven-country minimum. There is also no minimum number of deputies.
Pan-continental europarties are structurally distinct entities from the political families of MEPs in the Strasbourg chamber, though at the same time remain linked ideologically.
A grouping in the European Parliament requires a certain number of MEPs from seven EU member states; for a europarty, the rules are more relaxed and national MPs and regional representatives may also count towards the seven-country minimum. There is also no minimum number of deputies.
Conceding that the group had fumbled the deadline, Mr Gollnish said: "The money is not the main purpose. While we want to get our share back, the share that is due the people who voted for us and sympathise with our goals, the real aim here is the formation of a political alliance where we can support each other."
The BNP's Nick Griffin, however, says that he hopes to soon have on board far-right parties from Spain and Portugal - which have no MEPs either - as well as from Ukraine, but this would not count towards the total, as the country is outside the EU. Nevertheless, he also said that Austria's Freedom Party, which does have substantial support - it won 12.8 percent in the June elections, giving it two MEPs - may soon join.
The BNP's Nick Griffin, however, says that he hopes to soon have on board far-right parties from Spain and Portugal - which have no MEPs either - as well as from Ukraine, but this would not count towards the total, as the country is outside the EU.
Nevertheless, he also said that Austria's Freedom Party, which does have substantial support - it won 12.8 percent in the June elections, giving it two MEPs - may soon join.
Which parties would that be in Spain and Portugal? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Can you guess which Spanish and Portuguese dwarf parties may be considered as allies to gain by Nick Griffin? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
"Millions of ethic Hungarians live [outside] Hungary and the Jobbik Movement for a Better Hungary will never work together with parties that are not patriotic or nationalist, but instead chauvinist. We will never work with the Slovak National Party or the Greater Romania Party. This is a declaration!"
LOL. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday (12 November) admitted he is unlikely to achieve his aim of getting more women commissioners in the next commission than is currently the case. To date it is clear that only three member states - Luxembourg, which is returning commissioner Viviane Reding; Cyprus, which is returning EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou; and Bulgaria, which is sending current foreign minister Rumiana Jeleva - have proposed women candidates despite several public requests, including a letter, by Mr Barroso.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday (12 November) admitted he is unlikely to achieve his aim of getting more women commissioners in the next commission than is currently the case.
To date it is clear that only three member states - Luxembourg, which is returning commissioner Viviane Reding; Cyprus, which is returning EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou; and Bulgaria, which is sending current foreign minister Rumiana Jeleva - have proposed women candidates despite several public requests, including a letter, by Mr Barroso.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Commission has proposed setting aside €3.5 billion of regional, agriculture and administrative aid for Croatia's first two years of EU membership, provided the country manages to join the bloc in 2012. The earmarked sum still needs the approval of the 27 member states.
Geert Wilders wants to ban the Koran, impose a tax on headscarves and calculate the cost of immigration. The Dutch right-wing populist also plans to run for prime minister in 2011 -- and his party is currently leading in the polls. Geert Wilders is sitting on a plane, glancing at the clouds below and occasionally turning the page of a newspaper. A cameraman from a Dutch news agency is sitting behind him, filming his every movement. The plane lands in London, after the short flight from Amsterdam. Wilders, 46, the head of the populist right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), is the first to disembark. This is the first time he has been to Britain in eight months. He is not detained by a border official this time, as he was in February, when the British government denied Wilders entry into the country after declaring him a "serious threat to one of the fundamental interests of society." He went anyway, with 50 journalists in tow, and he was sent back to the Netherlands immediately. His poll ratings went up dramatically after the London incident, and he owes much of his recent rise in popularity to the British decision. Now that the government has overturned its ban and he is permitted to enter the country once again, Wilders plans to make it a triumphant return.
Geert Wilders wants to ban the Koran, impose a tax on headscarves and calculate the cost of immigration. The Dutch right-wing populist also plans to run for prime minister in 2011 -- and his party is currently leading in the polls.
Geert Wilders is sitting on a plane, glancing at the clouds below and occasionally turning the page of a newspaper. A cameraman from a Dutch news agency is sitting behind him, filming his every movement.
The plane lands in London, after the short flight from Amsterdam. Wilders, 46, the head of the populist right-wing Party for Freedom (PVV), is the first to disembark. This is the first time he has been to Britain in eight months.
He is not detained by a border official this time, as he was in February, when the British government denied Wilders entry into the country after declaring him a "serious threat to one of the fundamental interests of society." He went anyway, with 50 journalists in tow, and he was sent back to the Netherlands immediately. His poll ratings went up dramatically after the London incident, and he owes much of his recent rise in popularity to the British decision. Now that the government has overturned its ban and he is permitted to enter the country once again, Wilders plans to make it a triumphant return.
As European opposition to EU membership for Turkey grows, Ankara is looking to forge closer ties to its neighbors. Turkey wants to once again become a leading power in the Middle East -- but its relationship with Israel may suffer as a result. He was the last heir to the throne of the Ottoman Empire, a major power that controlled large parts of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for centuries. But Prince Osman Ertugrul Osmanoglu was a prince without a country, and he was stateless for much of his life. When Turkish officers proclaimed the republic in 1924, they expelled Osmanoglu and his entire family. It wasn't until 2004 that the exiled prince was granted Turkish citizenship. The prince died in Istanbul on Sept. 23, at the age of 97, and the republic that had once banished him became reconciled with Osmanoglu. The guests at the funeral service included four cabinet ministers from the conservative Islamic AKP government, a deputy minister, several members of parliament, Istanbul's governor and the city's chief of police. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sent his condolences -- privately. It was a rare show of republican appreciation for Turkey's Ottoman legacy.
As European opposition to EU membership for Turkey grows, Ankara is looking to forge closer ties to its neighbors. Turkey wants to once again become a leading power in the Middle East -- but its relationship with Israel may suffer as a result.
He was the last heir to the throne of the Ottoman Empire, a major power that controlled large parts of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East for centuries. But Prince Osman Ertugrul Osmanoglu was a prince without a country, and he was stateless for much of his life. When Turkish officers proclaimed the republic in 1924, they expelled Osmanoglu and his entire family. It wasn't until 2004 that the exiled prince was granted Turkish citizenship.
The prince died in Istanbul on Sept. 23, at the age of 97, and the republic that had once banished him became reconciled with Osmanoglu. The guests at the funeral service included four cabinet ministers from the conservative Islamic AKP government, a deputy minister, several members of parliament, Istanbul's governor and the city's chief of police. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also sent his condolences -- privately. It was a rare show of republican appreciation for Turkey's Ottoman legacy.
n a major speech Thursday about what it means to be French, President Nicolas Sarkozy said that the burqa and the "subservience of women" had no place in secular France. France has one of Europe's largest Muslim populations.AFP - President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday again insisted that the head-to-toe veil worn by some Muslim women had no place in secular France. "France is a country where there is no place for the burka, where there is no place for the subservience of women," he said in a major speech on French national identity. France, home to Europe's biggest Muslim minority, has set up a special panel of 32 lawmakers to consider whether a law should be enacted to bar Muslim women from wearing the full veil, known as a burka or niqab.
AFP - President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday again insisted that the head-to-toe veil worn by some Muslim women had no place in secular France. "France is a country where there is no place for the burka, where there is no place for the subservience of women," he said in a major speech on French national identity. France, home to Europe's biggest Muslim minority, has set up a special panel of 32 lawmakers to consider whether a law should be enacted to bar Muslim women from wearing the full veil, known as a burka or niqab.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for a new push to modernise and diversify the country's economy in his annual state of the nation address.AFP - President Dmitry Medvedev called Thursday for Russia to modernize more quickly, but stressed that it should happen through the development of democratic institutions and a market economy. In his annual address to the nation, Medvedev said Russia must diversify its economy away from raw materials exports and strive to become an influential power in the world. "In the 21st century, our country again requires modernization in all areas, and this will be the first time in our history when modernization will be based on the values and institutions of democracy," Medvedev said.
AFP - President Dmitry Medvedev called Thursday for Russia to modernize more quickly, but stressed that it should happen through the development of democratic institutions and a market economy. In his annual address to the nation, Medvedev said Russia must diversify its economy away from raw materials exports and strive to become an influential power in the world. "In the 21st century, our country again requires modernization in all areas, and this will be the first time in our history when modernization will be based on the values and institutions of democracy," Medvedev said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for a sweeping modernization of the country. While not criticizing his still-powerful predecessor, Vladimir Putin, Medvedev recommended several breaks from Putin's legacy. While Medvedvev pushed for reforms that would transform Russia into a modern, democratic and economically diverse nation, he was careful to emphasize that the stability of the state remained the first priority. "In the 21st century, our country again requires modernization in all areas, and this will be the first time in our history when modernization will be based on the values and institutions of democracy," he told an audience of about 1,000 political leaders in the Kremlin's ornate St. George Hall. He warned, however, that "any attempts to rock the boat, destabilize the government and rend society under slogans of democracy will be stopped."
While Medvedvev pushed for reforms that would transform Russia into a modern, democratic and economically diverse nation, he was careful to emphasize that the stability of the state remained the first priority.
"In the 21st century, our country again requires modernization in all areas, and this will be the first time in our history when modernization will be based on the values and institutions of democracy," he told an audience of about 1,000 political leaders in the Kremlin's ornate St. George Hall. He warned, however, that "any attempts to rock the boat, destabilize the government and rend society under slogans of democracy will be stopped."
MOSCOW -- President Dmitri A. Medvedev on Thursday called for sweeping reforms to modernize Russia's economy and revamp crumbling industrial and military infrastructure, all while strengthening the country's democratic institutions.Mr. Medvedev addressed these issues, as well as corruption and law enforcement, in his annual state of the nation speech."In the 21st century, our country again requires modernization in all areas, and this will be the first time in our history when modernization will be based on the values and institutions of democracy," Mr. Medvedev said.
Mr. Medvedev addressed these issues, as well as corruption and law enforcement, in his annual state of the nation speech.
"In the 21st century, our country again requires modernization in all areas, and this will be the first time in our history when modernization will be based on the values and institutions of democracy," Mr. Medvedev said.
The European Union plans to hold a special summit next week to fill the new posts of EU president and EU foreign policy chief, but so far there is little agreement on who will get the top jobs. Sweden, which currently holds the European Union's rotating six-month presidency, said on Wednesday that the bloc's 27 heads of state and government will meet in Brussels on November 19 to fill the key new positions created by the ratification of the Lisbon reform treaty last month. However, finding appropriate and acceptable candidates is proving more difficult than expected. The British government still backs former Prime Minister Tony Blair, despite his unpopularity in some quarters over his support for the Iraq war.
Sweden, which currently holds the European Union's rotating six-month presidency, said on Wednesday that the bloc's 27 heads of state and government will meet in Brussels on November 19 to fill the key new positions created by the ratification of the Lisbon reform treaty last month.
However, finding appropriate and acceptable candidates is proving more difficult than expected.
The British government still backs former Prime Minister Tony Blair, despite his unpopularity in some quarters over his support for the Iraq war.
The job application procedure for officials in Brussels is changing in 2010. That is good news for Dutch nationals who would like a job 'in Europe'.John Wouters (38) was one of only 159 people left in the running after most of the more than 11,000 initial candidates had dropped out. After a 16-month selection process and an extremely difficult exam, Wouters now qualifies for a position in the administration of the European Union in Brussels. But that doesn't mean he is guaranteed a job: people who pass what EU employees call the `concours' are merely placed on a reserve list. Passing the concours means that Wouters is now allowed to apply for a job. Even though he still doesn't have a job in Brussels, Wouters is already part of a past generation: he was one of the last candidates required to take the infamous European knowledge test. Some of the questions in the test included: `How many presidents has the European Commission had to date?' or 'When was the Single European Act signed?' Outdated The structure of the concours will change starting at the beginning of next year. The knowledge test, the first round in which the majority of the candidates drop out, will disappear. In its place, the office that carries out personnel selection, EPSO, wants to put more emphasis on candidates' skills.
John Wouters (38) was one of only 159 people left in the running after most of the more than 11,000 initial candidates had dropped out. After a 16-month selection process and an extremely difficult exam, Wouters now qualifies for a position in the administration of the European Union in Brussels. But that doesn't mean he is guaranteed a job: people who pass what EU employees call the `concours' are merely placed on a reserve list. Passing the concours means that Wouters is now allowed to apply for a job.
Even though he still doesn't have a job in Brussels, Wouters is already part of a past generation: he was one of the last candidates required to take the infamous European knowledge test. Some of the questions in the test included: `How many presidents has the European Commission had to date?' or 'When was the Single European Act signed?'
Outdated The structure of the concours will change starting at the beginning of next year. The knowledge test, the first round in which the majority of the candidates drop out, will disappear. In its place, the office that carries out personnel selection, EPSO, wants to put more emphasis on candidates' skills.
Never mind that, what matters is that the concours is a fuddyduddy example of useless Brussels red tape. Message received.
A top Foreign Office official has accused high court judges of damaging Britain's national security by insisting that CIA evidence of British involvement in torture must be revealed. The extraordinary intervention in a fierce dispute between David Miliband, the foreign secretary, and the high court has come from Simon Manley, the FCO's director of defence and strategic threats. In an unprecedented assault on the judiciary, he claims that demands by two judges that the CIA material should be disclosed have already harmed Britain's intelligence and diplomatic relations with the US. In a statement, Manley says the judges have "served to undermine confidence within the US in the UK's ability to protect the confidentiality of diplomatic exchanges and will inevitably have a negative impact on the candour of their exchanges with UK officials". The impact of the judges' rulings "also undermines our relationships with other foreign services ... and co-operation on operational matters in the field is also at stake", he adds. "What we are facing is an erosion of trust."
The extraordinary intervention in a fierce dispute between David Miliband, the foreign secretary, and the high court has come from Simon Manley, the FCO's director of defence and strategic threats.
In an unprecedented assault on the judiciary, he claims that demands by two judges that the CIA material should be disclosed have already harmed Britain's intelligence and diplomatic relations with the US. In a statement, Manley says the judges have "served to undermine confidence within the US in the UK's ability to protect the confidentiality of diplomatic exchanges and will inevitably have a negative impact on the candour of their exchanges with UK officials".
The impact of the judges' rulings "also undermines our relationships with other foreign services ... and co-operation on operational matters in the field is also at stake", he adds. "What we are facing is an erosion of trust."
Yup, an independent judiciary is a threat to national security because it might not rule how the government wants it to. Whitehall is increasingly sounding like a tinpot third-world dictator, not the centre of government for a modern democracy...
