*Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
German liberal MEP Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, part of a group of deputies actively debating the diplomatic service, told press on Friday (19 March) that the proposal is "a continuation of French policy by other means."The MEP, who hails from the same party as German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle and who says his concerns are largely shared by the German foreign ministry, identified two problems with the draft set-up. He said it accords too much power to the secretary general of the service, on the model of the French foreign ministry, and isolates the military (ESDP) part of the service away from political governance.
The MEP, who hails from the same party as German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle and who says his concerns are largely shared by the German foreign ministry, identified two problems with the draft set-up.
He said it accords too much power to the secretary general of the service, on the model of the French foreign ministry, and isolates the military (ESDP) part of the service away from political governance.
AFP - Britain and France will work together more closely on nuclear defence, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Friday, after a report that the two countries could share submarine patrols. Brown said he had reached an agreement with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on nuclear cooperation during Sarkozy's visit to London last week. "UK and French cooperation is at its highest level," he told reporters in London. "We have agreed a degree of co-operation that is, I think, greater than we have had previously but we will retain, as will France, our independent nuclear deterrent". Brown gave no further details, but he stressed that he and his government "do not see the case for us withdrawing the independent nuclear deterrent that we have".
Brown said he had reached an agreement with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on nuclear cooperation during Sarkozy's visit to London last week.
"UK and French cooperation is at its highest level," he told reporters in London.
"We have agreed a degree of co-operation that is, I think, greater than we have had previously but we will retain, as will France, our independent nuclear deterrent".
Brown gave no further details, but he stressed that he and his government "do not see the case for us withdrawing the independent nuclear deterrent that we have".
although absolutely nobody has ever given anything like a plausible reason why we keep it. And at vast expense.
I think the real reason lies in the self-regard of vain and pompous politicians. keep to the Fen Causeway
The Spanish daily "El Pais" says the botched plan to steal six expensive cars from a dealership, which lead to the policeman's murder, equalled a strategic disaster for the separatist group, and was further evidence of its diminishing numbers and arms stockade. The leading Spanish daily went on to say that the activity organised by ETA was "ahead of an operation of greater impact, or the beginning of a new wave of attacks in Spain." The incident grabbed a top headline in "La Vanguardia", which gave a detailed, but still unconfirmed, account of the events leading to the French policeman's killing and the arrest of one of the suspected ETA militants. "La Vanguardia" was one of several Spanish newspapers to reveal the detainee as a Joseba Fernandez Aspurz, who was handcuffed by police on a road in Dammarie-Les-Lys before unseen ETA agents "opened fire on the policemen to liberate their associates." The conservative daily "ABC" cited experts who suspect the operation was a prelude to an imminent hit on weapons stockades, similar to ETA's "1999 assault in (the northwest French town) Plevin, in which they took nine tons of dynamite, or the one committed in 2001 in the south-eastern French town of Grenoble, in which they took 1,500 kilos of explosives."
The Spanish daily "El Pais" says the botched plan to steal six expensive cars from a dealership, which lead to the policeman's murder, equalled a strategic disaster for the separatist group, and was further evidence of its diminishing numbers and arms stockade.
The leading Spanish daily went on to say that the activity organised by ETA was "ahead of an operation of greater impact, or the beginning of a new wave of attacks in Spain."
The incident grabbed a top headline in "La Vanguardia", which gave a detailed, but still unconfirmed, account of the events leading to the French policeman's killing and the arrest of one of the suspected ETA militants.
"La Vanguardia" was one of several Spanish newspapers to reveal the detainee as a Joseba Fernandez Aspurz, who was handcuffed by police on a road in Dammarie-Les-Lys before unseen ETA agents "opened fire on the policemen to liberate their associates."
The conservative daily "ABC" cited experts who suspect the operation was a prelude to an imminent hit on weapons stockades, similar to ETA's "1999 assault in (the northwest French town) Plevin, in which they took nine tons of dynamite, or the one committed in 2001 in the south-eastern French town of Grenoble, in which they took 1,500 kilos of explosives."
Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council - which gathers EU heads of state and government - was forced to remove a discussion of the headline target 'education' from the agenda of the summit, scheduled for 25-26 March. The move has angered European Commission President José Manuel Barroso who is insisting that skills are a key part of restoring competitiveness. Wolfgang Reinhart, Europe minister for the German state of Baden-Württemberg, told EurActiv Germany that the decision to raise the issue was taken after a meeting in Brussels with Europe ministers from other German Länder. The German federal system, Reinhart stressed, guarantees that the Länder retain their own competence on education and more EU involvement with the issue would create problems if applied in Germany. Austria is also reluctant and is backing the German position, he said.
Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council - which gathers EU heads of state and government - was forced to remove a discussion of the headline target 'education' from the agenda of the summit, scheduled for 25-26 March.
The move has angered European Commission President José Manuel Barroso who is insisting that skills are a key part of restoring competitiveness.
Wolfgang Reinhart, Europe minister for the German state of Baden-Württemberg, told EurActiv Germany that the decision to raise the issue was taken after a meeting in Brussels with Europe ministers from other German Länder.
The German federal system, Reinhart stressed, guarantees that the Länder retain their own competence on education and more EU involvement with the issue would create problems if applied in Germany.
Austria is also reluctant and is backing the German position, he said.
"I would rather have them at the negotiation table than with their back turned to the EU," ANP quoted Verhagen as saying in the Dutch parliament. Iceland's settlement of the debt was necessary, however, before it could become an EU member, Verhagen said. "One way or another we have to continue with Iceland. One way or another we will have to get the money back," he added, according to ANP.
"I would rather have them at the negotiation table than with their back turned to the EU," ANP quoted Verhagen as saying in the Dutch parliament.
Iceland's settlement of the debt was necessary, however, before it could become an EU member, Verhagen said.
"One way or another we have to continue with Iceland. One way or another we will have to get the money back," he added, according to ANP.
One way or another we will have to get the money back," he added,
What part of "gone" do they not understand? The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
but it is important to retain the indebtedness to ensure they remain as a client state. keep to the Fen Causeway
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu has said that the five EU countries that do not recognise Kosovo's independence are "moving" on the issue. Focusing on Greece, which does not recognise Kosovo but which plays a role in policing the former Serb province and which accepts Kosovar passports, Mr Sejdiu told EUobserver in an interview that: "We have a postive movement. I cannot say now which will be the day when they recognise [Kosovo's status] because they are a sovereign state. But what is positive is that Greece is actively involved in all the issues in Kosovo."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Kosovar President Fatmir Sejdiu has said that the five EU countries that do not recognise Kosovo's independence are "moving" on the issue.
Focusing on Greece, which does not recognise Kosovo but which plays a role in policing the former Serb province and which accepts Kosovar passports, Mr Sejdiu told EUobserver in an interview that:
"We have a postive movement. I cannot say now which will be the day when they recognise [Kosovo's status] because they are a sovereign state. But what is positive is that Greece is actively involved in all the issues in Kosovo."
"The two presidents have decided that the EU delegation will be composed of both presidents in one single delegation. That's quite normal, as their roles are complementary," a spokeswoman for the European Commission said during a press briefing on Thursday (18 March). One of the novelties introduced by the EU's new treaty is that the permanent president of the EU Council, former Belgian premier Herman Van Rompuy, also represents the bloc abroad in foreign policy and security matters. But in other areas, such as climate change, President Barroso will speak on behalf of the 27-member club.
"The two presidents have decided that the EU delegation will be composed of both presidents in one single delegation. That's quite normal, as their roles are complementary," a spokeswoman for the European Commission said during a press briefing on Thursday (18 March).
One of the novelties introduced by the EU's new treaty is that the permanent president of the EU Council, former Belgian premier Herman Van Rompuy, also represents the bloc abroad in foreign policy and security matters.
But in other areas, such as climate change, President Barroso will speak on behalf of the 27-member club.
Four months after Bliar's failure, will the English-language media finally learn Van Rompuy's proper job description and that there is no (single) "EU President"? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Pope Benedict XVI told priests who have abused children to submit to the "demands of justice," according to a letter released Saturday.The pontiff said a misplaced concern for the church's reputation and inadequate methods of choosing priests had contributed to decades of sexual abuse of children by members of the clergy.In a letter written to Catholics in the Irish Republic, the pope said he was "deeply disturbed" by the flood of allegations in Ireland and told victims he was "truly sorry." He acknowledged they had suffered "grievously."
Pope Benedict XVI told priests who have abused children to submit to the "demands of justice," according to a letter released Saturday.
The pontiff said a misplaced concern for the church's reputation and inadequate methods of choosing priests had contributed to decades of sexual abuse of children by members of the clergy.
In a letter written to Catholics in the Irish Republic, the pope said he was "deeply disturbed" by the flood of allegations in Ireland and told victims he was "truly sorry." He acknowledged they had suffered "grievously."
Nope. Didn't think so. He's infallible, so admitting he was 100% completely wrong and his own policies that contributed to this situation is simply unpossible. keep to the Fen Causeway
