Immigration detention and state denial in Greece
In recent years, the Greek state has routinely deflected domestic and international criticism of the conditions in its immigration detention centres. It has achieved this by wielding several discursive strategies, chief amongst which has been evocation of philoxenia as a natural trait common to all Greeks.
The EU budget is a disaster that cannot save Greece
Our Director Mats Persson argues on his Telegraph blog:
Ever driven on a motorway in Spain or Portugal? You’ll notice it’s not exactly the M25 – often, cars are few and far in between (some pretty heavy congestion around Gibraltar not included).
EU wants Athens to sell public properties
Greece’s international lenders will press Athens next month to transfer state-owned real estate to a holding company
Youth unemployment in Europe: an end to crocodile tears?
With just over 5.5 million young people under the age of 25 out of work in the EU, concern is growing over the youth employment crisis. The political and social repercussions of the rise in youth unemployment over the past 5 years have already had a profound impact on Europe’s economic, social and political future
Sometimes we dream of Europe’
Ukraine – an ‘unknown’ country that lies at the margins of Europe. A political football kicked back and forth between Russia and the EU. Yet beyond the politics lies a new, and magical literature; one that revels in dirt and despair, and dares to dream.
ETC as a strong integrationist instrument
Back in 1990 the European Commission launched its first INTERREG Community Initiative (ICI), financed via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with more than one billion Euros. One of its main goals was to create a common vision on the future of borders in Europe. Best practices of cross-border cooperation from Benelux and the Rhine Basin started to be adopted by the European Community as part of a broader plan for cooperation and integration (L. O’Dowd, 2003: 22). Gradually, cross-border cooperation become an instrument able to enhance the effectiveness of local, regional or transnational institutions and policies (European Commission, 2011: 11).
Democracy has stopped Britain going to war – but can it save England’s NHS?
We have just seen the importance of democracy in relation to matters of life and death overseas. We must restore it at home, too.
Populist right seeks pivotal Nordic role
The four countries in the region have all seen a surge in support for parties which have adopted or always have had an anti-immigration stance
Eurozone unemployment remains steady
The eurozone’s unemployment rate remained steady at its record 12.1% during July, official figures show.
Euro crisis colours German election
Merkel puts euro at heart of German election campaign
Despite Spying, Big Brother USA is still Family to Europe
The latest chapter of American whistleblower Edward Snowden’s real life spy thriller, recently published by Germany’s “Der Spiegel” magazine, should be shocking in a symbolic way. The United Nations, a place designed to facilitate open dialogue and cooperation between nations, is being systematically spied upon by the country hosting its headquarters. The European Union’s delegation to the UN appears to be in particular focus, as is its delegation in Washington. Yet despite the seriousness of the allegations, European governments seem to have barely taken notice.
UK: Surveillance Camera Code of Practice
Source: Home Office via GOV.UK From Purpose of the Code : Surveillance camera systems are deployed extensively within England and Wales, and these systems form part of a complex landscape of ownership and operation. Where used appropriately, these systems are valuable tools which contribute to public safety and security and in
Zero Carbon Britain: Rethinking the Future
Source: Centre for Alternative Technology (UK) From Executive Summary: Zero Carbon Britain: Rethinking the Future describes a scenario in which the UK has risen to the challenges of the 21st century. It is 2030. We have acknowledged our historical responsibility as a long-industrialised nation and made our contribution to addressing climate
Saving Europe’s Real Hegemon
Last June, the European Commission announced that the money for recapitalizing distressed banks would come primarily from creditors, not European taxpayers, with a pecking order to specify which lenders would be repaid first. All of this is welcome in principle; in practice, however, the scheme leaves much to be desired.
Eurosceptics snub Wilders’ attempt to form European far-right party
The controversial Dutch far-right leader wants to gather like-minded parties in a mass movement ahead of next year’s European elections, but not all are ready to join. UKIP frontrunner Nigel Farage has rejected such an initiative.
The controversial leader of the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV), Geert Wilders, has toured Europe over the past few weeks in an attempt to create a new movement of far-right parties ahead of the next European elections, scheduled to take place in May 2014.
Russia as an International Actor: The View from Europe and the US
Source: Finnish Institute of International Affairs The hard-line approach taken by the Russian authorities following the December 2011 parliamentary election has led to growing consternation within the international community, while the return of Vladimir Putin to the post of President of the Russian Federation in May 2012 has generated largely negative evaluations
The power of London Scots
Scotland’s image is being forged by the media across the United Kingdom. Is the union being weakened by the ill-informed media elite who are shaping this image?
The case for the EU’s External Action Service
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton steps down from leading the European External Action Service in late 2014. But despite her best efforts, the basic case for the EEAS remains unclear to many.
European Social Statistics 2013 edition
Source: Eurostat From the Introduction: The pocketbook European Social Statistics provides a com- parative overview of the social statistics available in Europe. The most recent data are presented here showing the situation in the 27 Member States and at the European and Euro area levels (EU-27 and EA-17 aggregates) where relevant
UK: Children and Advertising on Social Media Websites
Source: Advertising Standards Authority (UK) From Executive Summary: In the context of children’s increasing and more developed use of the internet and persistent concerns about the commercialisation and ‘adultification’ of childhood, the ASA has undertaken a survey to ascertain the compliance rate for ads appearing on social media pages viewed by
Serbia to open accession talks with new cabinet
Serbia’s government reshuffle is likely to put in place what appears to be a cabinet made up of an antagonistic mix of Western-minded reformers, conservative Socialists and Party of the United Pensioners. EurActiv Serbia reports.
Serbia’s ruling coalition will by the end of this week finalise the reshuffle of the government, in which the most striking choices are the selection of the new finance minister is Lazar Krstić (29), a young expert with a degree from Yale, and the one of the new economy minister, a consultant Saša Radulović, who also studied and worked in the US.
EU survey finds ‘enormous disparity’ in national energy efficiency policies
An expert study has uncovered vast differences in the ambition and nature of energy efficiency policies implemented across the 28 EU member states.
The EU-funded Energy Efficiency Watch analysis interviewed 80 experts and collected 655 questionnaires before concluding that an “enormous disparity” between EU states needed to be overcome with more harmonisation and integration of policies.
“In some member states, the recognition of the economic, social, political and environmental benefits of energy efficiency drives ambitious legislation and funding programmes,” the report says, “whereas others just do the bare minimum required by the European Directives (and sometimes even less than that).”
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