Turkish opposition calls for key reform debate

EUobserver.com | "Turkey's main opposition party, The Republican People's Party, has called for a special parliamentary session to be held on 28 September to adopt the new penal code, in a bid to keep Turkey's bid for EU entry on track.

'We want to open a window of opportunity for Turkey. Turkey should not destroy its advantages with its own hands', leader of the party, Deniz Baykal, told reporters, according to the IHT."
Turkish opposition calls for key reform debate

- posted by DD @ 2:41 PM

 
Spain proposes cultural alliance

BBC NEWS | "The Spanish prime minister has called for an international effort to resolve cultural and religious differences between the Western and Muslim world.

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said 'an alliance of cultures' was necessary in a world facing conflict because of poverty and Islamic radicalisation.

Mr Zapatero, at the UN General Assembly meeting, said the alliance could deepen political and cultural relations.

He also defended his decision to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq. "
Spain proposes cultural alliance

- posted by DD @ 2:38 PM

 
Europe rocked by winds of change

BBC NEWS | "So this is the new European world.
To British eyes, a 25-member Union has attractions and drawbacks too.
The chief attraction is that with so many new members, the days of French and German domination are over. "
Europe rocked by winds of change

- posted by DD @ 11:18 AM

 
Government publishes case for EU treaty

Guardian Unlimited Politics | "The lengthy referendum campaign for the EU constitution began in earnest today, as the government published a white paper setting out the case for approving the new treaty.

With a referendum likely to be at least a year away, the prime minister has written the foreword to the document insisting that this is 'clearly not a treaty which reduces our powers as a nation'.

The no campaign has already got under way, backed by both the Conservatives and the UK Independence party (Ukip), with polls suggesting that the government has a mountain to climb before a yes vote can be guaranteed."
Government publishes case for EU treaty

- posted by DD @ 11:15 AM

 
UK government praises final text of EU Constitution

EurActiv.com Portal | "The referendum campaign for a 'yes' vote got under way in the UK following the publication of a White Paper on the Constitution, explaining the objectives of the Treaty.

UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw presented a White Paper on the Treaty for a European Constitution to the UK House of Commons on 9 September, thereby launching a campaign for a 'yes' vote in the upcoming referendum.

The objective of the White Paper is to explain the text of the Constitution and to take stock of the UK government's achievements in comparison with the ambitions it had established prior to the launch of the Inter-Governmental Conference. In the words of Mr Straw, the UK government achieved an 'excellent result'.

A separate annex provides details about the 80 amendments covering different areas in the Treaty where the Convention's draft was modified and the attitude of the UK government towards them.
Enumerating the most important achievements of the treaty, the Foreign Secretary said: 'We have the right results on policy areas of particular importance to the UK, including in respect of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the veto on areas such as foreign policy, defence, tax, social security and criminal law.' "
UK government praises final text of EU Constitution

- posted by DD @ 11:04 AM

 
Juncker becomes EU's first 'Mr Euro'

EurActiv.com Portal | "Eurozone finance ministers have named Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker as the first 'Mr. Euro', a job intended to give the 12 countries using the common currency a single, stronger voice. "
Juncker becomes EU's first 'Mr Euro'

- posted by DD @ 11:21 AM

 
De veelvolkeren unie

NRC Handelsblad | "Toespraak Frits Bolkestein, voormalig lid van de Europese Commissie,
ter gelegenheid van de opening van het academisch jaar,

Leiden 6 september 2004

In Hongarije is er bestaat een grapje over een man die in de plaats Ungvar woonde. Hij kreeg de vraag in hoeveel landen hij had geleefdwoond. De man antwoordde: vijf. ,",Dan zult U wel veel hebben gereisd’’, merkte de vragensteller op. ,",Nee’’, zei de man, ,,ik ben altijd in dezelfde plaats blijven wonen. Eerst woonde ik in Hongarije, toen in Tsjecho-Slowakije, daarna in de Oekraïne, vervolgens in de Sovjet-Unie en nu weer in de Oekraïne.’’ De man was dus nooit verhuisd maar boven zijn hoofd veranderden waren de staten veranderd."
De veelvolkeren unie

- posted by DD @ 2:16 PM

 
The Barroso Commission: the new power brokers

EurActiv.com Portal | "While the nominee Commissioners are busy preparing Parliament hearings, the battle is being fought over the most influential posts in the administration: the Commissioners' 'chefs de cabinet' and the Directors General. EurActiv brings a first overview of the new power men and women behind the Barroso team. "
The Barroso Commission: the new power brokers

- posted by DD @ 11:40 AM

 
Referenda on EU Constitution - let the people vote?

EurActiv.com Portal "The European Council adopted the final text of the Constitutional Treaty on 18 June 2004. Following a legal revision and its translation into all the official languages the Treaty will be signed in the autumn of 2004. Once it is signed the Member States will have two years for ratification. A popular vote or a parliamentary decision? EurActiv sheds some light on the state of play in each country. "

Referenda on EU Constitution - let the people vote?

- posted by DD @ 11:36 AM