EU Defence Ministers finalise 'Battle Groups'

EUobserver.com "EU Defence Ministers have agreed to create 13 `battle groups´ by 2007 to be deployed to the World´s hotspots.

Meeting in Brussels on Monday (21 November), Ministers agreed to a series of groups which can be used in peacekeeping operations up to 6,000 kilometres away.

The 1,000-1,500 strong forces are expected to be able to be rapidly deployable - 10 days after a unanimous decision from EU member states has been taken and a battle plan created.

In a statement, the Dutch Presidency said that the creation of the groups would help the EU to 'deal better with threats and global challenges'. "

EU Defence Ministers finalise 'Battle Groups'

- posted by DD @ 9:45 AM

 
Germany to Send Troops to Sudan

Deutsche Welle | "Germany will send troops to Sudan to support African Union peacekeeping efforts in the war-torn region of Darfur. On Friday, Sudan's government and southern rebels agreed to reach a peace deal by the end of the year.

The signing of the resolution to end 21 years of civil war in Sudan took place at a special session of the United Nations Security Council in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Sudan's government and its southern rebel foes promised to end Africa's longest running civil war by Dec. 31. "
Germany to Send Troops to Sudan

- posted by DD @ 12:06 PM

 
Europe lags behind US in fight against terror

EUobserver.com | "Europeans have not yet realised the seriousness of the threat of global terrorism, NATO's secretary general has warned.

There is a critical 'perception gap' between Europe and the US, said Jaap de Hoop Scheffer in New York on Thursday (11 November).

Differences between European allies and the US are one of the reasons for the strained relations within NATO, stressed the head of the alliance."
Europe lags behind US in fight against terror

- posted by DD @ 3:11 PM

 
Kok: Europe should not 'copycat' US

EUobserver.com | "The former Dutch Prime Minister charged with suggesting ways to catch up with the US in economic terms has said that it is not necessary to copy America to achieve this goal.

Europe should in no way abandon its prized social model, which combines the desire for economic growth with concern for welfare and the environment, insists Wim Kok.

Europe has struggled with its aim to be the 'most competitive economy in the world by 2010'.

If anything, Europe has fallen further behind America, with gross domestic product per capita - a key indicator of living standards - falling below 70 percent of that of the US for the first time since the 1960s. "
Kok: Europe should not 'copycat' US

- posted by DD @ 1:17 PM

 
Counting the Constitutional Blessings

CEPS Articles | "Any celebratory feeling over the agreement between the European leaders on a EU Constitution reached on June 18 was immediately overshadowed by the fact that they will now have to secure its ratification. There will be referenda in a considerable number of member states and given the sobering results of June's European elections, it is easy to be sceptical concerning the success.

There is something ironic about the fact that mounting Euroscepticism threatens the ratification of a document that has very much been drafted with an eye to the main arguments of those who picture the EU as an inefficient and undemocratic machinery. The two guiding themes of the constitutional process can be summarized as 'more efficiency' and 'more democracy' for a future European Union. It would be unrealistic to expect these to objectives to be realised through the drafting of a Constitution alone. Also the Constitution does fall short in a number of respects. Yet, with all reservations we should still be able to recognise what is achieved by the Constitutional text that now lies before us."
Counting the Constitutional Blessings

- posted by DD @ 11:33 AM

 
Reshuffled Commission set to be unveiled this week

Commission President-designate Jose Manuel Durão Barroso is expected to unveil his new Commission line-up during a meeting of EU leaders this Thursday (4 November), a task made easier by the resignation of the controversial Italian, Rocco Buttiglione.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said, according to Le Monde, "the proposals that Mr Barroso would like to make ... will become known during the next European Council".

This takes place on 4 and 5 November in Brussels.
Reshuffled Commission set to be unveiled this week

- posted by DD @ 10:41 AM