Archive for category European Union
The price of friendship
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 01/09/2010
Monday marked the two year anniversary of the signing of the ‘Friendship Treaty’ on immigration between Italy and Libya, writes Natalie Hamill. Visiting Italy for the fourth time this year, Colonel Gaddafi punctuated his visit with several provocative claims, not least that the EU should pay Libya €5 billion a year to stop migration flows to the EU, and that Europeans should convert to Islam. Gaddafi lectured those willing to listen (mainly a parade of young women hired from an Italian model agency) on the virtues of Islam as the ‘ultimate religion’; three of the girls ‘converted’, to complete the stunt.
Borderline policy
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 25/08/2010
France’s decision to expel its Roma minority has reignited debate on who should decide citizens’ right to free movement: ‘Should it be the host state or the EU?’ asks Natalie Hamill.
The ‘catch’ in Iceland’s EU negotiations
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 19/08/2010
Iceland’s EU accession negotiations have got off to a stormy start due to its determination to increase its fishing quotas, writes Natalie Hamill. The Nordic country, which was granted EU candidate status less than a month ago, is determined to increase its mackerel catch quota, despite warnings it will damage its relations with the EU.
Taxation without representation?
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 11/08/2010
As Brussels slips into what Gavin Hewitt refers to as the ‘dog days‘ (the long summer break when eurocrats disperse from the city for their vacations) the EU has slyly returned to one of its more controversial proposals – the introduction of an EU-wide tax system, writes Natalie Hamill. The aspiration is for the EU to compile its own funds by levying taxes on member states, for example on financial transactions and the airline and energy industries.
Examining the European Investigation Order
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 04/08/2010
The concept of police forces from other EU member states being able to request personal information about citizens suspected of having committed a crime makes many people feel uncomfortable, writes Natalie Hamill. But apparently not Home Secretary Theresa May, who has decided that the UK should opt-in to such a proposal, known as the European Investigation Order (EIO).
Iceland 1 – Turkey 0
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 28/07/2010
Yesterday (27th July), EU foreign ministers agreed to open accession negotiations with Iceland, just a year after the country formerly applied for membership of the EU, writes Natalie Hamill. The move coincided with David Cameron’s first visit to Ankara, where he lamented the lack of progress on Turkey’s candidature and identified himself as the “strongest possible advocate” for Turkey’s membership bid.