Archive for category European Union
Is the EU about to embark on further “institutional tinkering”?
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 11/03/2010
As the European Union battles the current recession, Greece’s financial situation has reignited debate on the establishment of a European Monetary Fund (EMF), writes Natalie Hamill.
A ‘hot potato’ issue
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 04/03/2010
The unlikely subject of potatoes has recently captured headlines across Europe. No, this is not another bizarre EU directive on “wonky vegetables”, but rather the return of the Genetic Modification (GM) debate, writes Natalie Hamill.
Silenced diplomacy
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union on 24/02/2010
The EU’s new High Representative for Foreign and Security Affairs, Catherine Ashton, may find her promised “quiet diplomacy” becomes barely audible in some international quarters, writes Natalie Hamill, after one of the EU’s most important Foreign Relations posts was handed to a close political friend of the EU Commission President.
Read the rest of this entry »
A Greek Tragedy
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union, Uncategorized on 17/02/2010
Greece’s financial woes dominated last week’s EU Summit, writes Natalie Hamill. With government debt at 113% of GDP, and a public deficit of 12.7% (more than 4 times that allowed under the EU’s Stability and Growth Pact (SGP). Greece has been spending far beyond her means.
A touch of democracy for the EU?
Posted by Claire Daley in European Union, Uncategorized on 03/02/2010
The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is a little-known Clause in the Lisbon Treaty (the much embattled re-formulation of the failed EU Constitution, which came into force in Dec 2009). Under the ECI, 1million EU citizens from a “significant number” of EU states can submit an “appropriate” proposal to the EU Commission suggesting that it drafts new legislation.
Equal in Dignity… or Indignity?
Posted by David Conway in European Union, Family, Marriage and the Culture, Religion on 03/02/2010
In November 2000, the European Union issued a directive intended to provide ‘a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation’.
While designed to prohibit employers from discriminating on grounds of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, its fourth article expressly stated that ‘the Directive shall not prejudice the right of churches… to require individuals working for them to act in good faith and with loyalty to the organisation’s ethos.’