Posts Tagged EU democracy
Helmer’s Bad Heir Day
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 01/02/2012
By Lucy Hatton
A political stalemate has emerged in Brussels between the UK Conservative Party and one of its more outspoken members, Roger Helmer MEP, over the succession of the latter’s seat in the European Parliament (EP).
New President gives the European Parliament a new image
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 24/01/2012
By Lucy Hatton
Last Tuesday (17 January) German MEP Martin Schulz became the new President of the European Parliament (EP). He may have won a majority at the mid-term presidential election but his election is certainly not without controversy.
The price of freedom: now denominated in Euros
Posted by Stephen Clarke in Economics, European Union, Politics on 31/01/2011
Political developments had mixed effects upon global markets last week. Investors were reassured by comments on the eurozone from European leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, then worried about the situation in Egypt and the uncertain fate of President Mubarak’s regime. These two different events, the pledges to save the Euro and the teetering regime in Egypt, both offer an interesting insight into the relationship between financial stability and democratic values.
Czech Mate
Posted by Pete Quentin in European Union on 08/12/2008
The Czech Republic will assume the rotating EU Presidency from France on 1st January 2009. President Klaus, a pronounced EU-sceptic, will be at the member states’ helm as the EU continues to negotiate on the Lisbon Treaty and the climate change package, and significantly also for the EP elections in June 2009. It is certainly going to be an interesting six months for the EU. For example, an enlightening exchange took place at Prague Castle last Friday 5 December 2008 between the Czech President, Václav Klaus, and EU representatives at the Conference of the Presidents of the European Parliament. The exchange resembled a ‘four knights game’ of chess, which is accordingly “fairly popular with beginners”; player were squaring up, devising their strategies and trying to stay one step ahead of the game…