Will Yanukovich become a Putin?
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On a recent trip to Ukraine for the Kiev Security Forum I asked some of the Ukrainian analysts whether Yanukovich will manage to become like Putin - a successful authoritarian leader able to retain firm political control for a long time. There is l...
The Closer
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ROUND-UP Equity markets finished modestly higher, while sales of government debt in several periphery countries earlier in the day went reasonably well, calming markets. (Financial...
Europe’s Parliament; People, Places, Politics
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To the Parlamentarium, briefly, this evening for the launch party of a book published by two friends, Stephen Clark and Sir Julian Priestley, entitled Europe’s Parliament; People, Places, Politics. Sir Julian was Secretary General of the Europe...
‘Die Deutschen drehen immer durch’: Interviewed by Tageszeitung 23rd April 2012
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While in Berlin, last week, I gave an extensive interview to Tageszeitung. Click here for the article, as it appeared on their website (you can use Google Translate if you have no German). Alternatively, you can read the pdf version of the print edit...
‘Die Deutschen drehen immer durch’: Interviewed by Tageszeitung 23rd April 2012
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While in Berlin, last week, I gave an extensive interview to Tageszeitung. Click here for the article, as it appeared on their website (you can use Google Translate if you have no German). Alternatively, you can read the pdf version of the print edit...
Bio-thingies under review
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Life seems to be quite a popular subject in intellectual property circles these days. Accordingly the IPKat has dedicated this post to three recent publications on the bio theme. The IPKat (above) gathers some independent biodiversity data ... &n...
Insane in Spain
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Insanity and utter ineptness - no other words are more suitable to describe the continued path of austerity imposed by the EU on Spain. As one of the best pupils in the fiscal class on the eve of the financial crisis, and with a current unemployment...
Nain Sarkozy to FN " I will stick a melon up my arse if you vote for me"
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French soon to be ex president has promised Front National voters that he will stick a melon up his arse on live TV if they vote for him on May 6.Ok he did not quite say that but he is promising a racist reach around if the 6 million Front National v...
İstanbul’da 1915 anmaları
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TweetShare via emailSerhatcan Yurdam’dan iki derleme: Taksim’de 1915 Ermeni Soykırımı Anması ************* İnsan Hakları Derneği’nden Anma Etkinliği: “1915 Soykırımı İnsanlık Suçudur” TweetShare via...
Europe’s new house
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Via SocGen, click to expand, but careful not to blow on it — it gets creakier the higher up you go:...
Europe's terrible blunder can be rectified. Remember 1931
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The euro was a blood sacrifice to the Eurocrats' fanaticism. But Europe's democracy may save us from Europe's single currencyI write from America, where those who care about Europe ask one question only. What the hell is going on? What is this "euro...
Sterilisation, money market funds, and anti-stimulus
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We’ve written extensively about the problems facing US money market funds, the motives behind the Fed’s adding them to its list of reverse repo counterparties, and...
The next Commission President?
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European Commissioner Viviane Reding (Photo credit: Wikipedia) According to Euractiv jostling for the nomination for the next European Commission President has begun. As the next President will be picked based on the who is the largest party in the n...
London to Berlin via Amsterdam: hyper-local citizen journalism grows
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‘Hyper-local blogging’ concerns new blogs or online magazines characterised by their dedication to a particular area or locality. They may be a hub for local restaurant reviews, digital archives for local history or grow into daily, regional onli...
SEC charges Egan-Jones
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Washington, D.C., April 24, 2012 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Egan-Jones Ratings Company (EJR) and its owner and president Sean Egan...
Hablais European?
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Madrid welcomed us with a hideous hostel and overpriced tapas. Instead of enjoying a heavy Spanish red wine at a nice restaurant and uploading our latest pictures via free Wifi access, we were hunted down by ominous figures in the streets who offered...
How dare they? : A bestseller on the Belgian and European crisis
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IN THE RADICAL PRESS / MEMOIRE DES LUTTES Interview with Peter Mertens by Jean Bricmont, professor in theoretical physics at the Université Catholique de Louvain Another book on the crisis of the European Union? A Belgian Marxist author has at...
Advisory Opinions
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One of the most interesting ideas that surrounded last week's Brighton Conference was the idea of introducing an advisory opinion procedure in the ECtHR. It appears that the politically correct lawyer position is to be against it - presumably not in...
EESC Bureau meeting exchange with European Commission Vice-President Olli Rehn
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The European Economic and Social Committee’s pre-plenary session Bureau meeting had a richer than usual agenda this afternoon. European Commission Vice-President Olli Rehn came before the Bureau to discuss the economic situation and responses t...
Spanish government wants border controls for ECB meeting in Barcelona
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According to Council document published yesterday, the Spanish government wants to introduce border controls at its borders to France and at the airports of Barcelona and Girona from 28 April to 4 May. The reason: “From 2 to 4 May 2012 a meet...
Ministers adopt conclusions on Guinea-Bissau
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Following the coup d’etat in Guinea-Bissau, the Council on Foreign Affairs has urged to an immediate reestablishment of the legitimate government, the completion of the interrupted democratic electoral process and the immediate restoration of co...
Brussels the stage for latest West Africa-EU EPA negotiations
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Brussels recently saw the latest EPA negotiations between the EU and West Africa. The 2-day meeting, where parties discussed the text of the agreement, comes after a week-long session on rules of origin in late March and a meeting of the Regional...
Corruption Seen as Russia’s Top Problem
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A room full of top officials and leading finance professionals said corruption is currently the biggest problem facing Russia and said the country desperately needs to improve its investment climate.
Hungary’s MOL Mulls Exit From Pipeline Project
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MOL, the Hungarian member of the consortium implementing the Nabucco natural gas pipeline, has expressed serious doubts about the future of the investment.
Wobbled but not toppled
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THE squabbling parties of the Czech centre-right are detested by the voters and distrust each other. But they prefer to stay in power than face the consequences. Earlier today the prime minister, Petr Nečas, said he had cobbled together a majority i...
Hungary’s Central Bank Fears Economy Package May Fuel Inflation
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Hungary's central bank may have to revise its forecasts for key economic indicators after the publication of a set of new government measures, the country's central bank governor, Andras Simor, said.
Italy: Tragic Death of Piermario Morosini Shocks the Soccer World
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Since April 14, Italian radio stations, Twitter, Facebook, as well as blogs from across the world have been discussing the sudden, on-field death Piermario Morosini, a 25-year-old soccer player, who was playing for a Serie B team of the Italian fo...
Commissioner Damanaki answers my provocative question on the CFP reform
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Knowing that I am somehow interested in EU fisheries policy, the Debating Europe team recently asked me on Twitter whether I had any question for EU fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki. I chose the rather provocative question which of the two major...
NewsCorp: ‘Is Jeremy Hunt still coming to see Take That with us?’
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Our favourite line from the cache of emails released by the Leveson Inquiry (page 143), which look likely to topple the culture secretary: “By the way, does that mean you and Jeremy will not be coming to Take That on the 4 July?” Love a...
Her Majesty’s government and M&A
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Presenting Exhibit KRM 18, submitted to the Leveson Inquiry (click pic for doc):The image is of an email sent to James Murdoch by his public affairs director about the thoughts of Jeremy Hunt,...
