Latest posts
The EU has to finally make up its mind about a common asylum and migration policy
NEW
In February 2012, Greece announced that it will build a “six-mile long fence topped with razor wire on its border with Turkey to deter illegal immigrants.”[1] While the fence, even during its construction, cut arrivals of illegal immigran...
Spring in Sofia? Bulgaria’s struggle for social rights
NEW
Bulgaria’s constitution includes a wide range of social rights. However, the ‘democratic, law-governed and social state’ has been characterized as ‘chronically incapable of coping with its social problems or improving its leve...
More Europe, Less Europe, No Europe? – the inaugural Oxford DPIR alumni conference
NEW
On Saturday 2nd March Oxford’s Department of Politics and International Relations hosted its inaugural Alumni Conference. Former politics students were welcomed to the Manor Road Building for the chance to discuss the issue of Europe with the v...
The utility function of Celestine V and the election of Pope Francis
NEW
When Pope Benedict XVI resigned in February 2013, there was much scrabbling by journalists to establish when last a pope resigned voluntarily. After a bit, they came up with the correct answer. It was in 1294, when the elderly hermit Pietro of Murron...
The third phase of the Euro crisis
NEW
At the Spring European Council on 14/15 March 2013 the perennial issue of economic growth and jobs once again took centre stage. The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, stated on Twitter that "Things are better than one...
The Italian Left: Reform and win, or perish
NEW
The general election has put the Italian Left in a state of shock. In December, the coalition led by Pierluigi Bersani had a fifteen points lead in the polls, while more than three million people turned up to vote in the leadership primary election.
Transfer union? That sounds familiar
NEW
Since the outbreak of the crisis it has become increasingly clear: Without financial transfers from the “rich North” to the “poor South”, the Euro zone, and eventually the European Union, cannot cling together for long. Equall...
Discussing the Procurement of Armed Drones: A very German-style deliberation
NEW
Germany is in uproar. The question whether to procure armed drones for the Bundeswehr is currently dividing the public and the political elite It all began in August 2012 when German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière, in an interview with...
Discussing the Procurement of Armed Drones: A very German-style deliberation
NEW
Germany is in uproar. The question whether to procure armed drones for the Bundeswehr is currently dividing the public and the political elite It all began in August 2012 when German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière, in an interview with...
The EU budget is a missed opportunity for Europe
NEW
Last Friday, after 24 hours of negotiations, European leaders agreed on a new EU budget deal for 2014-2020. Two summits were needed: one was held in November 2012, and another last week that ended in agreement. For the coming seven years, the member...
The EU budget is a missed opportunity for Europe
NEW
Last Friday, after 24 hours of negotiations, European leaders agreed on a new EU budget deal for 2014-2020. Two summits were needed: one was held in November 2012, and another last week that ended in agreement. For the coming seven years, the member...
EU Reform: Five recommendations for the European Foreign Service
NEW
With the Lisbon Treaty, the member states of the European Union (EU) established a European External Action Service (EEAS), otherwise known as the ‘European foreign service’, consisting of several thousand officials drawn from the EU inst...
EU Reform: Five recommendations for the European Foreign Service
NEW
With the Lisbon Treaty, the member states of the European Union (EU) established a European External Action Service (EEAS), otherwise known as the ‘European foreign service’, consisting of several thousand officials drawn from the EU inst...
Beyond Euroscepticism: Cameron’s Europe speech revealed an opportunity for the EU to stake broader, global relevance
NEW
Appealing to his Eurosceptic domestic constituents, Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent proposal for a UK-wide referendum on Britain’s membership to the European Union has been declaimed by EU supporters as an easy, if irresponsible, ex...
Beyond Euroscepticism: Cameron’s Europe speech revealed an opportunity for the EU to stake broader, global relevance
NEW
Appealing to his Eurosceptic domestic constituents, Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent proposal for a UK-wide referendum on Britain’s membership to the European Union has been declaimed by EU supporters as an easy, if irresponsible, ex...
Playing the Referendum Game
NEW
This morning, in his much anticipated speech on the European Union, David Cameron announced that he would seek to renegotiate the terms of the UK’s membership of the EU and then offer an in/out referendum to the British public. It was the sort...
Playing the referendum game
NEW
This morning, in his much anticipated speech on the European Union, David Cameron announced that he would seek to renegotiate the terms of the UK’s membership of the EU and then offer an in/out referendum to the British public. It was the sort...
What Next for Britain’s Pro-Europeans?
NEW
Having, until now, benefited from the tacit support of the existing political elite, Britain's pro-European lobby has had less incentive to create a formal political movement. However, if the anti-European jungle drums continue to beat louder, it se...
What Next for Britain’s Pro-Europeans?
NEW
Having, until now, benefited from the tacit support of the existing political elite, Britain's pro-European lobby has had less incentive to create a formal political movement. However, if the anti-European jungle drums continue to beat louder, it se...
How many Bulgarians and Romanians will come to the UK? Estimating migration is hard, but the lifting of restrictions on ‘A2′ nationals is unlikely to have the impact of the 2004 enlargement
NEW
On 1 January 2014 British labour markets will be open to Romanian and Bulgarian nationals (the "A2") as they are to people from the rest of the EU. Many are wondering what the effects will be – although some impacts of Romanian and Bulgarian free m...
