According to the latest edition of Freedom in the World, the year 2007 was marked by a notable setback for global freedom. The decline is most pronounced in South Asia, and it reached significant levels in the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. It affected a substantial number of large and politically important countries—including Russia, Pakistan, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, and Venezuela—whose declines have wider regional and global implications.
DI - 21/1/2008
This paper addresses current and future political, economic and security trends in Turkey. It was published by the Canadian Foreign Affairs & Defence Institute in December 2007.
DI - 22/1/2008
The UK Government’s July 2007 Green Paper gathers a number of proposals for constitutional reform which are intended to shift power from the executive to Parliament and the public, make the executive more accountable, and reinvigorate democracy. It also emphasises the need to involve the public in constitutional change.
DI - 18/1/2008
This Flash Eurobarometer survey asked citizens to report their patterns of interaction with people of different cultural backgrounds, and to inquire about their general attitude towards cultural diversity and specifically, the upcoming events of the of the Year of Intercultural Dialogue in the EU.
DI - 17/12/2007
The Presidency Conclusions of the Brussels European Council held on 14 December -the last of 2007- states the agreement of EU leaders on the following issues: to set up a high-level working party (“reflection group”) on the future direction of the EU, a declaration on adapting the EU to meet the challenges posed by globalisation. It also welcomed the signing of the Lisbon Treaty “which brings the bloc’s institutional impasse to an end and sets it up for the 21st century”.
DI - 10/12/2007
The II EU - Africa Summit -held in Lisbon (Portugal) on 8 and 9 December 2007- brought together representatives from the 80 countries that comprise this partnership, as well as heads of the regional institutions from both continents.
The EU – U.S – Russia negotiating Troika brought together the delegations from Belgrade and Pristina to discuss Kosovo’s status in Baden (Austria). The three day conference marks the end of Troika-sponsored face to face negotiations.
DI - 27/11/2007
This year edition of the HDReport is focused on climate change and how it will create long-run low human development traps, pushing vulnerable people into a downward spiral of deprivation. The failure to respond to this challenge will stall and then reverse international efforts to reduce poverty. Also, there is useful information of the 2007/2008 Human Development Index rankings.
DI - 21/11/2007
The ministers of foreign affairs of the 9th Euro-Mediterranean Partnership –held on 5 and 6 November 2007 in Lisbon (Portugal)- reaffirm their commitment to pursue their efforts to realise the Barcelona Declaration objectives: to establish a common area of peace and stability, to create an area of shared prosperity and to develop a partnership in social, cultural and human affairs.
DI - 21/11/2007
The European Defence Agency (EDA) approved this framework for a European Defence Research & Technology strategy (EDRT) strategy on 19 November.
DI - 20/11/2007
The aim of this report –published on November 2007- is to set out the main cultural statistics comparable at European level. Selected tables and graphs describe different areas of the cultural field for the 27 EU Member States, the candidate countries and the EFTA countries.
DI - 12/11/2007
The ninth edition of the Landmine Monitor reports on the global landmine situation and scrutinizes the implementation of and compliance with the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. According to this, many states are not on course to meet their Mine Ban Treaty mine clearance obligations.
DI - 31/10/2007
The fourth Global Environment Outlook: environment for development (GEO-4) warns about the major threats to the planet such as climate change, the rate of extinction of species and the challenge of feeding a growing population. The UNEP’s publication is a comprehensive and authoritative UN report on environment, prepared by about 390 experts. It identifies priorities for action and describes the changes since 1987, 20 years after the WCED produced its seminal report (Our Common Future).
DI - 1/10/2007
This publication of the Statistical Office of the European
Communities contains information on EU-27, EU-25, EU Member States and
Candidate Countries, as well as Iceland and Norway, in the form of time series.
This data is focused on the principal components of the energy balance and the
evolution of the main energy indicators since 2000, and the trends in energy
supply and consumption, by fuel.
DI - 12/2/2007
Chapter by Charles Powell of the book 'Spain Transformed. The Late Franco Dictatorship, 1959-75', edited by Nigel Townson and published in 2007, in which renowned historians specialising in the period analyse different aspects of the social, economic and political life of Spaniards in the later period of the Franco Dictatorship.
The EU ministers responsible for internal security convened in London to discuss counter-terrorism and aviation security with British Home Secretary John Reid and EU Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini. The document emphasises the need for delivery of the existing EU’s strategy to combat terrorism, both at the Union and Member State level
The Department for International Development (DFID) launched its new White Paper on 13 July. The document sets our DFID’s priorities and explains how the department will work with the rest of the UK Government, partner governments, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academics and the private sector to reduce world poverty over the next five years
The document adopted by the leaders of the world's seven richest nations - the US, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy and Canada – and Russia at the St.Petersburg Summit held from 15 to 17 July. Global energy security, development of modern education systems and fight against infectious diseases were the priority themes, as well as globalization, international trade and Africa
The Millennium Development Goals Report is based on a master set of data that has been compiled by an Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators led by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN Secretariat. This year report presents the latest assessment on how far Member States have come, and how far they have to go in reaching the MDGs, in each of the world’s regions
The Euro-African Ministerial Conference on migration and development, proposed initially by Morocco and Spain with an active support of France, ended on 11 July in Rabat after adopting a final declaration and a plan of action advocating a partnership for an optimal management of migratory flows in a spirit of shared responsibility
This report of the Pew Global Attitudes Project on Muslim factor in Europe highlights that Muslims living in Europe worry about their future, but their concern is more economic than religious or cultural. Many say they have had a bad experience as a result of their religion or ethnicity. However, they do not generally believe most Europeans are hostile toward people of their faith
The WESS is a publication of the UN Development Policy and Analysis Division (DPAD), which provides objective analysis of pressing long-term social and economic development issues, and discusses the positive and negative impact of corresponding policies. Diverging growth and development is the theme of 2006 report, which shows that in the industrialized world the income level over the last five decades has grown steadily. This has not occurred in many developing countries, thereby causing a rise in already high world inequality
The recent report of the Pew Global Attitudes Project highlights that most Westerners and Muslims see relations between them as generally bad, after a year marked by riots over cartoon depictions of Muhammad, the 7 July London bombs attacks, and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
The EU-US Summit was held on 21 June in Vienna to discuss foreign policy co-operation, energy security, economy and trade, and other global challenges. This document bring together the Summit declaration and four reports on political and security issues, economic initiative, EU-US regulatory cooperation, and the enforcement of intellectual property rights
The European Council meeting on June 15 and 16, under the Austrian Presidency, was held in Brussels. After the discussion on the European constitution –which has been in political limbo since its rejection last year by French and Dutch voters– leaders ended the "period of reflection" and announced they were entering the "two-track" stage
Turkey and Croatia reached agreement with the European Union on the provisional closure of the first negotiating chapter at the inaugural accession conferences with both candidate countries on 12 June in Luxembourg. In the case of Turkey, even the smallest step towards the EU will spark difficulties unless it complies with its obligations towards Cyprus
The Legal Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has presented this document which shows collusion of the Council of Europe member states with the U.S. clandestine “spider’s web” of disappearances, secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers. The committee said hundreds of persons had become entrapped in this web – in some cases when they were merely suspected of sympathising with a presumed terrorist organisation. (See also Draft Resolution and recommendation)
The AIDS epidemic appears to be slowing down globally, but new infections are continuing to increase in certain regions and countries. The document also highlights the important progress in country AIDS responses, including increases in funding and access to treatment, and decreases in HIV prevalence among young people in some countries over the past five years
The World Bank (WB) GDF 2006 report says net private capital flows to developing countries reached a record high of US$491 billion in 2005, driven by privatizations, mergers and acquisitions, external debt refinancing, as well as strong investor interest in local-currency bond markets in Asia and Latin America. The document also shows that capital flows between developing countries are now growing faster than those between developed and developing countries particularly in FDI
This is an independent report –about the system of delivering aid- carried out by the University of Birmingham on behalf of more than thirty donor and partner countries. The joint evaluation looks at the use and effectiveness of the direct payments, also known as general budget support, by drawing on the experience of seven countries over five years: Burkina Faso, Malawi, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Uganda, and Vietnam
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International LabourOffice (ILO) have jointly produced the first handbook to assist States in their efforts to develop new policy approaches, solutions, and practical measures for better management of labour migration in countries of origin and of destination. It was launched at the 14th OSCE Economic Forum in Prague
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development presented its biannual report on the major trends for the OECD countries economies in 2006 - 2007. The document highlights the higher energy prices and interest rates as factors to cause a modest slowing in US economic growth. Although the Euro area is poised for a more sustained recovery while in Japan household consumption is gathering place, the risks surrounding this scenario have increased as regards current account imbalances, long-term interest rates and house prices, while the inflation and activity outlook could be significantly affected by abrupt changes in oil and commodity prices
This Amnesty International Report -presented on 23 March in London- says that “2005 was defined by hope wrestling against the duplicity, double speak and failed promises of governments”. The document shows that 104 countries out of the 150 countries analysed have tortured or ill-treated people. Guantánamo prison camp, Darfur’s crisis, the “war on terror” and growing human rights deficit in Europe are also highlighted as key factors in 2005
Conclusions of the fourth summit of European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean Heads of State and Government held in Vienna from 11 to 13 May 2006. The document picked up the common positions of both sides in key issues as bi-regional strategic association, democracy and human rights, multilateralism, terrorism, drugs and organised crime, environment, energy, association agreements and trade, growth and employment, fight against poverty, development cooperation, migration, and knowledge sharing
Looking forward to the June European Council, the European Commission sets out an ambitious policy agenda for Europe's citizens, picking up the messages received from Plan D and the national debates during the period of reflection called by Europe's leaders in 2005. Following the negative votes in France and The Netherlands, the debate on Europe showed a gap between the action Europe takes and the public's perception of Europe's role.
The European Commission’s spring economic forecasts put economic growth in 2006 to 2.3% in the EU and to 2.1% in the euro area, up from the up from 1.6% and 1.3% in 2005. The main impulses stem from a robust increase in investment, continued strong world growth and an improved outlook in Germany. In 2007, growth is expected to slow down to 2.2% in the EU and 1.8% in the euro area
The Fund for Peace, an independent research organisation, and FOREIGN POLICY magazine have presented the second annual Failed States Index. Using 12 social, economic, political and military indicators, it ranks 148 states in order of their vulnerability to violent internal conflict and societal dysfunction
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report on human trafficking for sexual exploitation or forced labour. The document shows that people -most of them are women and children- are usually trafficked from poor countries to more affluent ones, and identifies 127 countries of origin, 98 transit countries and 137 destination countries. The report also stresses that global efforts to combat trafficking are being hampered by a lack of accurate data, reflecting the unwillingness of some countries to acknowledge that the problem affects them
This initiative seeks to forge collective political will and to mobilize concerted action at the institutional and civil society levels to overcome the prejudice, misperceptions and polarization that militate against such a consensus. It was launched by the Secretary-General of the United Nations (http://www.unaoc.org/), co-sponsored by the Prime Ministers of Spain (José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero) and Turkey (Tayyip Erdoðan)
The first International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was observed on 4 April to alert the society as to the growing danger of land mines at the same time that is accomplished a United Nations declaration. Launched by the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, this office has also compiled the concrete steps being taken to eliminate the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war and to meet pertinent treaty obligations in the 9th Portfolio of Mine Action Projects
Final statement of the Third International Conference on Early Warning which took place in Bonn, Germany from 27 to 29 March under the auspices of the United Nations. Guided by the slogan "From concept to action", the Conference strongly emphasized the role of local communities in effective early warning. The Conference and its preparations resulted in the following documents: “Compendium of Early Warning Projects” and “Developing Early Warning Systems: A Key Checklist”
The European Council meeting on 23 and 24 March, under the Austrian Presidency, focused on job creation, cutting red tape, investment in skills and scientific research, and energy. Also, “the European Council calls for a Energy Policy for Europe” and "welcomed reports of the President of the Spanish Government on the announcement of a permanent ceasefire made by the terrorist group ETA." The document includes: European Pact for Gender Equality and Declaration on Belarus
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. European institutions -such as Council of Europe’s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), the European Union’s European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC), and the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) - make a joint statement on this occasion
In a study released by the Lisbon Council, OECD education expert Andreas Schleicher says that six years after European Union leaders vowed to create “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world,” spending on education in Europe at all levels (primary, secondary and tertiary) remains well behind Japan and the United States. "If Europe wants to retain its competitive edge at the top of the global-value-added chain, the education system must be made more flexible, more effective and more easily accessible to a wider range of people"
European Commission published on 8 March 2006 a Green Paper on developing a common,coherent European Energy Policy. The Green Paper outlines how a European Energy Policy could meet the three core objectives of energy policy: sustainable development, competitiveness, and security of supply. Also, it invites comments on six specific priority areas, containing over 20 concrete suggestions for possible new action
This report uniquely focuses on this issue of national reporting of sex disaggregated statistics in such areas as demographics, health, education, work, violence against women, poverty, human rights and decision-making. This is the fourth World’s Women report since 1991. The previous three focused on statistical trends in the situation of women. Five years ago, the World’s Women report emphasized that there was a lack of sex disaggregated data and that the improvement of national statistical capacity – the ability to provide timely and reliable statistics – are essential for improving gender statistics
The GEO Year Book 2006 is the third annual survey of the changing global environment produced by the United Nations Environment Programme, in collaboration with many world experts in environmental research and action. The Year Book includes global and regional overviews. It highlights the linkages between environmental well-being, vulnerability and poverty; records recent findings on the value of ecosystem services; and describes new research findings on polar and ocean changes that may prove a turning point in the urgency of our awareness and response to global change
German Chancellor Angela Merkel emerged from talks with President George W. Bush in Washington to say that US-German relations were back on track and that they shared common ground on many issues, including Iran.
There has never been a better time to be optimistic about Europe and enthusiastic about Britain's place in it, Tony Blair told an audience in Oxford. “Despite all the setbacks of recent years, I have no doubt that, in times to come, Europe will be stronger and more integrated. The fact that we have now been enthusiastically joined by countries like Poland, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states, which for more than four decades after Anne Frank wrote her diary suffered under an evil comparable to that of fascism, is inspiring evidence of this forward march of European history.”
With the end of the Cold War, a popular parlor game in foreign ministries, think tanks, and academia has been to develop a theory of international relations that best explains the new international order. Although there is widespread agreement that the United States is the world’s most powerful country in military, economic, and diplomatic terms, and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future, there is little agreement as to how the rest of the world will react to America’s lead. Theory has an even more difficult time explaining the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom (UK), especially its remarkable endurance over the past 6 decades.
Forget the talk, conjecture, and assumptions, the bottom line is that the UK Presidency of the EU has achieved at least some movement on almost eighty percent of its stated pre-Presidency objectives. This is the conclusion of Two Cheers for the UK's EU Presidency, a new report published by Chatham House, which has systematically checked the position of every area of the EU covered by the UK Presidency giving it either a green, amber or red light to indicate progress made.
The final comprehensive proposal from the Presidency on the Financial Perspective 2007-2013, approved on 17 December 2005
In the light of the above, the maximum total figure for expenditure for EU 27 for the period 2007-2013 is €849,303 million in appropriations for commitments, representing 1.03% of EU GNI. All figures are expressed using constant 2004 prices. There will be automatic annual technical adjustments for inflation.
After reaching annual average growth rates above 2% last year, economic activity in the euro area and the EU has been more subdued this year, but is expected to return to potential at the beginning of next year. The main factors behind the outlook include an accommodative macroeconomic policy mix, benign financial conditions, wider profit margins, a weaker nominal effective exchange rate and a robust global environment. Over the forecast horizon, the recovery is underpinned by an acceleration in domestic demand, with a slight stimulus in net terms from the external sector.
What are the priorities for your government in CFSP in 2005? What are the key issues for your country in 2005 (especially with regard to the negative referenda on the Constitutional Treaty in France and the Netherlands; after the recent EU enlargement and on behalf of the perspective of the upcoming accession round(s))? Research paper by Esther Barbé, Member of the Scientific Council of the Elcano Royal Institute, and Laia Mestres
The theme of this pamphlet is global economic change and its impact on Europe; not just on the European Economy –on employment levels and standards of living- but on how European Union now develops. It is often said that in the new world of global economic change no country or continent, whatever its success now, can take its future prosperity for granted: and that not just nations, but continents, will rise and fall depending upon their ability to adapt to global change. This pamphlet central argument is that the policies relevant to this new global Europe will be different from those appropriate to the Europe of the trade bloc era. But, just as Europe successfully met the challenges of building a post-war prosperity from the ruins and devastation of war, we believe Europe can now develop the policies necessary for prosperity in the new global era.
The EU’s enlargement to the East has been an economic success. Trade between the old and the new members is thriving. Foreign investment by West European companies has helped to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in Central and Eastern Europe, and it has generated multi-billion euro profits for the investing companies. Workers from Poland, Hungary and elsewhere have plugged skill gaps in those EU countries that have opened their labour markets. Money from the EU budget is flowing into the East’s poorest areas. Even East European farmers – previously the region’s most ardent eurosceptics – are much happier now that they can sell their goods to the whole EU, and have at least some access to EU farm subsidies.
Politically, however, the EU has not digested the accession of the ten new members.
In his analysis of the informal EU summit at Hampton Court Palace, the European Policy Center’s Political Director John Palmer says the Union’s leaders faced a complex set of intertwined issues - ranging from globalisation and economic reform, to trying to agree on a new seven-year budget and how to find the money to boost Europe’s flagging innovation, research and development - every bit as daunting as the ancient palace maze. At the end of the day, they seemed to have moved closer to the exit but were still clearly capable of getting badly lost again.
Bulgaria continues to meet the political criteria. However, despite progress a number of shortcomings still exist. Enhanced efforts are needed to improve the functioning of the justice system, particularly as regards the pre-trial phase. Bulgaria needs to reduce the backlogs at courts and combat organised crime and corruption. Human rights and the protection of minorities, child welfare, the situation of people with mental disabilities and the integration of the Roma minority need to be improved. Romania continues to meet the political criteria. The country has taken decisive steps to further reform the judiciary system towards more independence and to improve the situation on media freedom, property restitution, minorities and child protection. However, significant efforts are needed to pursue the reform of public administration, effectively implement the reform of the justice system and intensify the fight against corruption, including at high level. As regards human rights and the protection of minorities, further efforts are needed in particular to improve the situation of disabled and mentally ill people.
The Council approved a framework for negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the EU, as mandated by the European Council last December, thus enabling the negotiations to begin immediately after the meeting. It also gave the go-ahead to accession negotiations with Croatia, on the basis of a positive assessment of Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, enabling the negotiations to begin immediately after the meeting.
Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern have released a joint statement welcoming the IRA’s announcement to end its armed campaign. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the Good Friday Agreement. They said: “The two Governments are commited to its full implementation. It is our intention to work closely in partnership to grasp this opportunity to inject renewed momentum into the process”.
"The leadership of Oglaigh nah Eireann has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon. All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms. All Volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever…."
This Standard Eurobarometer was carried out between 9 May and 14 June 2005 in a European context that was both eventful and tense. Although the results of the various ratification processes, either through parliament or via a referendum, have varied from one country to another, this Eurobarometer, in line with the post French and Dutch referenda studies, shows that European citizens are today more critical in their analysis of the European Union, without however calling into question either their membership of the European Union or European construction itself. Nevertheless, certain indicators reveal significant changes since the last Eurobarometer survey (autumn 2004) and highlight just how necessary it is to bring European citizens and the European institutions closer together.
The Council adopted a Declaration condemning the terrorist attacks on London: “The Council of the European Union condemns the terrorist attacks on London. Considers that the attacks are an affront to universal values on which the European Union is based.”
Map and Chronology of London Bombs
EU Action Plan against Terrorism on the recommendation to the European Council and to the Council on the EU anti-terrorism Action Plan
"We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks. We send our profound condolences to the victims and their families. All of our countries have suffered from the impact of terrorism. Those responsible have no respect for human life. We are united in our resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism that is not an attack on one nation, but on all nations and on civilised people everywhere."
"It is important that those engaged in terrorism realise that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism on the world."
A London morning that began tinged with joy and incredulity at victory in securing the Olympic Games was plunged into horrified disbelief as explosives tore through the underground arteries of the city, bringing death and dismay where, a few hours earlier, there had been celebration.
The United Kingdom assumed the Presidency of the Council on 1 July 2005. The main priorities for the UK Presidency are set out below. These reflect the issues identified in the cross-Presidency Multiannual Strategic Programme for 2004-06, published in December 2003, and the Luxembourg-UK work programme published in December 2004. The list which follows is by no means a comprehensive account of all the Presidency work – there are many other dossiers and issues on which we will seek to make progress.
“People in Europe are posing hard questions to us. They worry about globalisation, job security, about pensions and living standards. They see not just their economy but their society changing around them. Traditional communities are broken up, ethnic patterns change, family life is under strain as families struggle to balance work and home.” “It is time to give ourselves a reality check. To receive the wake-up call. The people are blowing the trumpets round the city walls. Are we listening? Have we the political will to go out and meet them so that they regard our leadership as part of the solution not the problem?”
Presidency Conclusions of the Brussels European Council (16 and 17 June 2005). "The European Council regretted that it was not possible to reach an overall agreement on the Financial Perspective at this stage. It underlined the need for clarity over the resources available to the Union in support of common policies over the future financing period, and undertook to continue to make every effort to achieve this objective. It noted that the preparatory work undertaken collectively has allowed work on this issue to advance significantly. It agreed that the focus and momentum given to the discussions through the negotiating box drawn up at the initiative of the Presidency need in particular to be maintained."
The EU and China have agreed a deal that will manage the growth of Chinese textile imports to the EU until 2008. The agreement on 10 product categories of concern limits the rate of imports while allowing fair and reasonable growth for Chinese exports. By finding a wide and balanced agreement, the EU and China ensure a period of adjustment textile industries in the EU and developing countries, provide greater predictability for importers and retailers, and preserve the prize of market liberalisation for China.
The CGD/Foreign Policy Commitment to Development Index ranks 21 of the worlds' richest countries based on how much their policies help or hinder development in poorer nations. The index examines seven policy categories: foreign aid, investment, openness to immigration, responsible environmental practices, contributions to internationally approved security operations, support for technology development, and openness to international trade. Spain has dropped from number 6 in 2003 to number 20 in 2004.
The proposal includes: “That a European unit responsible for policies designed to assist the victims of terrorism be created under the direct authority and responsibility of the European Anti-Terrorism Coordinator. This unit will be a reference point for European policy in this field and its purpose will be to take in, listen to, inform and assist victims and to promote implementation of the measures which are necessary if it is to operate successfully.”
Speech by Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, at the “Forum économique international des Amériques” Conférence de Montréal, Montreal.
“What we need now is clearly a plan D, for more Democracy”. Margot Wällstrom, EU Commissioner’s plan D would be for democracy. Speaking later at an extraordinary meeting of the constitutional affairs committee in the European Parliament, the Swede said Plan D would mean being "better at listening ... and better at explaining to citizens".
The proposed European Constitution, which was just voted down in France and the Netherlands, is technically a treaty containing far-reaching amendments to the present set of treaties governing the European Union. Article 48 of the EU treaty text currently in force specifies that any such amendments first be unanimously approved by the governments of the member states within an Inter-Governmental Conference framework and then ratified by each country. The first, intergovernmental step of ratification was completed October 29, 2004. What has run aground now with the French and Dutch referenda is the second step—required, unanimous ratification by European member states. The likely halt to efforts to ratify the current document will force a reconsideration of the European Union’s legal alternatives for governance.
Joint Declaration of President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell Fontelles, President of the European Council Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso on the results of the French Referendum on the European Constitutional Treaty
The EU budget invariably leads to heated debate and tough negotiations, yet the amounts concerned represent only a very small proportion of aggregate public spending in the EU (some 2.5 per cent) and barely 1per cent of gross national income (GNI). The current aim is to try to reach an agreement in the last month of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU, June 2005, on a new Financial Perspective (FP), the medium-term budgetary framework, for the period 2007-13. Although the Commission proposals are presented with new headings and an apparent emphasis on growth, the detail reveals that EU spending will continue to be dominated by the CAP and cohesion policies, which would still account for some three-fifths by the end of the FP. (London School of Economics)
Perhaps amidst the plethora of articles pouring out in the press and on websites on the implications of a French 'no' to the EU constitution on May 29, it is helpful to pause and first briefly ask, what if the French vote 'yes'? The outpouring of dire warnings around the implications of a 'no' vote, mean that if in fact a 'yes' vote is produced it almost risks being undervalued as a result, treated as an aberration relative to the opinion polls, as the EU somehow squeezing through against the odds. But in fact if the French vote 'yes' and – another uncertain if – if the Dutch too then vote 'yes' a few days later, this would in fact represent unstoppable forward momentum on the constitution and genuine democratic support for the EU overall.
At the end of February 2005, nearly twenty years after their accession to the then European Community, Spain and Portugal have once again given a clear signal of their identification with the European Union (EU): in Spain the first national referendum on the ratification of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE) ended in a positive result with 76.7 % in favour; albeit that the low turnout clearly indicates the limits of this enthusiasm. In Portugal, a new government with a stable majority was elected. Primer Minister José Sócrates is keen to take on a central role in the process of European integration. A decisive factor in the future success of their efforts will be the question of whether Spain and Portugal are ready –beyond their shared interest in maintaining the inflow of money from the Structural and Cohesion Funds- to take on the political costs arising from their newly sworn European identity
The EU is facing unprecedented demographic changes that will have a major impact on the whole of society. Figures in the Green Paper on Demographic Change launched by the Commission show that from now until 2030 the EU will lack 20.8 million (6.8 per cent) people of working age. In 2030 roughly two active people (15-65) will have to take care of one inactive person (65+). And Europe will have 18 million children and young people fewer than today.
Presidency Conclusions of the Brussels European Council (16 and 17 June 2005). "The European Council regretted that it was not possible to reach an overall agreement on the Financial Perspective at this stage. It underlined the need for clarity over the resources available to the Union in support of common policies over the future financing period, and undertook to continue to make every effort to achieve this objective. It noted that the preparatory work undertaken collectively has allowed work on this issue to advance significantly. It agreed that the focus and momentum given to the discussions through the negotiating box drawn up at the initiative of the Presidency need in particular to be maintained."
This document sets out the political vision expressed and supported by the participants at the London Meeting, the Palestinian Authority’s own plans for institutional renewal, and a set of clear commitments by the international community in support of the PA’s programme.
The EU Heads of State and Government agreed a new Constitutional Treaty for the EU at the European Council meeting in Brussels in June 2004. The Treaty was signed in Rome on 29 October 2004 and the ratification process is now under way. Some states have opted to ratify the Constitution through their respective parliaments while others have already pledged to hold a referendum. This briefing paper looks at those countries which will be holding referendums. It examines the legal procedure on the holding and overseeing of referendums in each of these countries with a specific focus on the UK, as well as predicting when the referendums are most likely to be held. We have also charted a likely chain of events leading to each referendum and the order in which they will probably be held. As an introduction we have provided a background discussion of the European Convention on the Constitution.
The overall performance of the Spanish economy has been distinctly positive: output growth and employment creation have been brisk, enterprises and banks have strengthened their balance sheets, and the fiscal accounts are in good health. A key feature of this performance is the shared recognition—across party lines and through society—of the benefits of fiscal stability, wage moderation, and growth-enhancing structural reforms, and the pursuit of policies consistent with these goals. The new government thus faces a propitious environment to pursue its announced priorities: fiscal stability, transparency, and productivity enhancement. We support these priorities and look forward to their expression in concrete measures to deal with both immediate and longer-term challenges (IMF Country Report, February 2005)
This Eurobarometer commissioned by the European Commission and carried out in the 25 Member States of the Union by TNS Opinion & Social tackles this theme, focusing more specifically on: the levels of real knowledge of the draft Constitution; the support or the opposition it attracts;
the probability that citizens will turn out to vote where a referendum is proposed to ratify the Constitutional treaty in their country; the level of trust felt by EU citizens regarding sources of information about the draft
Constitution; and finally, the priority areas in which respondents would wish to use the 'citizen's right of initiative’
This Working Paper is based on the results of a survey conducted among national experts associated with the European Policy Institutes Network (EPIN) within the framework of the Ratification Monitor project. The report draws on survey data collected in 20 EU member states, supplemented by additional sources of information on the remaining countries where available. The added value of this EPIN survey lies in its broad comparative scope and analysis rather than its offering an in-depth assessment of each national debate about the process of the Ratification of the European Constitution. The Spanish Contribution to this report is available on the Elcano Royal Institute web.
Speech by Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. "While we have made significant progress in the last few years, it is also true that EU Foreign Policy remains a work in progress"
This report examines the European Union's multilateral engagement with the Arab world in the area of democracy promotion
In the debate about Turkish EU membership and free movement of labour it is often overlooked that the EU cannot exercise a zero migration policy even if permanent safeguards were used. Even under the currently prevailing strict regime, there is an annual net migration from Turkey to the EU-15 in the order of 35,000 people. Any slowdown or suspension in Turkey’s accession process is likely to lead lower growth and higher unemployment in Turkey.
A report on Turkey, to be featured in Freedom House's forthcoming "Countries at the Crossroads 2005" survey, finds that genuine democratic progress has taken place as a result of a recent wave of constitutional and legal reforms. The report also highlights remaining deficiencies, especially in civil liberties, corruption, transparency, judicial reform, and media freedom, and recommends ways to improve these areas
This first EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard was produced as part of the research investment Action Plan (“Investing in research: an action plan for Europe”), which aims to raise the level of R&D investment in the EU to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), as fixed by the Barcelona European Council in 2002. The Scoreboard lists the research investments of the top 500 EU and top 500 non-EU corporate R&D investors
For the better part of the past 50 years, each successive U.S. Administration has eventually come to the same conclusion about America’s relations with Europe. Every effort at closer European integration is to be welcomed tepidly, as it is assumed that a prosperous Europe would prove more pro-free market, more pro-Atlanticist, and more pro-American. However, in the wake of the transatlantic divide over the Iraq war and the public diplomacy calamity that has followed, such a simplistic analysis does not explain the schism at the heart of the post–Cold War transatlantic relationship
At the June 2004 European Council Meeting, the governments of the 25 EU member states signed a constitutional treaty for the European Union. This treaty had been two years in the making; it was drafted by an unprecedented "Convention on the future of Europe" intended to allow input from voices not usually heard in the European Integration process including national parliamentarians and civil society actors. From there, the draft was subject to a nearly year-long negotiation by the member state governments that after fierce bargaining, eventually produced a treaty. But the process is not over; rather it has entered its final and perhaps most difficult phase. The text must be ratified unanimously by the member states, each according to its own national process. There is a real risk that the process may fail
Since last fall, a worrying new front has emergend in the still tense relationship between the United States and Europe. The front lies not in the Middle East, but in China. The idea that the EU leaders might lift their arms embargo on China in December is a deep source of concern, not only for US Policy makers, but also for many of their European counterparts
A new Working Paper published by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) with contributions by Didier Bigo, Jeremy Shapiro and Andrei Fedorov
Lecture by José María Aznar, former Spanish Prime Minister; Georgetown University, 21/9/2004
After the intense debates and disagreements of the past three years, the transatlantic community is divided. While Americans and Europeans have similar threat perceptions, they differ markedly on how best to deal with these threats and under what aegis. One result of this division is that many Europeans, while wanting to cooperate with the United States, also want to play a more independent role in the world. By contrast, Americans seek a closer partnership with a strong European Union even if it would not always agree with US perceptions or prescriptions
