Polityka Insight has published a research report (April 2017) claiming that the EU is applying its competition directives unfairly in support of older member states, to the detriment of more recent members. The report opens with a summary of its key points, which need no comment from us, other than that the report confirms the … More A level playing field?
Benoît Hamon is the Socialist Party’s candidate in the approaching French presidential election. Poll results do not give him much of a chance of reaching the deciding vote but he has some interesting views on the EU which we think are worth sharing, and commenting on. Hamon is also a member of the Party of … More A Socialist Alternative
The European Parliament is unlovely and unloved, except by itself. It appears to exist as an attempt to cover the absence of any real democracy in the EU. It makes a lot of noise and smoke but achieves little of note. Such influence as it does exert probably acts as a reminder to the other … More Parliament Pontificates
In 1925, at the same time that Jean Monnet was developing his ideas for a federal European state, Le Corbusier was trying to persuade first Moscow and then Paris to adopt his Plan Voisin, which involved flattening the city centres and replacing them with a Modernist grid layout of tower blocks and wide open spaces. … More Plan v. People
The Rock and a Hard Pace The comment in the Divorce Guidelines has produced the expected response from the British government and others: “After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and … More Shorties-8
Some recommendations on how the UK Government should deal with its commitments to the EU after Brexit. Brexit-supporting organisation http://www.theunituk.org.uk has an article by Robert Henderson recommending that the UK should simply walk away from its EU commitments, adopt WTO status and immediately start negotiations on trade agreements with non-EU countries, as well as with … More Law or Order?
The European Council has produced its Draft guidelines following the United Kingdom’s notification under Article 50 TEU (Treaty of the European Union). They take the predicted hard line, as we examine below. Although dated 31/03/2017 and leaked on 1st April, there is little inside to amuse us. These are draft guidelines but we should not … More Divorce Guidelines
The Party of European Socialists has issued its own predictably fluffy demand for change without change, which will no doubt bring some more comfort to J-C and his conservatives. Here are some samples of what people who wish to think seriously about the future of the EU are up against: “Sixty years ago, the people … More Dreaming of Eutopia
We posted our review of the Declaration on 26 March (see The Rome Declaration) but for balance we give here a summary of the view of EU Observer, reported on 28 March, as they are reliably pro-EU while sharing some of our reservations and offering an intelligent alternative perspective. “With the ceremonial signing of the … More Rome Declaration – an alternative view
Michel Barnier, who if nothing changes will be the “Chief Negotiator for the Preparation and Conduct of the Negotiations with the United Kingdom”, gave a speech on 22 March to the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions. In this post we comment on excerpts from his speech, selecting items that give clues … More Barney or Blarney?
This EU Won't Work 