BBC’s election coverage

BBC World News on the radio just told us that tough choices are made when people are heading to the polls … in Lebanon (population 4 million).

Nothing in the headline news about 19 European countries, with something in the region of 300 milion potential voters, voting today.

Well, about 12 pas the hour, in the World Today programme I heard two questions. One on the unfolding story about UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, where the words ‘European elections’ were mentioned in passing as a part of his troubles, and one about “Europe in general”, answered in about five seconds.

Great coverage for half an hour of listening. Is this the Auntie accused of having a crush on Europe?


Ralf Grahn

European elections: Ceterum censeo

With a piffling 19 EU member states to vote today, the BBC has – in an act of rare courage – allowed Mark Mardell to re-post his allusions about the sack of Carthage: Invasion relived (6 June 2009).



“Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam”. The words of Cato the Elder must still hit a raw nerve in the former Empire.

Moreover, I think that the European Union has to be destroyed, is as tenaciously proclaimed by many in Great Britain today.

There have always been people who see only zero sum games.


Ralf Grahn

BBC’s free movement of EU labour map

The question of intra-EU free movement of persons is important for millions of EU citizens, especially those from the new member states.

The BBC offers a first aid kit for those who need information on existing restrictions. The public service broadcaster presents the matters in a readable fashion in its EU free movement of labour map (latest update 28 July 2008).


Read and enjoy before you buy your ticket.


Ralf Grahn

Russia and Ukraine: Pacta sunt servanda?

Yesterday evening the Czech Presidency of the EU Council was still expressing its disappointment at the failure of Russia and Ukraine to reach a deal on the supply and transit of gas to EU member states:

http://www.eu2009.cz/en/news-and-documents/news/czech-presidency-urges-russia-and-ukraine-to-continue-negotiations-6545/

The negotiations resumed later in the evening, and in the wee hours of Sunday morning the BBC reported: Gas to flow after deal in Moscow. The report is available here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7834796.stm

The BBC quotes the Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko saying that the Russian energy company Gazprom and its Ukrainian counterpart Naftohaz have been instructed to draw up the relevant contracts by Monday. After the documents on the transit and purchase of gas have been signed, the routes for gas transit and gas supplies to Europe will be restored.

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Pacta sunt servanda?

In the best case, even if a deal has been reached, EU citizens still have to wait before the heating turns on.

In the worst case, this is just the latest ‘agreement’ between Russia and Ukraine to unravel before it is signed and long before it is put into practice. Neither the supply monopoly nor the transit monopoly has won any points on credibility, lately.


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The supplier’s strong arm tactics and the evasions of an essentially bankrupt transit country have exposed the vulnerability of EU consumers to whims beyond the control of their individual governments and the existing powers of the European Union.

The Lisbon Treaty would enhance the powers of the European Union in the energy area to a degree, but first the treaty has to be ratified.

Are Lech Kaczynski, Vaclav Klaus and Mirek Topolanek listening? Do the Irish understand the interests at stake, for Europe and for themselves?


Ralf Grahn