Previous round-up of my blog entries was published in Part One, with articles posted 25 and 26 March 2011.
The blog posts appear on four blogs and in three languages: on Grahnlaw (EN), Grahnblawg (SV), Eurooppaoikeus (FI) and Grahnlaw Suomi Finland (EN, FI, SV).
Part Two takes us from 27 to 29 March 2011.
European Council practices and in Euroblogs
After the previous batch followed a Swedish rhapsody, although most documents referenced can be found in other languages, blog posts by others are in the original language and there is always the fall-back option to use Google translation.
Observations about the lack of transparency were followed by a peek at translation issues and the available materials, followed by three round-ups of Euroblog posts in different languages about the European Council issues with regard to economic policies.
Grahnblawg (in Swedish): Europeiska rådets slutsatser: Konsensus och ogenomskinlighet (27 March 2011)
Grahnblawg (in Swedish): Europeiska rådet: Status och slutsatser på 23 språk (27 March 2011)
Grahnlaw Suomi Finland (in Swedish): Europeiska rådet om ekonomin i Europabloggar I (28 March 2011)
Grahnlaw Suomi Finland (in Swedish): Europeiska rådet om ekonomin i Europabloggar II (28 March 2011)
Grahnlaw Suomi Finland (in Swedish): Europeiska rådet om ekonomin i Europabloggar III (28 March 2011)
Euro Plus Pact
We looked at media reports and reactions to the 24 and 25 March 2011 European Council adoption of the Euro Plus Pact, which joins the 17 eurozone countries with Bulgaria, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania, leaving only the Czech Republic, Hungary, Sweden and the United Kingdom outside.
Grahnlaw: Euro Plus Pact in the media I (29 March 2011)
Grahnlaw: Euro Plus Pact in the media II (29 March 2011)
Ralf Grahn
P.S. The European Tribune offers both a daily review of international media and a community which discusses interesting topics concerning the EU, economics, finance etc. Lurk or join.
Showing posts with label European Tribune. Show all posts
Showing posts with label European Tribune. Show all posts
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Tony Blair new ”EU President”?
Because the Independent has relaunched Tony Blair’s candidacy for the post of President of the European Council, Re:Europa discusses the Properties of a President and concludes that a British President (Tony Blair) is out of the question, if Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy are serious about regulating financial markets.
There is more discussion on the Independent’s campaign on the European Tribune.
***
Principled approach
In my view, three aspects need to be discussed before we turn to Tony Blair or any other candidate for the new post.
President of what?
The Treaty of Lisbon, if it enters into force, does not create a “President of the EU”. It does create the job of a President of the European Council, for someone to chair four annual meetings and to facilitate progress in between. International representative duties are not to be conducted at the expense of the High Representative.
Despite the limitations, the post is too important to be left solely to our national leaders.
Track record
When electing the person, thought should be given to the contribution by the country of origin and the personal role of the candidate.
The evolving core areas of EU action are crucial.
1) A European Union speaking with one voice in the world. Moves to achieve a coherent and consistent European common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and common security and defence policy (CSDP), away from solo flying by individual member states (including the UN Security Council, international orgnisations and relations with the USA). A proven commitment to a common European defence, in alliance with NATO.
2) The Schengen agreement abolishing border controls between the member states.
3) Adoption or at least the clear commitment to adopt the common currency (euro).
4) Justice and home affairs: Full participation in the area of freedom, security and justice.
5) The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
6) Institutional reform: A driving force during the European Convention, the intergovernmental conference leading to the 2004 Constitutional Treaty and the IGC 2007 leading to the Treaty of Lisbon.
Future reform
Even if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, the European Union will continue to be a “hobbled giant”. Effective action and democratic legitimacy require further institutional reform.
The candidates have to prove not only their credentials, but their visions to the EU citizens they are willing to serve.
Election procedure
The European Council needs to arrange the election procedures in an open and transparent manner, inviting public discussion and campaigning.
Deals behind closed doors are possible only if the members of the European Council feel that EU citizens are not alienated enough from their project.
Candidate Blair
I invite readers to analyse the past actions of the United Kingdom and its long serving prime minister Tony Blair.
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Ponder criteria and candidates from an EU perspective. It is unfair to blame Blair for not achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, when the God of three religions has failed.
There is more discussion on the Independent’s campaign on the European Tribune.
***
Principled approach
In my view, three aspects need to be discussed before we turn to Tony Blair or any other candidate for the new post.
President of what?
The Treaty of Lisbon, if it enters into force, does not create a “President of the EU”. It does create the job of a President of the European Council, for someone to chair four annual meetings and to facilitate progress in between. International representative duties are not to be conducted at the expense of the High Representative.
Despite the limitations, the post is too important to be left solely to our national leaders.
Track record
When electing the person, thought should be given to the contribution by the country of origin and the personal role of the candidate.
The evolving core areas of EU action are crucial.
1) A European Union speaking with one voice in the world. Moves to achieve a coherent and consistent European common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and common security and defence policy (CSDP), away from solo flying by individual member states (including the UN Security Council, international orgnisations and relations with the USA). A proven commitment to a common European defence, in alliance with NATO.
2) The Schengen agreement abolishing border controls between the member states.
3) Adoption or at least the clear commitment to adopt the common currency (euro).
4) Justice and home affairs: Full participation in the area of freedom, security and justice.
5) The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
6) Institutional reform: A driving force during the European Convention, the intergovernmental conference leading to the 2004 Constitutional Treaty and the IGC 2007 leading to the Treaty of Lisbon.
Future reform
Even if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force, the European Union will continue to be a “hobbled giant”. Effective action and democratic legitimacy require further institutional reform.
The candidates have to prove not only their credentials, but their visions to the EU citizens they are willing to serve.
Election procedure
The European Council needs to arrange the election procedures in an open and transparent manner, inviting public discussion and campaigning.
Deals behind closed doors are possible only if the members of the European Council feel that EU citizens are not alienated enough from their project.
Candidate Blair
I invite readers to analyse the past actions of the United Kingdom and its long serving prime minister Tony Blair.
Ralf Grahn
P.S. Ponder criteria and candidates from an EU perspective. It is unfair to blame Blair for not achieving lasting peace in the Middle East, when the God of three religions has failed.
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