One of the most prolific Eurobloggers, Erkan Saka, has survived his military service and is back, with a new design for Erkan’s Field Diary, an excellent source on Turkish, European and world affairs.
Erkan belongs to the category of “must follow” bloggers.
Ralf Grahn
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Turkey. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Kouchner drops support for Turkey
The French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner has dropped his support for Turkish membership in the European Union. He cites the Turkish government’s pressure tactics at the NATO summit and its move away from the secular reform path.
La Turquie dans l'UE? Kouchner n'y est plus favorable, reports Libération (7 April 2009).
Le Mexique 51e État des États-Unis d’Amérique ? was Jean Quatremer’s illustration of European quid pro quo on the Coulisses de Bruxelles blog (evening 6 April 2009), with Angela Merkel fictionally supporting Mexico’s membership as the 51st state of the USA.
***
We have been engaged with the same themes on this blog in previous posts.
Turkey ending its EU membership bid? (4 April 2009)
Turkey and Mexico: Join the Union! (morning 6 April 2009)
USA: Adopt Turkey and Mexico (7 April 2009)
***
President Obama endorsed Turkish EU membership, but did he promote it?
Ralf Grahn
La Turquie dans l'UE? Kouchner n'y est plus favorable, reports Libération (7 April 2009).
Le Mexique 51e État des États-Unis d’Amérique ? was Jean Quatremer’s illustration of European quid pro quo on the Coulisses de Bruxelles blog (evening 6 April 2009), with Angela Merkel fictionally supporting Mexico’s membership as the 51st state of the USA.
***
We have been engaged with the same themes on this blog in previous posts.
Turkey ending its EU membership bid? (4 April 2009)
Turkey and Mexico: Join the Union! (morning 6 April 2009)
USA: Adopt Turkey and Mexico (7 April 2009)
***
President Obama endorsed Turkish EU membership, but did he promote it?
Ralf Grahn
USA: Adopt Turkey and Mexico
Eurocentric of The European Citizen wrote a post called America, the 28th Member State? on President Obama’s support for Turkish membership in the European Union.
Eurocentric reacted to Turkish EU membership being spoken of as a US foreign policy tool and as a “feel good” gesture of reaching out to a country, without taking the obligations of membership into account. American media treatment of the question lacked comprehension of how the European Union works.
***
I have long ago given up hope with regard to US governments and public opinion.
The only new thing about Obama's invitation was that it was made by him, because all the American administrations I can remember have supported Turkey's entry into the European Union for reasons of US geostrategic interests.
It is hard to find even a flimsy pretext for Turkish entry being in the interest of the European Union.
Having been brought up to think that it is bad form to invite guests to your neighbour's party, I think the only way to make Americans realise the challenges is by reversing the situation:
This was the reason for yesterday’s post: Let the United States adopt Turkey and Mexico, with loud and clear endorsement from Europe.
To continue on this path, the US has clear advantages.
It is hard to enter the European Union. The accession treaty has to be concluded with all the member states (27), so each one has a veto. In addition, each one has to ratify the treaty allowing in a new member. Finally, constitutionally the European Union is not equipped even for its existing membership. It is neither effective enough nor democratic.
Compare this with the United States, which has a democratic Constitution of more than 200 years. Only two requirements regulate the acceptance of new states.
According to Article IV, Section 4, the United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government.
Article IV, Section 3, allows Congress to admit new States into the Union.
Piece of cake, compared to Europe.
***
In other words, if the United States of America wants to reach out and to serve its geopolitical interests, let it invite Turkey and Mexico as the 51st and 52nd states.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Outreach between religions should resonate well in the United States and Turkey. Both are formally secular countries, but imbued by religion, and as such culturally compatible way beyond the potential of the European Union.
***
My challenge to readers is to argue for or against the United States adopting Turkey and Mexico as new states.
Ralf Grahn
Eurocentric reacted to Turkish EU membership being spoken of as a US foreign policy tool and as a “feel good” gesture of reaching out to a country, without taking the obligations of membership into account. American media treatment of the question lacked comprehension of how the European Union works.
***
I have long ago given up hope with regard to US governments and public opinion.
The only new thing about Obama's invitation was that it was made by him, because all the American administrations I can remember have supported Turkey's entry into the European Union for reasons of US geostrategic interests.
It is hard to find even a flimsy pretext for Turkish entry being in the interest of the European Union.
Having been brought up to think that it is bad form to invite guests to your neighbour's party, I think the only way to make Americans realise the challenges is by reversing the situation:
This was the reason for yesterday’s post: Let the United States adopt Turkey and Mexico, with loud and clear endorsement from Europe.
To continue on this path, the US has clear advantages.
It is hard to enter the European Union. The accession treaty has to be concluded with all the member states (27), so each one has a veto. In addition, each one has to ratify the treaty allowing in a new member. Finally, constitutionally the European Union is not equipped even for its existing membership. It is neither effective enough nor democratic.
Compare this with the United States, which has a democratic Constitution of more than 200 years. Only two requirements regulate the acceptance of new states.
According to Article IV, Section 4, the United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government.
Article IV, Section 3, allows Congress to admit new States into the Union.
Piece of cake, compared to Europe.
***
In other words, if the United States of America wants to reach out and to serve its geopolitical interests, let it invite Turkey and Mexico as the 51st and 52nd states.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Outreach between religions should resonate well in the United States and Turkey. Both are formally secular countries, but imbued by religion, and as such culturally compatible way beyond the potential of the European Union.
***
My challenge to readers is to argue for or against the United States adopting Turkey and Mexico as new states.
Ralf Grahn
Monday, 6 April 2009
Turkey and Mexico: Join the Union!
Why do Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy act so curmudgeonly about president Barack Obama’s strong support for Turkish membership in the European Union? Why not come up with innovative ideas of their own?
The best way to anchor Turkey firmly as a Western nation (and to serve American geostrategic interests) would be to accept it as a part of the Union.
Throw in Mexico for good measure. No more illegal immigration once the border is eliminated.
Why should the European Union have a monopoly on peaceful expansion, having grown from six to 27 since 1973? At the same time the USA has stagnated. The time has come for the United States of America to act responsibly by inviting two new states in need of anchoring. Adding two states to fifty shouldn’t be much of a challenge.
Send out the invitations from Europe, if the US government is too timid.
Ralf Grahn
The best way to anchor Turkey firmly as a Western nation (and to serve American geostrategic interests) would be to accept it as a part of the Union.
Throw in Mexico for good measure. No more illegal immigration once the border is eliminated.
Why should the European Union have a monopoly on peaceful expansion, having grown from six to 27 since 1973? At the same time the USA has stagnated. The time has come for the United States of America to act responsibly by inviting two new states in need of anchoring. Adding two states to fifty shouldn’t be much of a challenge.
Send out the invitations from Europe, if the US government is too timid.
Ralf Grahn
Saturday, 4 April 2009
Turkey ending its EU membership bid?
Is Turkey going to end its bid for accession to the European Union?
This is the way it looks after the opening of the NATO summit, where Turkey seems to have vetoed the candidacy of Danish premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen to become the next Secretary General.
The Turkish reforms were already down to snail’s pace, so perhaps Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has just decided to drive the last nail into the coffin of his country’s EU aspirations, without having to withdraw the bid formally.
Ralf Grahn
This is the way it looks after the opening of the NATO summit, where Turkey seems to have vetoed the candidacy of Danish premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen to become the next Secretary General.
The Turkish reforms were already down to snail’s pace, so perhaps Turkey’s prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has just decided to drive the last nail into the coffin of his country’s EU aspirations, without having to withdraw the bid formally.
Ralf Grahn
Monday, 4 February 2008
EU Treaty of Lisbon: New members
The intergovernmental conference (IGC 2007) was mandated to do the following (IGC 2007 Mandate, Council document 11218/07, point 16):
“In Article 49, on conditions of eligibility and the procedure for accession to the Union, the reference to the principles will be replaced by a reference to the Union’s values and the addition of a commitment to promoting such values, an obligation to notify the European Parliament and national parliaments of an application for accession to the Union and a reference to take into account the conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council (see Annex 1, Title VI).”
Annex 1 to the Mandate is called Amendments to the EU Treaty, and under Title VI – Final provisions, point 9), it clarified:
“In Article 49, first subparagraph, insertion of a new last sentence, the second subparagraph remaining unchanged:
Article 49
Conditions of eligibility and procedure for accession to the Union
Any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union. The European Parliament and national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The applicant State shall address its application to the Council, which shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after receiving the assent of the European Parliament, which shall act by an absolute majority of its component members. The conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council shall be taken into account.”
***
Not much room for creativity there, but we check what the IGC 2007 agreed on (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/39), in addition to its reader-unfriendly proclivity:
57) The first paragraph of Article 49 shall be amended as follows:
(a) in the first sentence, the words ‘which respects the principles set out in Article 6(1) may
apply’ shall be replaced by ‘which respects the values referred to in Article 1a and is
committed to promoting them may apply’;
(b) in the second sentence, the words ‘It shall address its application to the Council, which
shall act unanimously’ shall be replaced by ‘The European Parliament and national
Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The applicant State shall address its
application to the Council, which shall act unanimously’; the word ‘assent’ shall be
replaced by ‘consent’ and the words ‘an absolute majority’ shall be replaced by ‘a majority’;
(c) the following sentence shall be added at the end of the paragraph: ‘The conditions of
eligibility agreed upon by the European Council shall be taken into account.’.
***
The amended and consolidated Article 49 TEU has to be constructed, starting from the current Article 49 (latest consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community in OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/34 and 35):
Article 49
Any European State which respects the principles set out in Article 6(1) may apply to become
a member of the Union. It shall address its application to the Council, which shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after receiving the assent of the European Parliament, which shall act by an absolute majority of its component members.
The conditions of admission and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the Union is founded,
which such admission entails, shall be the subject of an agreement between the Member States and the applicant State. This agreement shall be submitted for ratification by all the contracting States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.
***
Having inserted the IGC’s amendments we end up with the following consolidated Lisbon Treaty version of Article 49 TEU:
Article 49
Any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 1a and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union. The European Parliament and national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The applicant State shall address its application to the Council, which shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after receiving the consent of the European Parliament, which shall act by a majority of its component members. The conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council shall be taken into account.
The conditions of admission and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the Union is founded,
which such admission entails, shall be the subject of an agreement between the Member States and the applicant State. This agreement shall be submitted for ratification by all the contracting States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.
***
The pedantically inclined may have noticed a slight change of terminology compared to the IGC 2007 Mandate (and the present Article 49): EP ‘consent’ has replaced ‘assent’ and a ‘majority’ has taken the place of an ‘absolute majority’.
Otherwise the Heads of State or Government seem to have been true to their word, from start to finish.
***
What did the European Convention have to say on membership in the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe?
We go to Article I-57, under Title IX Union membership (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/21):
Article 57
Conditions of eligibility and procedure for accession to
the Union
1. The Union shall be open to all European States which respect the values referred to in Article 2, and are committed to promoting them together.
2. Any European State which wishes to become a member of the Union shall address its application to the Council of Ministers. The European Parliament and the Member States' national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The Council of Ministers shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. The conditions and arrangements for admission shall be the subject of an agreement between the Member States and the candidate State. That agreement shall be subject to ratification by each contracting State, in accordance with its respective constitutional requirements.
***
In the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe the member state governments signed up to the following Article I-58, under Title IX Union membership (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/38):
Article I-58
Conditions of eligibility and procedure for accession to the Union
1. The Union shall be open to all European States which respect the values referred to in Article I-2, and are committed to promoting them together.
2. Any European State which wishes to become a member of the Union shall address its application to the Council. The European Parliament and national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The Council shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament, which shall act by a majority of its component members. The conditions and arrangements for admission shall be the subject of an agreement between the Member States and the candidate State. That agreement shall be subject to ratification by each contracting State, in accordance with its respective constitutional requirements.
***
Strictly speaking, Article 49 of the current Treaty on European Union (TEU) only offers any European State which respects the EU’s principles the right to apply for membership. We have to assume that even minute changes of the wording have significance in areas as politically charged as the membership criteria.
The Convention made two changes:
First, it proposed that the EU ‘shall be open to all European States’. This is extremely close to a right of accession, given that the criteria for membership are fulfilled.
Second, the Convention raised the bar for accession.
The existing principles set out in Article 6(1) TEU are: The Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States.
The ‘values’ might be construed to have a more profound meaning than the ‘principles’, and the Convention added a few aspects in its Article I-2 The Union's values: The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. These values are common to the Member States in a society of pluralism, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination.
Human dignity and equality in the first sentence, as well as pluralism, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination in the second sentence widened the scope of the values and consequently the criteria for membership.
The second innovation was to require active promotion of the Union’s values together with the other member states.
***
Going from the draft Constitutional Treaty to the Constitution we see that the IGC 2004 added about the European Parliament ‘which shall act by a majority of its component members’. The rest of the differences are technical.
***
In part, the IGC 2007 went back to square one. Values and (active) promotion are retained, but there is no right to accede, only to apply for membership. The values referred to have expanded to take into account the rights of persons belonging to minorities (and the present connotations of ‘liberty’ may have led to the adoption of ‘freedom’).
In addition, the Reform Treaty brings the conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council into the Treaty.
At the present time, these conditions of eligibility are the ones known as the Copenhagen criteria, adopted by the European Council 21-22 June 1993. According to the Conclusions of the Presidency (SN 180/1/93 REV 1):
“Membership requires that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. Membership presupposes the candidate's ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.
The Union's capacity to absorb new members, while maintaining the momentum of European integration, is also an important consideration in the general interest of both the Union and the candidate countries.”
***
To broach a topical issue: The expansion of membership criteria is not going to make Turkey’s or the other applicant states’ quest any easier, since many difficult questions like human dignity, equality and minority rights have entered the picture in the shape of values to be promoted, as well as the binding nature of the Copenhagen criteria.
On the other hand, the definition ‘European State’ has not changed one iota from the existing TEU, via the Convention and the Constitution to the Lisbon Treaty.
It would be absurd to contend that Turkey is geographically less European now than when it was accepted as an applicant country.
***
An innovation retained from the Convention is the mandatory notification of the European Parliament and national parliaments of an application. In principle, the national parliaments have been officially seized of the matter only at the end of the process, when the accession Treaty has come up for ratification.
Ralf Grahn
“In Article 49, on conditions of eligibility and the procedure for accession to the Union, the reference to the principles will be replaced by a reference to the Union’s values and the addition of a commitment to promoting such values, an obligation to notify the European Parliament and national parliaments of an application for accession to the Union and a reference to take into account the conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council (see Annex 1, Title VI).”
Annex 1 to the Mandate is called Amendments to the EU Treaty, and under Title VI – Final provisions, point 9), it clarified:
“In Article 49, first subparagraph, insertion of a new last sentence, the second subparagraph remaining unchanged:
Article 49
Conditions of eligibility and procedure for accession to the Union
Any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union. The European Parliament and national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The applicant State shall address its application to the Council, which shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after receiving the assent of the European Parliament, which shall act by an absolute majority of its component members. The conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council shall be taken into account.”
***
Not much room for creativity there, but we check what the IGC 2007 agreed on (OJ 17.12.2007 C 306/39), in addition to its reader-unfriendly proclivity:
57) The first paragraph of Article 49 shall be amended as follows:
(a) in the first sentence, the words ‘which respects the principles set out in Article 6(1) may
apply’ shall be replaced by ‘which respects the values referred to in Article 1a and is
committed to promoting them may apply’;
(b) in the second sentence, the words ‘It shall address its application to the Council, which
shall act unanimously’ shall be replaced by ‘The European Parliament and national
Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The applicant State shall address its
application to the Council, which shall act unanimously’; the word ‘assent’ shall be
replaced by ‘consent’ and the words ‘an absolute majority’ shall be replaced by ‘a majority’;
(c) the following sentence shall be added at the end of the paragraph: ‘The conditions of
eligibility agreed upon by the European Council shall be taken into account.’.
***
The amended and consolidated Article 49 TEU has to be constructed, starting from the current Article 49 (latest consolidated version of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community in OJ 29.12.2006 C 321 E/34 and 35):
Article 49
Any European State which respects the principles set out in Article 6(1) may apply to become
a member of the Union. It shall address its application to the Council, which shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after receiving the assent of the European Parliament, which shall act by an absolute majority of its component members.
The conditions of admission and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the Union is founded,
which such admission entails, shall be the subject of an agreement between the Member States and the applicant State. This agreement shall be submitted for ratification by all the contracting States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.
***
Having inserted the IGC’s amendments we end up with the following consolidated Lisbon Treaty version of Article 49 TEU:
Article 49
Any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 1a and is committed to promoting them may apply to become a member of the Union. The European Parliament and national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The applicant State shall address its application to the Council, which shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after receiving the consent of the European Parliament, which shall act by a majority of its component members. The conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council shall be taken into account.
The conditions of admission and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the Union is founded,
which such admission entails, shall be the subject of an agreement between the Member States and the applicant State. This agreement shall be submitted for ratification by all the contracting States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.
***
The pedantically inclined may have noticed a slight change of terminology compared to the IGC 2007 Mandate (and the present Article 49): EP ‘consent’ has replaced ‘assent’ and a ‘majority’ has taken the place of an ‘absolute majority’.
Otherwise the Heads of State or Government seem to have been true to their word, from start to finish.
***
What did the European Convention have to say on membership in the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe?
We go to Article I-57, under Title IX Union membership (OJ 18.7.2003 C 169/21):
Article 57
Conditions of eligibility and procedure for accession to
the Union
1. The Union shall be open to all European States which respect the values referred to in Article 2, and are committed to promoting them together.
2. Any European State which wishes to become a member of the Union shall address its application to the Council of Ministers. The European Parliament and the Member States' national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The Council of Ministers shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament. The conditions and arrangements for admission shall be the subject of an agreement between the Member States and the candidate State. That agreement shall be subject to ratification by each contracting State, in accordance with its respective constitutional requirements.
***
In the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe the member state governments signed up to the following Article I-58, under Title IX Union membership (OJ 16.12.2004 C 310/38):
Article I-58
Conditions of eligibility and procedure for accession to the Union
1. The Union shall be open to all European States which respect the values referred to in Article I-2, and are committed to promoting them together.
2. Any European State which wishes to become a member of the Union shall address its application to the Council. The European Parliament and national Parliaments shall be notified of this application. The Council shall act unanimously after consulting the Commission and after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament, which shall act by a majority of its component members. The conditions and arrangements for admission shall be the subject of an agreement between the Member States and the candidate State. That agreement shall be subject to ratification by each contracting State, in accordance with its respective constitutional requirements.
***
Strictly speaking, Article 49 of the current Treaty on European Union (TEU) only offers any European State which respects the EU’s principles the right to apply for membership. We have to assume that even minute changes of the wording have significance in areas as politically charged as the membership criteria.
The Convention made two changes:
First, it proposed that the EU ‘shall be open to all European States’. This is extremely close to a right of accession, given that the criteria for membership are fulfilled.
Second, the Convention raised the bar for accession.
The existing principles set out in Article 6(1) TEU are: The Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States.
The ‘values’ might be construed to have a more profound meaning than the ‘principles’, and the Convention added a few aspects in its Article I-2 The Union's values: The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, liberty, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. These values are common to the Member States in a society of pluralism, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination.
Human dignity and equality in the first sentence, as well as pluralism, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination in the second sentence widened the scope of the values and consequently the criteria for membership.
The second innovation was to require active promotion of the Union’s values together with the other member states.
***
Going from the draft Constitutional Treaty to the Constitution we see that the IGC 2004 added about the European Parliament ‘which shall act by a majority of its component members’. The rest of the differences are technical.
***
In part, the IGC 2007 went back to square one. Values and (active) promotion are retained, but there is no right to accede, only to apply for membership. The values referred to have expanded to take into account the rights of persons belonging to minorities (and the present connotations of ‘liberty’ may have led to the adoption of ‘freedom’).
In addition, the Reform Treaty brings the conditions of eligibility agreed upon by the European Council into the Treaty.
At the present time, these conditions of eligibility are the ones known as the Copenhagen criteria, adopted by the European Council 21-22 June 1993. According to the Conclusions of the Presidency (SN 180/1/93 REV 1):
“Membership requires that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union. Membership presupposes the candidate's ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.
The Union's capacity to absorb new members, while maintaining the momentum of European integration, is also an important consideration in the general interest of both the Union and the candidate countries.”
***
To broach a topical issue: The expansion of membership criteria is not going to make Turkey’s or the other applicant states’ quest any easier, since many difficult questions like human dignity, equality and minority rights have entered the picture in the shape of values to be promoted, as well as the binding nature of the Copenhagen criteria.
On the other hand, the definition ‘European State’ has not changed one iota from the existing TEU, via the Convention and the Constitution to the Lisbon Treaty.
It would be absurd to contend that Turkey is geographically less European now than when it was accepted as an applicant country.
***
An innovation retained from the Convention is the mandatory notification of the European Parliament and national parliaments of an application. In principle, the national parliaments have been officially seized of the matter only at the end of the process, when the accession Treaty has come up for ratification.
Ralf Grahn
Monday, 15 October 2007
Very latest EU
From 12 until 15 October 2007 I have fed my Finnish blog with some web columns and notices about the European Union. The topics include the EU and globalisation, Turkey’s maturity for EU membership, military assistance within the EU and NATO, the need for the European Union, consolidated versions of the Reform Treaty, ’civil’ members of a military alliance to be and self-inflicted marginalisation.
The adress is:
http://grahnlaw.blogs.fi
The postings have the following headings:
EU globalisaatiossa
Turkki ja EU:n laajeneminen
Sanoma euroskeptikoille
EU:n ja Naton turvatakuut
Uudet EU-sopimukset päivitettyinä
Puolustusliiton siviilijäsenet
Arkaaisessa marginaalissa hyvä olla?
Regards
Ralf Grahn
The adress is:
http://grahnlaw.blogs.fi
The postings have the following headings:
EU globalisaatiossa
Turkki ja EU:n laajeneminen
Sanoma euroskeptikoille
EU:n ja Naton turvatakuut
Uudet EU-sopimukset päivitettyinä
Puolustusliiton siviilijäsenet
Arkaaisessa marginaalissa hyvä olla?
Regards
Ralf Grahn
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Treaty in, Turkey out
There is no discourse on Europe and it is impossible, anyway, goes the standard argument of those who regret that the European Union exists.
There are national languages and national newspapers, but for anyone interested in Europe there is at least reporting on common themes, as a quick and selective online look on President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Brussels shows.
Sarkozy – Wunderheiler für die gelähmte EU? Neue Zürcher Zeitung 24 May 2007
Henri Bresson et Philippe Ridet: Bruxelles attend les choix de M. Sarkozy sur la Turquie. Le Monde 24 May 2007
Alain Bockel et Ariane Bonzon: Turquie, le retour des vieux démons. Le Monde 24 May 2007
A Bruxelles, le gouvernement français laisse planer le doute sur ses intentions à l’égard de la Turquie. Le Monde 21 May 2007
Hannelore Crolly: Sarkozy will EU-Verfassung retten. Die Welt 24 May 2007
Katrin Bennhold: Sarkozy trip to Brussels gives a push to EU goals. International Herald Tribune 23 May 2007
Jean Quatremer: A Bruxelles, Sarkozy séduit avec son projet de mini-traité. Libération 24 May 2007
Charles Jaigu: Sarkozy donne la priorité au nouveau traité européen. Le Figaro 24 May 2007
Alexandrine Bouilhet: l’idée d’un texte institutionnel “simplifié” fait son chemin en Europe. Le Figaro 24 May 2007
M. Barroso estime qu’un “consensus” se forme autour du traité simplifié du president français. Le Monde 23 May 2007
Philippe Ricard: Les milieux européens attendant des assurances. Le Monde 23 May 2007
Sarkozy rejects Turkish EU place. BBC News 23 May 2007
Honor Mahony: Sarkozy to push for Turkey debate. EU Observer 24 May 2007
The list could be continued in different languages, but the main point is that it is possible to follow and to participate in the debate on Europe. All it takes is a bit of interest.
Ralf Grahn
There are national languages and national newspapers, but for anyone interested in Europe there is at least reporting on common themes, as a quick and selective online look on President Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Brussels shows.
Sarkozy – Wunderheiler für die gelähmte EU? Neue Zürcher Zeitung 24 May 2007
Henri Bresson et Philippe Ridet: Bruxelles attend les choix de M. Sarkozy sur la Turquie. Le Monde 24 May 2007
Alain Bockel et Ariane Bonzon: Turquie, le retour des vieux démons. Le Monde 24 May 2007
A Bruxelles, le gouvernement français laisse planer le doute sur ses intentions à l’égard de la Turquie. Le Monde 21 May 2007
Hannelore Crolly: Sarkozy will EU-Verfassung retten. Die Welt 24 May 2007
Katrin Bennhold: Sarkozy trip to Brussels gives a push to EU goals. International Herald Tribune 23 May 2007
Jean Quatremer: A Bruxelles, Sarkozy séduit avec son projet de mini-traité. Libération 24 May 2007
Charles Jaigu: Sarkozy donne la priorité au nouveau traité européen. Le Figaro 24 May 2007
Alexandrine Bouilhet: l’idée d’un texte institutionnel “simplifié” fait son chemin en Europe. Le Figaro 24 May 2007
M. Barroso estime qu’un “consensus” se forme autour du traité simplifié du president français. Le Monde 23 May 2007
Philippe Ricard: Les milieux européens attendant des assurances. Le Monde 23 May 2007
Sarkozy rejects Turkish EU place. BBC News 23 May 2007
Honor Mahony: Sarkozy to push for Turkey debate. EU Observer 24 May 2007
The list could be continued in different languages, but the main point is that it is possible to follow and to participate in the debate on Europe. All it takes is a bit of interest.
Ralf Grahn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To Grahnlaw
Posts
All Comments
