Following on from the meeting of the European Council in Brussels last Monday, differing views are being expressed on where the European Union is likely to go next and what Britain's will be role within it. I answer a few questions below contributing to this debate.
What were the main conclusions ...
Once again, debates in Strasbourg this week have highlighted the fast moving agenda in European politics. Speeches on economic governance from the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, and from the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, illustrate that there has been a fundamental change in the quality ...
Following up on the blog's look at the state of the European economy last week, the European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, came to Strasbourg this week to deliver his first 'State of the Union', which is intended to set the scene for the next 12 months - the EU's ...
While some in the press like to portray the European Commission as fundamentally undemocratic, they would do well to pay more attention to the European Parliament's hearings for proposed Commissioners which have taken place over the last month, with the final vote coming on Tuesday next week. How has the ...
In 1899, a confident Charles H. Duell, Commissioner of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, claimed "Everything that can be invented has been invented". It just goes to show that it is never easy to predict the future!
Nevertheless, as I have often argued in this blog, it is vital that ...
Talking about influencing the political agenda, here is a great opportunity. Among the many items Barroso talked about in his political spiel for re-election (in otherwords, his 41 page document!), he said that the European Commission would develop a European Digital Agenda, but hasn't given any details. Surprising that in ...
This week in Strasbourg José Manuel Barroso has been voted in by a large majority of MEPs in favour of his second term as Commission President. Was this a rubber stamp?
Certainly not. It was a vote by directly elected Parliamentarians on a secret ballot, expressing their view as to whether ...
The European Parliament was dominated this week by the spectacle of Mr Barroso, Commission President elect, seeking to persuade political groups in the European Parliament to approve his candidature next week in Strasbourg. This is the first time in history that a Commission President has had to go to these ...
After a brief summer pause, which has given us all the time to relax a moment and collect our thoughts, I happily resume this blog's weekly focus on major long-term trends of concern to both the UK and Europe.
Welcome back - not least to the European Parliament's newly elected Parliamentarians, ...
This blog entry completes a cycle of twelve blog posts which I have written since 8 May 2009 and will be the last before we head into the summer break and recess. It is an ideal moment to reflect on what has passed and what is to come.
You will see ...
