Barroso stalemate threatens to distract EU from real problems

02.07.2009 @ 17:14 CET

With parliament looking increasingly likely to postpone a July vote on the nomination of the next commission president, there is a risk of having a lameduck executive for a further three to four months. New names are already been floated for the job including the Dutch and Luxembourg leaders.

Liberals rule out right-wing alliance in the European Parliament

01.07.2009 @ 17:36 CET

The Liberal group has ruled out a right-wing alliance in the European Parliament which could have fundamentally shaken up the way the EU assembly does its business, but instead says it is happy to continue with a 'grand coalition' of left and right. The group is also continuing to play poker on the issue of the next president of the European Commission.

Czech presidency limps off EU stage

30.06.2009 @ 17:40 CET

The Czech republic in the past six months helped to end a severe EU gas crisis and to ease Ireland's Lisbon treaty problem. But its cack-handed diplomacy and internal battles risk it going down as "the worst EU presidency in history."

Ukip, Lega Nord form hard-right bloc in EU Parliament

30.06.2009 @ 17:37 CET

Britain's UK Independence party has made a pact with Italy's Lega Nord, the Danish People's Party, the True Finns and a handful of other rightists to transform the eurosceptic Ind/Dem group into what is in effect a far-right 'lite' grouping in the chamber.

German court gives conditional green light to new treaty

30.06.2009 @ 10:48 CET

Germany's highest court on Tuesday ruled that the EU's new treaty is compatible with German law, so long as the role of the national parliament is strengthened. The ratification process has been suspended until the new provisions are adopted, with an extraordinary parliament session planned for 26 August to discuss a draft law.

Nato woos Kazakhstan at security forum

26.06.2009 @ 09:19 CET

The remote capital of post-Soviet petro-state Kazakhstan hosted this year's security forum of Nato's partner countries, the first time the event took place outside Europe in a bid to secure more support for the alliance's mission in neighbouring Afghanistan.

EU parliament continues to be divided on Barroso vote

25.06.2009 @ 17:27 CET

One week after EU leaders proposed to make Jose Manuel Barroso European Commission chief for a second time, it is no clearer whether the Portuguese politician is likely to get a majority if put to a vote mid July.

No 'Big Bang' for EU foreign service, says Solana

23.06.2009 @ 17:24 CET

EU's planned foreign service should be established gradually, not in a 'Big Bang', if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified after a second Irish referendum, the bloc's foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Monday.

Europe must change after economic crisis, says Sarkozy

23.06.2009 @ 09:25 CET

In a historic speech before a joint session of the French parliament on Monday, President Nicolas Sarkozy said that the global economic crisis meant that "nothing will be the same any more" and pleaded for change in both France and Europe as a whole. The opposition criticised the lack of concrete proposals.