EU Reporter digital magazine 2012

There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance.

by Chris White

A long running political and media campaign against the Court of Human Rights has astonished lawyers in Strasbourg.

Terrorist may walk freely on the streets of Europe

By Henry St George

One could be forgiven for thinking that the EU cares more about the welfare of dangerous terrorists than the welfare of European citizens!

Spies and Euro-Sceptics.

By Nick Powell

The EU establishes its own secret intelligence service, which works to destabilise a member government. Fact or fiction?

Caucausus - Justice for Khojaly!

By Colin Stevens

Azerbaijan remains profoundly sensitive towards the Khojaly massacre on the night of 25-26 February 1992.

Scotland – Independence does not guarantee EU membership

By Anna Vvedenskaya

The visit to Brussels by the Scottish deputy fist minister Nicola Sturgeon didn’t pass unappreciated in the EU capital

Bosnia-Herzegovina: connecting the dots

By Cristian Gherasim

Will Bosnians accept harsh reforms and join the EU, or keep the status quo which will only widen the existing gap between Bosnia and the rest of Europe

And sheep may safely graze?

By Łucjusz CHMIELEWSKI

It’s not so much what we know about Schmallenberg virus - it’s what we don’t know!

Hungary’s new constitution

By Cristian Gherasim

Even before it entered into force, the Hungarian constitution came under intense scrutiny from both home and abroad.

Trade and investment opportunities in the Kingdom of Lesotho

by Olesya Gavryluk

Lesotho offers investors a dynamic business environment, complemented by a favourable Government administered incentive regime.

The new year started like the old one; with bad news

By Christian Meyer zu Natrup

The Break Up of Britain

Why a post-Scottish independence ‘United Kingdom of Southern Britain and Northern Ireland’ would be one of Europe’s most oddly named and short-lived states.

By Nick Powell

Kazakhstan Elections: Pluralism Became Reality

The extraordinary elections to the Parliament of Kazakhstan didn’t bring any surprises.

By Colin Stevens

€40 Billion export potential with Japan and Korea

As two of the largest economies in the world, these markets offer a wealth of opportunity to European businesses.

By Jurgita Jurksaite

E-Vehicle infrastructure – not just about the vehicle!

So often it is engineering solutions that meet our insatiable demands to ‘push the limits’

By Adrian Harris,

EU / Ukraine agreement - a health warning?

Ukraine’s politicians, even when they can agree on little else, want European integration

By Nick Powell

The mountain magic of Lesotho

Real people, real mountains, real culture

By Colin Stevens

Putin’s Russia: Farwell to Stability!

Pro-Putin and pro-democracy forces are trying to influence the EU position towards the Russian parliamentary elections and beyond.

By Anna Vvedenskaia

Saving Doha (and the WTO)

Without an agreement on Doha, the WTO is in danger of becoming irrelevant

by Dr. Adrian Flint, University of Bristol and Christian Meyer zu Natrup

Kazakhstan encourages as a multi-party democracy.

Kazakhstan is signaling its determination to develop towards Western style democracy

By Colin Stevens

An unknown entity enters the GMO

It causes reproductive failure in cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry

by Jim Gibbons

Civil Society in Palestine: A Force for Change?

Nikki Sinclaire MEP reflects on her recent visit to Gaza

Kazakhstan’s experience:

The former Soviet satellite celebrates 20 years of independence

By Christina Strakhovskaya

The ERASMUS experience

Peter Beckett relives his experience on the ERASMUS programme at a Brussels University, ]]> Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://www.eureporter.co/magazine/251112 http://www.eureporter.co/magazine/201112 Included in this issue:

 Cameron's high-stakes game

The British Prime Minister will have to play his cards carefully or his gamble could backfire.  By Frank Prenesti

What next for Europe

The Euro, and the process of European integration, wasn’t designed for this. By Peter Beckett

Leaders tumble as Euro debt crisis spirals out of control

 What the Greek crisis forever instilled in the European mindset is the sense that someone, somewhere is hiding another skeleton in the closet. By Cristian Gherasim

The Long Way Out of the Crisis

The main task remains restoring confidence in the stability of the financial system and sovereign solvency. by Christian Meyer zu Natrup

Gazprom aims for global consumers

 The plan to bypass the former Soviet Republics in gas exports to Europe takes shape.  By Anna Vvedenskaia

With wind power the EU can cut carbon emissions by 30%

The climate and the economy stand to benefit enormously from wind power’s potential.  By Julian Scola

No to plastics waste in landfills

Solving plastics waste issue on land will be key to solving the marine litter issue.  By Thomas Bauwens

Naturally Arty: Scandinavia

Danish life is grounded in a love of nature: many events are held outside year-round. By Tamara Thiessen

Restructuring the EUROpe   by Christian Meyer zu Natrup

The never-ending debt crisis in the EURO-zone has more to do with the lack of political governance of the common currency than the economic strength underpinning it. 

STILL FEISTY AT FIFTY By Jim GIBBONS

A call for urgent action on climate change  By Anne Stauffer

Reheated European Nationalisms By Christian Gherasim

Europe needs to tone down nationalist rhetoric and recover what hitherto were its biggest assets: multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism.

When the rules are flaunted…people get hurt   By Mark Redgrove

What have the Internal Market and the London riots got in common?

Short-term savings equals long-term problems   by Nikki Sullings

The Gold of the Thracian Warriors -  by Colin Stevens

An exhibition of gold and silver treasures from Bulgaria, paying homage the Bulgaria’s ancestors from Thracia.

Bedding Down in Art  - by Tamara Thiessen

Back to Basics

If the EU really wants to make progress in helping its development partners achieve the Millennium Development Goal of eradicating poverty and hunger, then the health of rural economies should be the yardstick for progress, not GDP.

Shutting out Turkey - A missed opportunity

Instead of alienating Turkey, the EU should get off the fence and acknowledge that enlargement has been EU’s biggest success story to date.

Is the glass half empty or half full?

Is EU regional aid working?   North-west Bulgaria is the poorest part of the entire European Union. It may have a long wait for the infrastructure investment to turn into jobs and prosperity.    

A call to the European Parliament for the a Pact of Islands  

The ISLE-PACT project is committed to developing Local Sustainable Energy Action Plans with the aim of meeting or exceeding the EU sustainability targets of 20/20/20 for the year 2020  

Why discuss Internet Network neutrality?

Over 125 million European households had an Internet connection in their home in 2009, according to European Audiovisual Observatory estimates. But are we all equal before the Internet?  

More powered two-wheelers would ease congestion.

If 10% of car drivers would give up their car for a motorcycle or a scooter, traffic congestion would be reduced by 40%,according to a study performed in one of Belgium’s most congested routes, typical of Europe's densest urban areas.  

Facebook helps adults with Autism to make friends  

Results from a research project have shown that Facebook can be used to help adults with Autism to establish social connections and make friends.   

Improve wellbeing and life satisfaction at an older age  

Music and arts classes have been shown to improve wellbeing and life satisfaction at an older age. Yet formal training does not have the same effect. What is formal training doing wrong?    

Bankers & Bohemians in Zurich 

The Swiss financial capital is undergoing a cultural boom meaning more to do in downtime and more hotel choice.

THE EU AND THE WORLD

ALL CHANGE AT THE IMF

The race to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the helm of the IMF is underway.
Who are the runners and riders?

THE EU's COMMON FOREIGN POLICY - JUST ON PAPER?

What does Europe's reaction to the Libya crisis reveal about Europe's common foreign policy?

SAVING SHENGEN

The rise of the far right and uprisings in North Africa pose a serious threat to passport free travel, but could it be saved by political inaction?

THE EU AT HOME

EUROPE DAY

A definite lack of Europe-Day togetherness.

TIME FOR PLAN B

A coherent and planned restructuring of government debts is the only realistic option.

ILLICIT TOBBACCO A GROWING PROBLEM

Government health initiatives are being thwarted by the increase in illicit trade.

LOBBYING UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT AGAIN

Recent scandal has shown the EU's proposals to be lacking, and unable protect anyone.

ENERGY ROADMAP

Europe needs news a binding renewables target for 2030.

WHEN THE BEATINGS HAVE TO STOP

Love, fear, there are all sorts of reasons why it's easier to stay with a man.

SOMETHING STINKS IN LONDON AND BRUSSELS

The stench of millions of tonnes of discarded fish thrown overboard.

ARE GREENPEAVE BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Will European Business Summit demo help or distract from the debate over climate change?

THE EU AND THE EAST

KAZAKHSTAN

The Great Silk Road is open.

UKRAINE

Russia competes with EU "Soft Power"

THE EUROPEAN DIVIDE

Eastern Europe and private property.

The EU at home

The Non-Competitiveness pact

As the crisis in the eurozone continues, have efforts to drive political integration alongside economic integration paid off?

Where next in the debate on lobbying in brussels?

Most industries shy away from regulation, but could it be that EU lobbyists might have more to gain than to lose from legislation?

Enhanced Cooperation Procedure
Ian Phillips takes us on a tour of the enhanced cooperation procedure.
Is it a help or a hinderance for EU integration?

eu enlargement

Bosnia and the EU: The long way ahead
How is EU accession seen in Bosnia? Is the government simply paying lip service to membership?

CROATIA’s EUROPEAN DREAMS AND REALITY
As Croatia gears up for an inevitable referendum on EU membership, how do voters see EU membership? Could the process be derailed?

Young Turks demand clear messages from EU
Gökhan Kurtaran in Istanbul examines how young turks view EU membership.
Are they as eager as we might imagine?

Europe’s Mini Russia?
Serbia’s desire to join the EU is clear to see but could corruption tell a different story?

Going on a date and hoping that nothing happens
Iceland is the latest country to apply for EU membership. In the wake of the banking collapse, has the political will to join increased?

press freedom

Clubbing Together For Media Freedom
As the Brussels Press Club opens in the european capital EU Reporter interviews the man behind the city’s first press club.

A Farce To Be Reckoned With
A look at press freedom in the european parliament. For all their talk, how truly committed to press freedom are the members of the EU’s elected chamber?

A new role in the same old story

EU Reporter interviews the outgoing secretary general of the International Federation of Journalists, Aidan White.

the eu abroad

Let’s get rid of the colon and make everything after it a sub heading
Has DG Development done enough in the fight against HIV aids?
Is it time for a new approach?

The Revolution of rising expectations
What have economics played in the ‘Arab Spring’? A look at economic policy against a backdrop of dictators and democracy.

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?
The role of Russia in Eastern European and EU energy policy.