Special Report archive

Waking up to the European Commission's stealthy power grab
The commission has grabbed a huge amount of power from the other EU institutions under treaty rules introduced more than two years ago, reports Justin Stares

Head of EU aid centre sacked by ambassadors
Justin Stares investigates claims by the sacked head of the Centre for the Development of Enterprise that there are "political problems" between the EU and its former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific Rim

Ashton doesn't know how to delegate - claims commission source
Europe's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is struggling to handle her huge workload and needs someone else to take the strain, according to those who work alongside her. Justin Stares reports from inside the bunker

The truth about the EU court's €70,000 wine cellar
The European Court of Justice has built up a wine collection of almost 4,000 bottles worth at least €70,000 but denies claims judges are spending public money on their favourite vintages, writes Justin Stares

Germany makes €14bn in taxes from smokers, so a ban is unlikely
Germany is bottom of the class when it comes to clamping down on tobacco advertising and smoking in public - Justin Stares attempts to find out why a state that is normally seen as a leader in Europe lags behind when it comes to this important health issue

Artificial intelligence: time to 'invest in soft robotics'
Soft robotics is set to have an enormous impact on the service and manufacturing industries; and there is no need to be concerned that automation will put people out of work – the reverse is true as jobs that would otherwise be outsourced to China can be protected, writes Professor Rolf Pfeifer

Myanmar children targeted by EU sanctions
Judges have overturned sanctions imposed by the European Union on a boy of just 16, raising questions as to whether children should pay for the alleged misdemeanors of their parents, reports Justin Stares

Has European protectionism finally triumphed over free trade?
Protectionist nations such as France are gaining the upper hand over supporters of free trade, including the United Kingdom, and the new battleground is the European Commission's proposal on public procurement - reports Justin Stares

Dutch clampdown on 'drug tourists' could damage the economy
In less than two months, Maastricht's famous coffee shops will be off limits to cross-border drug tourists - but some locals are planning to rebel against the Dutch clampdown, reports Justin Stares

Baby milk - breast versus bottle
The European Parliament's call for tighter regulation of baby milk risks reigniting the bitter battle between supporters of the breast and the bottle - but compromise might be the only real way forward, writes Justin Stares, having talked to MEPs, campaign groups and industry experts

Geoengineering: quick climate fix or dangerous meddling?
Large-scale geoengineering could play a key part in tackling global warming but disputes over its viability and potential impact on the environment, and the lack of international regulation, means it is still unclear what role it will play, writes Daniel Mason

The European Parliament's multi-million euro art collection
The new valuation of the EP's art collection is expected to show it is now worth a fortune – meaning the press team will have to make a sturdy defence when the Eurosceptic parts of the media come calling - writes Justin Stares

Could the EU rescue the British press from Leveson restrictions?
Will the European Commission save the British press from Lord Justice Leveson? Justin Stares looks at the Brussels track record on protecting media freedoms

Does Coca Cola taste different in some parts of Europe?
Does Coca Cola serve an inferior quality fizzy drink to poor Europeans? Consumer association claims are not exactly convincing, reports Justin Stares

Is cyber warfare leading to a new type of arms race?
There are a surprising number of parallels between cyber warfare and nuclear warfare, reports Justin Stares from the Security and Defence Agenda conference in Brussels