Articles archive
Former EP president - successor must 'fight for prominent role'
Having just stepped down as president of the European Parliament – Jerzy Buzek talks to Francesco Guarascio about the trials and tribulations of his term in office, including a lobbying scandal and rows over the second seat in Strasbourg
Danish EU presidency must reject 'euro-ideology'
The single currency cannot survive in its current form and continuous attempts to save it by huge bail-outs and financial harmonisation are simply bad economics - claims Anna Rosbach MEP
What future for free trade and globalisation?
With Doha dead, the way forward is regrettably a string of free trade agreements with countries that want better access to the European Union market – writes our resident satirist
Lobbyists will not hijack petition scheme, EU insists
The European Citizens' Initiative will "open a new chapter in the democratic life" of the EU, the commissioner responsible claimed today, dismissing suggestions that will be too complex for ordinary people to take part.
MEPs should hang heads in shame over 'jollies'
Members of the European Parliament are happy to preach austerity, but do not expect them to cut back on luxurious foreign trips - writes Marta Andreasen MEP
Robin Hood tax 'simply madness' says Cameron at Davos
David Cameron has slammed plans for a financial transaction tax and attacked EU regulations, but urged eurozone leaders to take bolder action to solve the debt crisis
European Patent Court row is 'a scandal'
At a time of possible recession across Europe - Germany, France and Britain are preventing progress on a cost-saving single European patent
Hungary tumbles down press freedom rankings
Widely criticised media laws have seen Hungary slip down Reporters Without Borders' annual press freedom index, but Finland held on to top spot and EU countries dominated the top 10
Embrace globalisation, urges Mandelson at Davos
Governments should respond to the crisis by embracing a new globalisation which shares its benefits fairly, rather than turning to protectionism, says Lord Mandelson
Why is government measuring happiness?
The state assumes it can centrally plan society to achieve particular goals, but this is unrealistic and potentially dangerous - writes Professor Philip Booth
Can contraception cure climate change?
Marina Yannakoudakis criticises fellow MEPs who propose a separate strategy for women and climate change – which includes "patronising" quotas on negotiating teams and links greenhouse gas emissions to contraception
Relations between EU and US reached 'all-time low' over Iraq
Newly declassified documents allow us to peek behind the curtain of past summits between the United States and the European Union - they show that the transatlantic relationship has been on a roller-coaster ride in recent times, writes Justin Stares
France backs away from Afghanistan withdrawal
France will not withdraw troops from Afghanistan despite Nicolas Sarkozy saying he would consider its involvement following the murder of four of its soldiers
EU proposes data protection overhaul
New EU data protection rules will give people the right to wipe their information from social networks and save businesses €2.3bn a year, the European Commission said today
Cameron plans European human rights court reforms
Criticism of the European Court of Human Rights risks encouraging some countries to ignore its rulings, a campaign group warns ahead of David Cameron's speech in Strasbourg today