Articles archive
Adapting to ageing society demands radical rethink
As we all live longer it is time to put down yesterday's tools, reconsider our assumptions about what it means to be old, and innovate to create new models of living in order to adapt to an ageing society, writes Halima Khan
Europe 'shares blame' for Italy deadlock
Italian voters rejected austerity and embraced Beppe Grillo, while the resurrection of Silvio Berlusconi caused jitters on bond markets: now Europe must accept its responsibility for Italy's political stalemate and show greater solidarity, writes Guy Verhofstadt
European People's Party President Wilfried Martens in interview
On a broad range of topics ranging from the surprise election result in Italy to an EU army and a European-wide Freedom of Information Act, EPP President Wilfried Martens speaks exclusively to PublicServiceEurope.com
UK a 'long way off' net migration target
Statistics show net migration to the UK falling but the government may be further from reaching its target than it appears, thanks partly to the impact of including international students in the figures, writes Brhmie Balaram
UKIP surges to second place in by-election
UKIP secured second place in a by-election yesterday – pushing the Conservatives into third place despite David Cameron's efforts to stave off the threat from the anti-EU party
Beppe Grillo has 'votes but no policies' says Herman Van Rompuy
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy attacks the Italian maverick Beppe Grillo, despite his groundswell of public support, in an exclusive interview with PublicServiceEurope.com
The final seven: the EU commissioners yet to join Twitter
Beppe Grillo's success is only the latest of many examples showing the importance of social media in modern politics. In light of that, Daniel Mason asks why seven EU commissioners are still absent from Twitter
The tunnel effect: a parable for our economic times
The 'tunnel effect' was first articulated decades ago by Albert Hirschman, one of the world's most original economic thinkers – and both his research and determination seem worth remembering in our current plight, writes Abhinay Muthoo
Bankers' bonus cap hailed as ground-breaking
A political agreement on new rules to make banks safer, including a cap on bonuses, is hailed as ground-breaking by the president of the European Parliament
Young people in the west will have to retire at 75 - says CEBR
Simple maths and current life expectancy trends show that the only real solution is for people to work longer or face a future with no pension, warns Douglas McWilliams
The real cost of HS2 - the UK government must act now
High speed rail makes economic and environmental sense for the national economy but there will be a number of local casualties along the way if government gets it wrong, writes Julia Cambridge
Seven days - a week in the life of Wendela de Vries
Thoughts on the parallels between war games and real life conflict, the impact of cuts in defence spending on the arms trade, the EU's tardiness in preparing reports on weapons exports, and the deplorable state of the world in general
Whatever the voters say, austerity still rules
Candidates opposed to harsh austerity measures did well in Italy's elections – but the same has been true elsewhere yet fiscal consolidation still rules – as demonstrated by the latest powers handed to the European Commission, writes our secret columnist in Brussels
Greens slam 'unambitious' EU on fish discards
Green MEPs have attacked EU governments over an 'unambitious' deal reached overnight on the planned reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, but ministers described it as a 'historic moment'
Putting the fun into the European Union
The EU is not loved – even its most convinced members apologise for it. What it really needs is something to make it more appealing. But what would do the trick, asks our resident satirist in Brussels