Articles archive
EU 'must take chance' to act on climate crisis
The EU is uniquely placed to drive forward action to tackle climate change – but with a new round of global talks taking place in Doha, it is failing to show the necessary leadership, writes Jean Lambert
A reduced EU budget will not get us out of the crisis
Either we learn the lessons of these last 60 years and we work together to relaunch Europe around peace, solidarity and competitiveness or we trap ourselves in selfish, nationalist positions – writes Joseph Daul MEP
Profiting from injustice - international investment treaties
Investor-state arbitration allows corporate profits to trump environmental protection, public health and democratic decision-making - says Pia Eberhardt
The spectacle of 'buck passing' on the EU budget
European leaders should not be 'fiddling' with the EU budget when there are greater problems to be addressed in order to stop global economic collapse. So why does the charade continue as it does? ur secret columnist attempts to find out
Transforming public services, command and control not the answer
Successive initiatives and management fads have not delivered but shifting the focus from top-down leadership to bottom-up support can bring about results – writes Professor Colin Coulson-Thomas
Rehn: Eurogroup 'passes credibility test' with Greek deal
European Commission vice-president Olli Rehn says the deal on reducing Greece's debt "removes the uncertainty" hanging over the crisis-hit country
Rotherham case - UKIP blamed for being 'anti-multicultural'
After the public outcry over children being taken away from foster parents, simply because they supported UKIP, Godfrey Bloom MEP suggests Rotherham Council's social services department has become a 'shadowy' organisation
Claims that EU transparency register 'moving in right direction'
Despite criticism, the European Commission and European Parliament joint lobbyists' register has already proved itself to be a force for good within its first year in operation – writes commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic
'Tangible' progress needed on carbon trading
Strengthening voluntary carbon emission markets by offering tax credits to corporates or individuals that purchase on them could be one of way of augmenting the wider efforts of countries to tackle climate change, writes Dennis Posadas
Cameron's war on Brussels fat cats: the facts
In negotiations on the EU's future spending, the British prime minister has targeted administration costs such as the pay and perks of Brussels bureaucrats as ripe for cuts – so our secret columnist injects some facts into the debate
Transparency: an elusive Holy Grail?
Katherine Devlin evaluates whether transparency – held up by governments and businesses as a badge of honour but so often trumped by obfuscation – is really achievable whenever an agenda is involved
'Barbaric' shark finning is banned by MEPs 'once and for all'
While being extremely important for the marine ecosystem as a whole, as a species sharks are under threat - they are slow to mature and have a low reproduction rate - says Linda McAvan MEP
Seven days - a week in the life of Ruth Porter
The think-tank communications director provokes a lively debate by delivering a talk on facing up to economic realities, heads to a school governors' meeting, and prepares for a briefing ahead of the British Chancellor's Autumn Statement
Mixed election results for Catalan nationalists
Parties in favour of holding a referendum on Catalan independence won Sunday's elections but regional President Artur Mas saw his alliance fall well short of an absolute majority in the parliament
EU leaders fail to do budget deal at summit
EU leaders end their marathon summit in Brussels without reaching agreement on the size of the bloc's next seven-year budget framework