Articles archive
'Fight continues' for EU parliament single seat
A court ruling against reducing the number of times MEPs make the costly trip to Strasbourg was anticipated and will not deter those campaigning for a single seat for the European Parliament, writes Ashley Fox
Should we give up our cars to cycle and save the planet?
German MEP Michael Cramer, who has been without a car since 1979, wants to make such a switch to cycling an easy choice for others citizens across Europe - by increasing funding for cycle networks
Government's 'flawed' view of foreign students in UK
The UK government's tightening of the screws on the 'problems' raised by student immigration and visas is the latest indication that it has embraced a flawed view that British people lose when outsiders arrive, writes Abhinay Muthoo
EU patent marks 'new era' of European R&D
Europe is often at the forefront of cutting-edge scientific research but it is not being translated into marketable patented products. Now a single EU patent can change that, writes Arlene McCarthy
Finance ministers clinch EU bank supervisor deal
Finance ministers agree on the mechanism for a single eurozone banking supervisor, paving the way for direct recapitalisation of banks and marking the first stage towards a full banking union
Budget deal puts 'tremendous pressure' on EU spending
The threat that some EU programmes would run out of money this year has been staved off after MEPs agreed a compromise deal with member states on the bloc's 2012 and 2013 budgets
Seven days - a week in the life of Iain Anderson
It is an action packed week covering the Autumn Statement, launching a report on Germany, holding meetings in parliament, taking a flying lesson and getting started on the Christmas shopping
Advice to a newly appointed commissioner
Members of the European Commission are more than halfway through their mandate. It is time for aspirants to begin to prepare themselves for appointment. They need advice from old hands about how to approach their responsibilities - our secret columnist is happy to help
EU-Colombia trade deal 'puts profits before people'
Sanctioning a free trade deal with Colombia, with one of the world's worst human rights records, undermines the EU's efforts as a Nobel peace laureate to champion basic freedoms, claims Helmut Scholz
The return of Berlusconi: can he win again?
Silvio Berlusconi winning Italy's elections would be a miracle of the sort he has claimed he can perform – but by depriving his opponents of a solid majority he can still stay in the game, writes Daniele Albertazzi
Generation rent: young people cannot afford to buy homes
Young people who did not own their home do not really seeing the point of committing to the area in which they lived or getting to know the people they shared a street with, writes Jenny Pennington
Long-awaited EU patent backed by MEPs
A single European patent system designed to cut costs has been approved by the European Parliament and is set to come into force at the start of 2014 – though without the involvement of Italy or Spain
'Folly and farce' of western world's drugs policy
Prohibition of drugs has not only failed to reduce usage but has stimulated it – and the only way to undermine the criminals, and dent their profits, is to adopt licensing and legalisation, writes Chris Davies MEP
Trailblazing new approaches to prostitution
More than a decade after adopting new policies on prostitution, two EU countries are discovering what works and what does not – and it is time for the rest of Europe to realise the urgency of breaking the status quo, writes Pierrette Pape
Sweden's 'unprecedented and unique' genocide trial
The process of reconciliation and the road to justice for the victims of the Rwandan genocide is one that continues – and the latest development is Sweden's first genocide trial, writes Morvary Samaré