Posts Tagged ‘Nicolas Sarkozy’

January8

Confusion Reigns in EU’s Response to Gaza War

By: Tim Neale

Sarkozy’s success could undermine Czech EU Presidency

ecbe5b9960f2As the conflict in Gaza entered its 12th day, some of the diplomatic activity was beginning to pay off. A three-hour cease fire gave some respite. On Wednesday afternoon it appeared that the French-Egyptian initiative, put together by France’s hyper-active President, Nicolas Sarkozy, could lead to a permanent cease-fire.

However, the process has exposed the institutional weaknesses in the European Union that the Lisbon treaty was meant to address.

The Problems of the Rotating Presidency
Presidency of the Council of the European Union, commonly known as the EU Presidency, rotates between the member stats of the EU. Each holds the post for six months. The EU Presidency should not to be confused with the President of the European Commission, a post currently by José Manuel Barroso.

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October13

Eurozone Countries Agree Bank Rescue Plan

By: Tim Neale

Meeting at the weekend in Paris, the heads of states of the eurozone have agreed a response to the banking crises. The eurozone comprises the 15 countries that use the euro. This meeting was the first such, since the euro was launched in 1999.

The three key components of the plan are

  • Countries will inject capital into their banks if necessary by buying preference shares
  • Countries will guarantee interbank leading until the end of next year
  • The European Central Bank will attempt to boost liquidity

The eurozone states have based their plan on the £500 billion (US$865 billion) UK plan announced last week. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown attended the eurozone meeting even though the UK is not a member.

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September2

The EU Unites Over Georgia

By: Tim Neale

“Relations between the EU and Russia have reached a crossroads.”

At an extraordinary meeting in Brussels on Monday, Sep. 1, the European Council considered the European Union’s (EU) response to the Russian-Georgian conflict and Russia’s subsequent recognition of parts of Georgia as independent states.

The European Council consists of the 27 heads of the EU member states. France currently holds the rotating presidency. French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, called the first emergency summit since 2003 to find a united response to the conflicts in the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

In a strongly worded communiqué, The European Council said it was “greatly concerned by the open conflict which has broken out in Georgia, by the resulting violence and by the disproportionate reaction of Russia.” It stated that, “military action of this kind is not a solution and is not acceptable.”

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July25

Sarkozy Visits Dublin

By: Tim Neale

Nicolas Sarkozy’s visit to Dublin on Jul. 21 was a non-event. The French President, in an uncharacteristic display of tact and diplomacy, spent his time in Dublin soothing feathers, unnecessarily ruffled the previous week. Nothing was decided, other than decisions will be made later.

Irish voters have presented the European Union (EU) with a considerable problem by rejecting the Lisbon treaty in a referendum in June. All member states have to ratify the treaty for it to come into effect.

It is France’s turn at the revolving EU presidency. It is as head of the EU that Sarkozy visited Dublin. Prior to his visit, there was consternation in Dublin, when Sarkozy was reported to have said, “The Irish will have to vote again.” On Monday after a meeting with Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Brian Cowen, he flatly denied that he had ever said such a thing. “We don’t want to push you into anything,” he said at a joint press conference with Cowen.

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