Posts Tagged ‘The European Union’

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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December24

EU Summit Paves the Way for New Irish Vote

By: Tim Neale

At a summit meeting in Brussels last week, European Union heads of state reached an agreement which addresses the “concerns of the Irish people on the Treaty of Lisbon” and allows the Irish government to propose a second referendum.

The communiqué released after the summit commits the EU to:

  • Ensuring Ireland’s policy of neutrality
  • Non-interference in Ireland’s domestic policy on the right to life, education and the family
  • No extension in taxation
  • Attach high importance to social progress and the protection of workers’ rights
  • Re-affirms the responsibilities of the member states for the delivery of education and health

    • services and other general interest services

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November15

Auditors Clear EU Accounts – First Time Ever!

By: Tim Neale

A landmark occasion occurred in the European Union last week. For the first time ever, the European Court of Auditors gave a “clean bill of health” to the EU’s account. It has only taken 14 years.

Previously the Auditors had refused to endorse the accounts, although it found the accounts themselves “reliable.” This means that the European Commission had accurately recorded all transactions, assets and liabilities, but there were problems with how the money was used.

The Auditors report declared due to, “improvements that have taken place,” in accountancy standards the reservations expressed in the previously were “no longer necessary.” Still, the Auditors expressed reservations concerning spending programs accounting for 80 percent of the EU’s budget. They did stress that most of the remaining irregularities were at national level beyond the control of the Commission.

Of particular cause for concern were the EU’s structural funds. This spending on poor EU regions was 42 billion euros (US$53.5 billion) in 2007, the Auditors estimate that “at least,” 4.6 billion euros ($58.8 billion), “should not have been paid out.”

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September23

Has The EU has Been Good for Europe?

By: Tim Neale

Twice in the twentieth century, competition between France and Germany had been major factors in turning Europe into a charnel house. The war in Europe 1939 – 1945 produced death and destruction on a scale never before seen. As many as 60 million dead and just about every major European city damaged.

The first step on the road of European Union was taken in 1950, just five years after the end of WWII, with the creation of The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The objective as stated by the then French foreign minister, Robert Schuman, was to make, “any war between France and Germany…not only unthinkable but materially impossible.” At the time the coal and steel industries were the basis for military power.

In the last 50 years The ECSC of six member states has evolved into The European Union of 27 member states. This deepening and widening of the EU has seen the creation of a single market for goods, services and jobs; a single currency; a European legal system; a directly elected European Parliament and a European defense identity.

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