The concept of a ‘flexible Europe’ seems to translate across borders. In a joint letter to the Dutch Parliament, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem have reiterated the government’s position that it wants countries to hav…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
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dutch politics, European integration, flexible EU, mark rutte, opt-out, schengen |
July 12, 2012
Throughout the eurozone crisis, we have often highlighted the gap between the kind of ‘shock and awe’ decisions expected by financial markets, and what national democracies are able to deliver. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the on-goin…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
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Bild Zeitung, debt-pooling, esm, European integration, financial markets, fiscal treaty, German Constitutional Court, germany, Martin Schulz, Merkel, schauble, sovereignty |
April 14, 2012
As you’re aware, “the EU” has a range of different Presidents – a frequent source of confusion for both citizens in Europe and partners from abroad. Socialist MEP Martin Schulz is one of them, being the President of the European Parliament. While Schul…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
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euro, euro realism, European integration, Martin Schulz, Merkel, structural funds |
December 15, 2011
Yesterday witnessed a heated and fractious debate (a former Foreign Minister walked out in protest) in the Polish Sejm concerning the conclusion of the Polish Presidency of the EU and last week’s EU summit. Polish PM Donald Tusk kicked off the procee…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
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EU integration, European integration, franco-german axis, Poland, sovereignty |
November 11, 2011
Today’s Telegraph quotes EU diplomatic sources saying that Britain is fighting France and Germany in order to resurrect the “Ioannina compromise.” This would not only have the effect of resurrecting an obscure piece of EU legal history, but it could al…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
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britain in europe, Cameron, coalition govenrment, European integration, eurozone, QMV |
August 3, 2010
Frits Bolkestein, the former Commissioner for the Internal Market and former leader of the Dutch liberals, isn’t shying away from frank talk. Earlier this year he penned a dynamite article together with Roman Herzog, former German President and Luder G…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
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bolkestein, European integration, european parliament, guy verhofstadt, liberals |
June 18, 2010
This afternoon Commission President Barroso, speaking at the European University Institute in Florence, sent a reminder to the UK’s Coalition Government and others why the game over the EU’s economic government is far from over. According to Italia…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
February 10, 2010
Latest word is that the eurozone group is holding an emergency video conference this afternoon to discuss Greece’s economic situation and possible ways to go ahead with a much anticipated (read: much feared) bailout of the country. This morning’s press…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
February 4, 2010
So it has happened that the European Commission – aided by new powers in the Lisbon Treaty (article 121) – has effectively taken control over the Greek economy, demanding pay freezes, tax hikes and reforms of labour markets and the country’s healthcare…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
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emu, euro, European Commission, European integration, Greece |
January 21, 2010
An issue facing those who want to constructively question the path of EU integration – the kind of democratic opposition that is desperately lacking from EU politics, most notably in the European Parliament – is that EU enthusiasts automatically portra…
Posted by Open Europe blog team
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