International Organizations

End of EU Arms Embargo with China may Spark Transatlantic Quarrel

By John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune

From John Vinocur, the International Herald Tribune:  [T]he E.U.’s attitude on its 20-year-old embargo on supplying China with military wherewithal looks wobbly.

Chinese Amb: “Cold Europe is feeling the warmth of the Chinese breeze”

By Anthony Faiola, the Washington Post

From Anthony Faiola, the Washington Post:  [S]peculation among traders that cash-rich China might step in and buy hard-hit European bonds, along with Chinese officials suggesting that Beijing would keep supporting the euro, helped the currency claw out a gain Monday

Claude-France Arnould new head of European Defence Agency

By the European Union

From the European Union:  Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy/Commission Vice President … welcomed the appointment of Claude-France Arnould as Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA).

Polish border guards to patrol Greek-Turkish border

By Xinhua

From Xinhua:  Twelve border guards from four Polish units will patrol the Greek-Turkish border for two months, the border guards’ command said on Wednesday. The border guards are taking part in a joint operation of European Union border guards coordinated by Frontex. Frontex is the EU agency based in Warsaw, created as a specialized and […]

Baltic Allies Warn that France-Russia Mistral deal “is a mistake”

By expatica.com

The Putinization of Hungary

By the Editors of the Washington Post

From the Editors of the Washington Post:  The right-wing Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban won 53 percent of the popular vote in an election this year but gained 66 percent of the seats in parliament – enough to change the constitution.

“Belarus was playing off Russia, the E.U. and China”

By Judy Dempsey

From Judy Dempsey:  As demonstrators in the Belarussian capital of Minsk protested Sunday night against what they claimed were flawed presidential election results, the European Union looked on helplessly. Hundreds of people were beaten and imprisoned. The opposition’s offices were raided. Web sites of independent movements were shut down. Searches and house arrests of those […]

Ashton picks Finn to be EU ‘spymaster’

By Andrew Rettman, the EUobserver

Ashton Warns Europe it is Losing Influence in US

By Stephen Castle, the New York Times

From Stephen Castle, the New York Times:  In her first major report on foreign policy, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, acknowledged that Washington was focusing less on Europe, and warned that the bloc would need to show more unity if it hoped to change that dynamic.