European Union

The Long Arm of the Volcker Rule

By Ben Carliner

The new Volcker Rule seeks to prevent banks that are ‘too big to fail’ from trading on their own account. The idea is that institutions that benefit from public guarantees like deposit insurance and the central banks’ lender of last resort function shouldn’t be allowed to make risky bets that will fall to the taxpayer […]

As Europe becomes a ‘sanctions machine,’ it still lacks a strategy

By Charlemagne, the Economist

From Charlemagne, the Economist:  Hardly a meeting of foreign ministers passes without punitive measures against a brutal regime: import and investment bans, restrictions on financial dealings, hit-lists with hundreds of people stopped from entering the EU and having their assets frozen.

Ukraine, Like Russia, Is Becoming a ‘Virtual Mafia State’

By Taras Kuzio

Yuriy Lutsenko, former Interior Minister in two governments led by Yulia Tymoshenko, was sentenced this week to four years imprisonment and given a three years ban from public office.

On to Chicago: Enter the European Union

By Sven Biscop, the New Atlanticist

From Sven Biscop, the New Atlanticist:  At the NATO Summit in Chicago a first assessment of the Alliance’s Smart Defense initiative is expected.

Qatar PM calls for arming Syrian rebels

By Michael Peel and Abigail Fielding-Smith, the Financial Times

From Michael Peel and Abigail Fielding-Smith, the Financial Times:  The oil-rich Gulf state of Qatar backed arming Syrian rebels on Monday, echoing fresh calls from opposition figures for a military response to the relentless regime bombardment of anti-government strongholds. As Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar’s prime minister, said opponents of President Bashar al-Assad should […]

On to Chicago: Enter the European Union

By Sven Biscop

At the NATO Summit in Chicago a first assessment of the Alliance’s Smart Defense initiative is expected. As the European Union is invited, the first results of its Pooling & Sharing Initiative will be discussed as well. On the NATO side in particular there is a search for “flagship projects” substantial enough to present to […]

The U.S. and Denmark – NATO Allies and Global Partners

By the White House

The European Union and the Syrian Gridlock

By Vivien Pertusot

The United Nations account of the 8317 dead and counting in Syria is disturbing, even more so as the international community remains divided and actions to curb violence have proved unsuccessful. In this apparent gridlock, the European Union has adopted a hard-pressed and steady posture against the regime. The pressure may be growingly biting, yet […]