European Union

EU Parliament: One Election, 27 Countries

By James Joyner

While the aggregate result of the European Parliament elections was a win for the center-right, there were really 27 separate elections. And, while they theoretically have nothing to do with national politics, they in fact were about little else.

European Security and Defence Forum Launched

By Chatham House

From Chatham House: “A new European Security and Defence Forum based at Chatham House, in partnership with Finmeccanica and with the support of the Italian Istituto Affari Internazionali, has been launched to analyze political and strategic developments in Europe.The Forum will examine what the implications might be for the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security […]

China-Europe Relations a One-Way Street

By Damien Tomkins

Sino-European relations are a one-way street going in China’s direction.  A recent report describes it as “unconditional engagement,” a “policy that gives China access to all the economic and other benefits of cooperation with Europe while asking for little in return.” 

EU’s Energy Policy a ‘Big Failure’

By BusinessWeek

From BusinessWeek: “‘Energy policy is one of the big failures of the European Union in the last fifty years, particularly bearing in mind that we started out as a coal and steel community. But our growing dependence on Russia is going to increase the pressure for a common energy policy, to improve the internal grids […]

European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy Event Transcript

Charlie McCreevy Event FREDERICK KEMPE:  Welcome to you all and thank you for joining us for our third event in the Mapping the Economic and Financial Future series.  I’m Fred Kempe, president and CEO of the Atlantic Council and our speaker tonight is Charlie McCreevy, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services. With […]

All EU Politics is Local

By James Joyner

The lack of enthusiasm for this week’s European Parliament elections is a recurring theme in the press.  In addition to a poll showing growing Euroskepticism in the UK, we see cynicism in France and apathy in Poland.

Euroskepticism Growing on Eve of EU Parliament Elections

By James Joyner

AFP highlights a new poll showing support for the EU is flagging ahead of elections for the European Parliament.

Euro force, NATO overlap

By Washington Times

From Washington Times: “For example, the two jostled for helicopters badlyneeded for both the NATO mission in Afghanistan and the EU mission in Chad in early 2008.‘[It] turned into a beauty contest between NATO and the EU,’ Mr. Whitney said.”

At EU-Russia Summit, Signs Of Strategic Division, Not Strategic Partnership

By RFE/RL

From RFE/RL: “Medvedev also tried to press his advantage at the summit by urging the EU to back his plans for a new ‘security architecture’ for Europe. At the press conference, he sharply attacked NATO — which includes as members most EU member states. ‘We have partnership relations, for example, with the North Atlantic bloc. […]