Jun
29
JEF PR: European Political Foundations paving the way for a true European dialogue
June 29, 2007 | 2 Comments
JEF welcomes the Commission’s endorsement of the revision of the financing statute for political parties and the introduction of European political foundations. After the introduction of the financing of European political parties, the introduction of European political foundations remained to be done as the next logical step. JEF calls on the Council and European Parliament [...]
Jun
27
Deutscher Führungskräftenachwuchs hat keine Zeit sich gesellschaftlich zu engagieren
June 27, 2007 | 2 Comments
Im heutigen Artikel “Jederzeit den Koffer packen” der Süddeutschen Zeitung bin ich über die Führungskräftestudie von PriceWaterhouseCoopers gestoßen. Diese Studie legt recht umfangreiche Ergebnisse einer Befragung von mehr als 300 deutschen Nachwuchsmanagern unter 40 vor.
Leider verständliche Realität ist der Mangel an gesellschaftlichem Engagement. Das Fehlen sozialer Sicherung im erweiterten Sinne und der sehr optimistische Glaube [...]
Jun
26
IGC road map
June 26, 2007 | 1 Comment
Next steps:
EP votes its opinion on the opening of the IGC in July (10-12)
Commission presents its opinion probably 10 July
Formal opening of negotiations around 23 July
Finalising debate with European Summit 18/19 October 2007
Ratification until summer 2008 (Ireland already indicate that it would hold its referendum in spring 2008)
I hope that at least ratification will be [...]
Jun
25
I am too dangerous for China
June 25, 2007 | 3 Comments
There is a fantastic new website project called “Great Firewall of China“. With this website you can check which websites cannot be visited from within China. – This blog is one of them. Isn’t that frightening? – I guess that I have never even mentioned anything related to China and still they block me. Maybe [...]
Jun
23
After months of secret Sherpa negotiations outside of parliamentary control, European leaders came together to this weekend’s EU summit to fix the institutional impasse for the better – or worse. The further weakening of the frail Constitutional Treaty is the ultimate evidence of the Union’s biggest structural problem: The right of every random government to [...]
Jun
21
EU-Gipfel: Merkel spielt Bundestag und Europäisches Parlament mit Chuzpe aus
June 21, 2007 | 1 Comment
Chapeau, Frau Merkel. Sie haben es geschafft, sowohl den Bundestag als auch das Europäische Parlament politisch komplett kalt zu stellen und ihnen trotzdem noch das Gefühl gegeben, Ihre volle Aufmerkamkeit zu genießen.
Ja, Sie wissen schon. Ich meine Ihre Strategie für die Erarbeitung des “Reform Treaty” (ehemals EU Verfassungsvertrag). Über Monate haben Sie in Ihren offiziellen [...]
Jun
21
Wallström answers to JEF open letter – Germans don’t
June 21, 2007 | 1 Comment
Just a few hours ahead of the start of the European Summit I am receiving Margot Wallström’s answer to JEF’s Open Letter to the heads of government, Commission and European Parliament. The open letter was published on this blog right after sending it out on 13 June. This is what I call good communication policy! [...]
Jun
20
German EU Presidency proposal for IGC leaked
June 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
It took almost a day until it was leaked, but here we go. This document spells out what the Sherpas discussed yesterday evening. EUobserver writes more about those discussions.
All this behind-the-doors wrangling has been the most efficient attempt in sidelining parliamentary democracy.
More comments will follow with the summit opening or indeed with hopefully some results [...]
Jun
14
Sherpas are concluding consultations – next steps
The Sherpa consultations of the German chief negotiators Silberberg and Corsepius with their counterparts from the other 26 member states have been concluded last week. Now, they are preparing a draft paper for the European Council. To some extent surprisingly is that the paper for the summit will already [...]
Jun
13
JEF PR: JEF-Europe sends 6-point-strong open demand letter to Merkel and European leaders
June 13, 2007 | Leave a Comment
JEF-Europe Press Release – 13.06.2007 – for immediate release
Young people expect more from Europe: Today the Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) are sending a demand letter to Chancellor Merkel, all European governments, the Commission President, the European Parliament President and the sherpas (those known) to ask them not to castrate the European Constitution. On 16 June, [...]