Never again? Debate to mark WW1 centenary

One century ago Europe was on the brink of one of history's deadliest conflicts that would change our world forever. MEPs commemorated the centenary of the Great War during a debate on 16 April, warning that peace and stability should never be taken for granted. They also called for more integration and stressed the importance of fighting nationalism to ensure peace, stability and security in Europe.

WW I was the first great catastrophe of the 20th century, said EP President Martin Schulz, pointing out the importance of  international cooperation.

Banking union made easy: a five-minute guide to the EU's new rules

A banking union is being set up by the EU to help keep Europe's financial system stable and prevent another crisis from taking place. It requires finding a fast and efficient way to deal with failing banks while ensuring that taxpayers are spared from paying for bankers' mistakes. As MEPs prepare to vote on 15 April on an agreement with the Council on how to deal with failing banks, we take a closer look at the issues involved. Read on for an overview of how banking in Europe is about to change.

France sends first foreign minister to Cuba in 30 years

 HAVANA: France's foreign minister was expected to arrive in Cuba on Saturday for a brief but historic visit, the first by such a high-ranking French official in 30 years and a sign of the quickening pace of improving ties between the European Union and Havana.

Foreign minister Laurent Fabius was scheduled to have a working lunch with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez before meeting with Cardinal Jaime Ortega and then French businessmen.

Rodriguez met with Laurent in Paris last month.

Ukraine Making sense of sanctions

Visa bans, freezing assets, boycotts: There is no lack of suggestions of how to tone down Russian aggression. But what good would sanctions do? Politicians are growing increasingly skeptical. DW takes a look. 

The European Union has said it is halting visa talks with Russia following an emergency summit of the bloc's leaders where they discussed ways to punish Russia for its recent exploits on the Crimean Peninsula. If Russia continues to reject negotiations, further measures are to be taken, which could entail economic sanctions.

Obama: Crimea Referendum Violates International Law

President Barack Obama says new sanctions will "impose a cost" on Russia for its military move into Crimea and that a planned referendum on whether the peninsula should join Russia violates international law and Ukraine's constitution.

Mr. Obama told reporters at the White House an executive order he signed Thursday authorizes sanctions, including visa restrictions, on those who violate Ukraine's territorial integrity or steal the assets of the Ukrainian people.

He said that the steps were taken in "close coordination" with America's European allies, adding that he was "pleased that our international unity is on display at this critical moment."

Developments following the Swiss referendum on 9th February. -Statement by European Commissioner László Andor

On behalf of European Commission to European Parliament plenary session.
-

President,

Honourable Members,

Let me say a few words on the recent developments following the Swiss referendum held on 9 February.

As you know, the Free Movement Agreement between the EU and Switzerland, confers on EU citizens and their family members a right to move to Switzerland, to reside there and carry out an economic activity as an employed or self-employed person (and of course the corresponding right of Swiss nationals in the EU).

Putin rejects meddling in Ukraine. -Pas de révision des accords avec l'Ukraine si l'opposition arrive au pouvoir

The EU and Russia agreed Tuesday to discuss their sharp differences over Ukraine and eastern Europe as President Vladimir Putin again warned against foreign meddling in former Soviet states.
Putin went into a summit with European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission head Jose Manuel Barroso billed as a "clear the air session" only for both sides to come out stressing the positives.
Apparently aiming to calm the waters in Ukraine, Putin also promised not to review crucial aid worth $15 billion (11 billion euros) even if the opposition, hostile to closer ties with Russia, takes power there.

As Ukraine Opposition Rallies Intensify, Lenin Statue Falls. -A group of masked youths apparently belonging to the Svoboda nationalist party used a steel cable to rip it down

KIEV, December 8 (RIA Novosti) – Several hundred thousand people gathered in the Ukrainian capital Sunday for one of the largest protest rallies in the former Soviet nation’s history, throwing down the gauntlet to a government that has resisted calls for negotiation with the opposition.

In an incident that may have spark criminal investigations and cast a shadow over the generally pacific events, however, a group of nationalists ripped down a statue of Soviet revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin.
The mass assembly in Kiev was the biggest to date since the government last month pulled out of preparations to sign landmark political and trade deals with the EU, sparking widespread indignation across Ukraine.

Hellenic MoFA: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Venizelos presents the logo of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union

 

 -

MFA, Monday, 25 November 2013 
  -  
E. VENIZELOS: We now come to the presentation of the logo. The Presidency’s logo is very important, because it is the Presidency’s hallmark.

This hallmark will accompany and certify our every action. It will accompany every event that happens within the framework of our Presidency. I think it sets out in a very clear manner our basic communication strategy for a Greek European Presidency.

Ukraine protesters demand Kiev sign deal with EU.

Clashes between protesters and police erupted Sunday as tens of thousands demanded that Kiev sign a landmark trade deal with the EU next week as planned. Ukraine is widely seen to have bowed to pressure from Moscow not to sign the agreement.

 Tens of thousands of Ukrainian protesters, angered that Kiev has dropped plans to sign a landmark trade deal with the EU, clashed with police on Sunday as they tried to storm the government building in the capital.

Protesters waving EU flags tried to break through the police ranks surrounding the building, with some throwing stones and hitting officers with the signs they were carrying, as police fought back with batons and tear gas.

Türkischer Minister droht Merkel mit Konsequenzen/ Οι Τούρκοι έχουν "σαλτάρει" και απειλούν τη Γερμανία....

--

Der Streit zwischen Berlin und Ankara um das harte Vorgehen der türkischen Regierung gegen Demonstranten eskaliert. Wegen deutschlandkritischer Äußerungen der Regierung in Ankara wurde am Freitag der türkische Botschafter in Berlin, Hüseyin Avni Karslioglu, ins Auswärtige Amt (AA) einbestellt. Äußerungen zu den EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen seien auf großes Unverständnis gestoßen. "Das geht so nicht", sagte AA-Sprecher Andreas Peschke.

Kurz darauf bestellte das türkische Außenministerium den deutschen Botschafter Eberhard Pohl ein, wie eine Ministeriumssprecherin auf Anfrage bestätigte. Außenminister Ahmet Davutoglu habe bei einem Besuch im ukrainischen Odessa gesagt, Grund seien Aussagen Pohls und aus Deutschland, meldete die Nachrichtenagentur Anadolu. Da Pohl sich nicht in Ankara aufhalte, werde ihn ein anderer Diplomat vertreten.

EU's Ashton calls for restraint following incidents at Taksim Gezi Park in Constantinople

 --

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Ashton called on all sides to act with restraint after incidents in Taksim Gezi Park

 

Ankara (AA) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on Sunday called on all sides to act with restraint after the incidents in Istanbul's Taksim Gezi Park.
In a statement made, Ashton's spokesperson said that they were concerned about Turkish police using "excessive force"[1] at Taksim.

Merkel und Hollande wollen Vollzeit-Euro-Chef

Kanzlerin Angela Merkel und Frankreichs Staatschef François Hollande wollen das Euro-Krisenmanagement stärken: Künftig soll die Eurogruppe von einem hauptamtlichen Präsidenten geführt werden.
Das schlugen beide Politiker am Donnerstag in Paris vor. Es brauche mehr Koordinierung, um den Stabilitäts- und Wachstumspakt umzusetzen, zudem ein Budget der Euro-Zone für den Kampf gegen Arbeitslosigkeit, eine bessere Umsetzung der Bankenunion, mehr Steuerharmonisierung und zusätzliche Gipfeltreffen zur Abstimmung der Euro-Partner.

Das Treffen von Merkel und Hollande war mit Spannung erwartet worden. Oft schienen beide weit weg von einem gemeinsamen Ansatz im Kampf gegen die Krise. Immer wieder traten Differenzen auch offen zutage.

Pour Hollande, Bruxelles "n'a pas à nous dicter ce que nous avons à faire".....

 -

"La commission européenne n'a pas à dicter ce que nous avons à faire." François Hollande a répliqué sur un mode souverain, mercredi 29 mai, à l'issue d'une visite de l'usine Bosch d' Onet le Château (Aveyron), en périphérie de Rodez, alors que la Commission européenne a demandé à la France de mettre en œuvre davantage de réformes structurelles.

China offers 4-point proposal on furthering cooperation with Greece .... Greece will play a constructive role in helping address trade disputes between China and the EU

--

BEIJING, May 16 (Xinhua) --

 Chinese Premier Li Keqiang offered a four-point proposal on boosting the country's cooperation with Greece on Thursday.
The proposal was raised by Li during his talks with his visiting Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

'Wasting a whole generation of people in Europe is stupid'

-

The “stupid” austerity measures imposed after the 2011 EU bailout may see Portugal losing all the gains of the Carnation Revolution, European MP, Rui Tavares, told RT on the anniversary of the peaceful coup of 1974.
Frustration with austerity is deepening among Europeans, with one in five of the workforce without a job in Portugal and Spain's unemployment jumping to a record of 27.2 per cent.

People in the two heavily-indebted nations are launching fresh protests against their governments and international lenders.

Ten years since the signature of the Treaty of Athens

Ten years ago, on April 16, 2003, the Treaty of Accession to the European Union of 10 European countries – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia – was signed in Athens. This historical event took place during the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union and is enshrined forever as one of the most important documents of the reunited Europe. Later, on May 1, 2004, all our countries became fully fledged members of the reunified European family comprising 25 member states at that time. It was the largest single expansion since the Paris Treaty of 1951, the forerunner of the EU, in terms of population, number of states and territory.
Moreover, it was the symbolic completion of the vital strategic goal of all the acceding member states to finally put an end to the post-World War II period by returning to the common space of freedom and stability, democracy and prosperity. The signature of the Treaty of Athens opened a new era for the acceding countries, for their citizens and ultimately for the whole of Europe.

Tears of Tibet: A Seminar at European Parliament

DHARAMSHALA: In view of the ongoing self-immolations in Tibet, MEPs from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) will host a seminar titled “Tears of Tibet” at the European Parliament in Brussels on Wednesday (10 April). The conference will assess the impacts of Chinese policies on human rights and the environment in Tibet, and the role of Europe Union.
“Tensions between the local Tibetans and the Chinese state have increased since the Tibetan uprising against the Chinese rule in 2008. Up to now we have unfortunately not seen any significant signs that the Chinese state is looking to achieve a genuine peace settlement,” ALDE said. Since 2009, over 114 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet calling for freedom for Tibetans and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland.

ALDE said the conference aims to review EP action for a peaceful solution and to discuss how to change the approach/strategy in order to help the Tibetan people. It expressed its belief that the EU should have a stronger role in trying to solve the growing tension in Tibet. 

Cyprus to face savage cuts and economic dictatorship....

By Jordan Shilton and Chris Marsden(wsws.org)
23 March 2013

Cyprus’ fate illustrates how the European Union imposes the dictatorship of the global speculators, banks and corporations on the working class. The EU yesterday continued to demand massive austerity in Cyprus to raise €6 billion ($7.8 billion) in return for a €10 billion bank bailout.
The island country has been the centre of an escalating financial crisis, with its parliament voting Wednesday to reject proposals to raise the necessary funds by taking money from anyone with deposits in Cypriot banks. 

A new vote on whether to impose a “haircut” on depositors was delayed until today. The EU and European Central Bank (ECB) dismissed proposals by Cypriot politicians—themselves wholly reactionary—to create a “solidarity fund” to raise the six billion demanded.

Was the euro ever "about to collapse"?

Hong Kong (CNN) -- Less than six months ago, eurozone watchers had been predicting the breakup of the 17-member bloc of nations as the euro plunged to a 25-month low against the U.S. dollar last July.

Even as recently as November, Warren Buffett, the famed CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, said of the eurozone's future that "it's hard to tell exactly how it comes out."

But since then, the euro has appreciated nearly 11% as its member countries battled to contain sovereign debt crises, rising unemployment and social unrest. The euro now stands at a 13-month high against the greenback.