tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.comments2024-02-25T10:22:38.186+00:00The European CitizenEurocentrichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comBlogger800125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-78821816380137815852015-01-22T13:27:23.896+00:002015-01-22T13:27:23.896+00:00Thank you very much for this post,I think there sh...Thank you very much for this post,I think there should be equality before the law and there should not be discrimination.Uba Babshttp://www.fuoye.edu.ngnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-37164896169179709552014-11-29T02:15:43.615+00:002014-11-29T02:15:43.615+00:00I came to this blog after hearing an argument that...I came to this blog after hearing an argument that even if the UK left the EU it would still have not be able to limit immigration while remaining in the free trade area. So I was trying to find out whether that's true, and what benefits are conferred by membership of the European Free Trade area.<br /><br />(At first - cards on the table - my own position supports unlimited EU immigration and UK's membership of the EU... just trying to find out.)<br /><br />On the benefits of being in a European Free Trade Area, I'm not clear after reading this article what benefits are derived from the EFTA which aren't in any case derived from GATT. The article talks about reducing tariffs and quotas... isn't that actually what GATT has done?<br /><br />About free movement, I'd appreciate opinion/gudance about what Members' options reality are. It did seem like a requirement until Switzerland held a referendum which opted-out of that part; and "the Club" apparently said "ah, okay". But I remember that Brits have always needed a work visa to take a position n Switzerland, and my understanding was that we had to have a relevant degree qualification.<br /><br />So apologies if my questions are a little off-topic, but I do feel like contributors to this page would have useful knowledge to impart. Thanks in advance for that.Tsuchanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10802208798059687774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-29852830158239170472014-02-17T11:24:32.224+00:002014-02-17T11:24:32.224+00:00Bloggingportal does not only represent a valuable ...Bloggingportal does not only represent a valuable instrument to get timely and worth-noting insights on EU affairs, it's also a project that shows how a voluntary initiative can be put at the service of the blogging community. I hope they will be able to continue their work for a long time. Congratulations and happy birthday.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-84452103541379595482014-01-28T22:17:43.439+00:002014-01-28T22:17:43.439+00:00Happy birthday! And to another 5+ years!Happy birthday! And to another 5+ years!karmelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12412365904246939283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-67460240863997719822013-12-16T11:17:45.223+00:002013-12-16T11:17:45.223+00:00The first euro zone country to leave a bailout, Ir...The first euro zone country to leave a bailout, Ireland's exit has been hailed by EU leaders as a sign the worst of the continent's debt crisis is over. Kenny forecast growth could allow the national debt to be cut by a quarter in seven years. <br /><br />Regards,<br /><a href="http://www.worldquip.com/" rel="nofollow">Komatsu Parts</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13342846903877358192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-4351971449613879222013-11-28T17:56:54.052+00:002013-11-28T17:56:54.052+00:00Eu não entendo o argumento?Eu não entendo o argumento?Eurocentrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-66991760187763349382013-11-28T15:06:58.865+00:002013-11-28T15:06:58.865+00:00Eu defendo que as intituições Europeias tenham mai...Eu defendo que as intituições Europeias tenham mais poderes e também o direito ao veto total Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-85251969456676116832013-11-07T12:20:43.611+00:002013-11-07T12:20:43.611+00:00Such an outcome was unfortunately on the card from...Such an outcome was unfortunately on the card from the start. A key characteristic of the "primary" decided by the PES is the clause such that "A [national] party can only nominate or support one potential candidate". <br /><br />Rules of coalitional politics heavily push in favour of a unique "real" candidate with such a clause. Here is why. Big players like France or Germany will not wish to be in a losing coalition. Hence they will most likely agree on a common compromise candidate before a primary instead of going each for different candidates. Once Germany and France have agreed on one candidate, other countries will follow for the same reason. Only minor candidates from peripheral national parties are likely to be opposed to the main one in this set up. However they would still need to gather a minimum support of 6 national parties to be able to run. That is not a likely scenario.<br /><br />As a consequence the final outcome is unfortunately not surprising. The desire of parties to keep hold on the decision process was written from the start in the primary rules which are not conducive to a real political competition. If the PES wants to have a real primary next time they have to accept that candidates should not be supported by a coalition of national parties. This defies the purpose of a democratic primary.<br /><br />LPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-64599994602318581202013-10-21T18:02:15.055+01:002013-10-21T18:02:15.055+01:00Changed it to avoid confusion. However, the Group ...Changed it to avoid confusion. However, the Group website is generally more informative when it comes to policy and matters like the primaries (not that I found much information on that).Eurocentrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-58773034494723140072013-10-21T12:16:58.561+01:002013-10-21T12:16:58.561+01:00please correct the hyperlink for the European Peop...please correct the hyperlink for the European People's Party from eppgroup.eu to epp.eu (note: it's the Party that will campaign not the Group)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-20408741629352323052013-09-13T08:22:02.125+01:002013-09-13T08:22:02.125+01:00Thanks for your great information, the contents ar...Thanks for your great information, the contents are quiet interesting.I will be waiting for your next post.<a href="http://www.eyecandylingerie.co.uk" rel="nofollow">stripper costumes</a>indiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10314249659232466442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-11057841892044924572013-06-09T03:41:51.681+01:002013-06-09T03:41:51.681+01:00It is ironic that the European Parliament is thoug...It is ironic that the European Parliament is thought to have a democratic deficit when the average population in a MP's district is about 50,000 less than in an average US House district. As I argue in http://thewordenreport.blogspot.com/2013/06/congress-hitched-to-status-quo.html, the US House could become more democratic by expanding to 751 seats, which we now know is viable. Dr. Wordenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02867414605883311000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-51716605197496624522013-06-06T05:30:16.408+01:002013-06-06T05:30:16.408+01:00The crucial issue remains the choice between Europ...The crucial issue remains the choice between European level democracy for European level issues and 17 / 27 national scrutiny processes from as many perspectives. Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-13371168491533362762013-05-14T15:36:08.080+01:002013-05-14T15:36:08.080+01:00Absolutely spot on.cameron will not last to2017.ca...Absolutely spot on.cameron will not last to2017.cameron not really the problem .murdoch & his rabid right wing pack hounds(sorry press) is the problem. Untill we can get him barred from uk he will dictate policy. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13703893994182871851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-41068139145900273722013-05-13T03:03:09.340+01:002013-05-13T03:03:09.340+01:00Interesting point on the trade deficit - does this...Interesting point on the trade deficit - does this mean that your argument is to introduce tariff barriers after leaving the EU to obstruct trade with the EU and boost UK industry? How does this tie in with your idea for a free trade area elsewhere and with then continuing to trade with the EU through this group?<br /><br />Common law is more suitable for protecting freedom than the civil law? In your post you write:<br /><br />"European Law says that if something is not specifically permitted under some codified rule, then it is illegal. This difference in legal systems is so profound that the UK should never have joined the EU."<br /><br />This is just wrong. The Civil Law does not prohibit something unless a law explicitly permits it - do you think an industrial country like Germany would be so innovative and do so well with manufacturing if the parliament had to pass laws to legalise inventions (would Benz have invented his car?)? Plus it is a fundamental principle of EU law that if a good is legally produced in its home country (i.e. not prohibited by law), then it can be freely sold across the EU (Cassis de Dijon case).<br /><br />When it comes to human rights the European Court of Human Rights (not part of the EU) deals largely with this area, and is largely inspired by the Common Law. Indeed, the EU Court of Justice draws a lot of inspiration from Common law practice as well as Civil law practice.<br /><br />The EU does not have the competence to decide on the structure of Member States' criminal systems, so it cannot change trial by jury (recent reforms in the criminal justice system are the policy and initiative of the UK government).Eurocentrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-32190950712778297052013-05-13T03:02:23.197+01:002013-05-13T03:02:23.197+01:00Perhaps if you narrow the debate to the "rich...Perhaps if you narrow the debate to the "richness" of a country, then you might be satisfied with that (though Switzerland has almost 120 treaties with the EU governing its integration and it is not represented in the EU institutions), but political participation does matter when it comes to issues of global regulatory standards, environmental regulation and co-operation and co-operation on justice and cross-border crime fighting. I do not make the argument that being part of a large block is important for being wealthy, but it has a bearing on the political and regulatory choices you make in the global economy.<br /><br />It's interesting that on your blog post, you write:<br /><br />"If the UK leaves the EU it will re-form a trade association with Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, perhaps India or Russia and others that will bring the EU to the negotiating table on equal terms. This will ensure that our car manufacturers and other industry has the same access to European markets as they do today if desired. Britain has about £0.5 trillion of imports and about £0.5 trillion of exports and will transform EFTA into a major economic power."<br /><br />First of all, the EFTA area is highly integrated into the EU system and has a court that mirrors what the ECJ does, by and large. The idea that this new trading bloc would balance the EU (leaving aside the fairly major issues of building a trading coalition between these countries which either have their own EU arrangements or are further flung or have their own commonwealth), the EU negotiates as a bloc due to the fact that it's a single market, which is quite distinct from a simple free trade area. The former covers market regulation and integration with a common customs area, while the later just concerns lowering tariff barriers.<br /><br />Therefore it's highly unlikely that having a free trade area or several free trade agreements will lead to a common negotiating position, because there isn't the level of institutional integration required. Notice that the EU is negotiating with the US for a Free Trade deal, not NAFTA.<br /><br />The EU budget has failed passage and there are problems with it. As it is has to be passed as a whol (including EU funds spent by the Member States), it would be better to be able to pass it in parts so there would be more political pressure to reform the areas that are worst performing. The UK budget does not have to face a similar test, but if you've data for comparison, that would be interesting.Eurocentrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-6389008432791607042013-05-12T19:52:44.379+01:002013-05-12T19:52:44.379+01:00Size and influence are not important in the pro-EU...Size and influence are not important in the pro-EU/anti-EU debate. Canada, Australia and Switzerland are some of the richest countries in the world and are all richer than most EU countries.<br /><br />Peace was enhanced by the EEC but the EU has led to riots and discord.<br /><br />Many economies that are loosely linked are more stable than a single large economy.<br /><br />The EU has not passed its annual audit in 18 years. There is corruption and cronyism, it is no paradise.<br /><br />The trade deficit between the EU and UK was £70 billion in 2012, this is unsustainable.<br /><br />There will be a democratic deficit if there is closer union. Independence movements will arise in all the more distant countries such as the UK.<br /><br />Common Law is more suitable for protecting freedom that the regulations of Civil Law.<br /><br />What is the pro-EU argument? As you can see from the above list we lose far more than we gain. A return to the EEC might be acceptable but European Political Union will be a disaster. See http://pol-check.blogspot.com/2013/05/membership-of-eu-pros-and-cons.htmlJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07442010719863995872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-26814531297844680072013-05-10T22:48:58.158+01:002013-05-10T22:48:58.158+01:00The EU and the euro is in a state of disintegratio...The EU and the euro is in a state of disintegration, so I am not too sure Europeans have much to celebrate. Its well know of the democratic deficit that runs right through many of the institutions of the EU, three unelected presidents? The quicker the UK cuts loose from the EU red tape and regulation addiction the better.<br /><br />http://marlinspikenestor8435.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/have-the-european-people-finally-lost-their-belief-in-the-eu/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-33076985154802476412013-05-09T12:01:04.077+01:002013-05-09T12:01:04.077+01:00A Europa não pode voltar aos venhos tempos e o cam...A Europa não pode voltar aos venhos tempos e o caminho em frente é pensamos que esta é uma boa altura de mundar a Europa com uma alianças inteligentes e eficientes como uma europa de competividade e de sustentabilidade e com qualidade de vida Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-43178280650270715732013-05-01T13:39:59.161+01:002013-05-01T13:39:59.161+01:00The main advantage is that PNR can be collected, a...The main advantage is that PNR can be collected, analysed and alerts raised before the aircraft has taken off, whilst most API is sent to governments 15 mins after departure. In many cases the aircraft arrives before the API data is checked. <br /><br />The PNR data that is sent to governments is limited to 19 elements that are useful for spotting known criminals and people who are on travel patterns that have been identified as potentially risky. It does not include Special Service Requests such as your food preference. Risk assessments are stored so that innocent people who share details with serious crimnals are not repeatedly intercepted, which can happen today.<br /><br />Personally identifiable data is only visible for a limited time and independent data authorities must inspect the conditions under which it is stored. These government systems are at least as secure as the travel industry global distribution systems that hold the original reservation data. <br /><br />The directive allows security authorities to ask the same questions pre-departure that they currently ask on arrival. This increases the chance of identifying serious criminals before they board the aircraft. I think most people would welcome a government service that automates in advance the checks that are undertaken whilst waiting in line at a border control point and reduces the possibility that they are sitting next to a serious criminal on their aircraft. <br />PMcKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-39210098223568148662013-04-24T09:49:50.342+01:002013-04-24T09:49:50.342+01:00Corporate Europe Observatory posted a copy of the ...Corporate Europe Observatory posted a copy of the OLAF Supervisory Committee's damning report on OLAF's handling of the investigations on the Dalli case here: http://corporateeurope.org/sites/default/files/supcom_-_executive_summary_-_olaf_investigation_on_dalli_case.pdf<br />The leaked document was not on the agenda of yesterday's meeting of the Budget Control Committee (CONT), but some of that critique surfaced in the annual activity report of the OLAF Supervisory Committee over 2012, which was discussed in CONT yesterday.Corporate Europe Observatoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02010669456243748929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-13076722276277048762013-04-19T10:06:27.048+01:002013-04-19T10:06:27.048+01:00If you just look into the present stage a straight...If you just look into the present stage a straightforward process as the White House e-petition would be easier, sure. But then you miss one important point with the ECI. It is just the very first version of a direct-democratic hardware on the transnational level, which shall and must develop into a fullfledged process of not only agenda-setting but also decision-making. transnationalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10553208470917045391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-36921076925419756142013-04-17T07:56:37.212+01:002013-04-17T07:56:37.212+01:00Somehow the ECI is a reminder that the overly caut...Somehow the ECI is a reminder that the overly cautious EU is afraid of its citizens and that it manages to create a bureaucratic monster out of every molehill. <br /><br />After finishing the kafkaesque obstacle course the initiatiors have no guarantee of future legislation. <br /><br />Why not adopt the simple and informal White House system the next time the EU is forced to change a comma in one of its constricting treaties? Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-15518714796893513392013-04-12T10:43:21.536+01:002013-04-12T10:43:21.536+01:00I hope that Cyprus can get over from this economic...I hope that Cyprus can get over from this economic crisis. I wish that it would be helped by those countries with stable economy.http://www.group-global.org/http://www.group-global.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-2246596489017034572013-04-05T12:18:21.434+01:002013-04-05T12:18:21.434+01:00 Exit the Euro and return to the Cyprus Pound
Thi... Exit the Euro and return to the Cyprus Pound<br /><br />This option would require a deflation of approximately 20-30% along with the significant cost of actually converting the currency and financial instruments. While it would be very difficult in the short term, it would yield several important benefits in the longer term. The country would regain the ability to independently adjust the value of their currency to suit domestic financial conditions instead of being at the mercy of stronger northern EU member states. It would allow them to keep access to the potentially lucrative offshore gas fields. It would give them an opportunity to restructure and further legitimize their banking system<br />http://twarr1.blogspot.com/search/label/EuroTwarr1https://www.blogger.com/profile/13301761551004547442noreply@blogger.com