Attending, what the Commission termed a ‘business-friendly’ conference on Public Administration, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: “Given the size of the total [EU] procurement market… each 5% saved could return around €100 billion to the public purse.” Barroso added: “…just four days ago, the European Council highlighted once again the importance of the […]
Tymošenko – Cox Aims For Berlin Hospital Transfer
The European Parliament’s mission to Ukraine this week will do its best to have Julia Tymošenko transferred to Berlin for hospital treatment in the coming weeks, said Pat Cox, Special Envoy of the European Parliament Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. Speaking at a COSAC meeting at the Seimas, Lithuania, his presentation titled ‘Parliament Diplomacy: The EP and […]
Claude Moraes, Facing Facts. Surveillance Delegation In Washington
“We will have the opportunity to discuss directly with US counterparts the alleged surveillance activities of US authorities and any impact they have in terms of EU citizens fundamental right to privacy,” said Claude Moraes, head of a European Parliament civil liberties committee delegation to Washington. The delegation is in Washington from 28 to 30 October […]
She’s ‘Big In Japan’. Catherine Ashton Secures The East
She’s ‘Big In Japan’. Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy met today with Japanese Foreign Minister, Fumio Kishida and Defence Minister, Itsunori Onodera. Ashton said they took stock of “…our bilateral relations and discussed our common objectives for the forthcoming EU-Japan Summit. We also discussed global and regional issues […]
“We are the richest continent. We can do more” – Schulz On Migration Solidarity
“Lampedusa has become a symbol of a European migration policy,” European Parliament President Martin Schulz told EU leaders at the October European Council, in Brussels. “It should also become a turning point for that migration policy”, he added, calling for greater support of the Mediterranean countries, which receive most irregular migrants trying to enter the […]
The Slim Summit. Barroso Gets Refit And Focused On SMEs
David Cameron is always convinced the EU is losing a few pounds, but more evidence of health fads at the Commission emerged post-Summit. Gone was mention of a well-toned financial Six-Pack, but, wait for it, we’re all buzz with REFIT… Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, is King of the Political Treadmill, but everyone […]
Digital Dialogue At EU Summit. GSMA Seeks Economic Growth From Telecoms Investment
Europe’s lagging investment in communications infrastructure was loudly, though timidly addressed at today’s European Summit in Brussels. Political leaders put the digital economy firmly at the top of their agenda and pointed to its central importance in driving growth, innovation and competitiveness. Increasing the NSA’s angst, and to no one’s surprise, it was the United States’ […]
Digital Single Market By 2015… Upload ‘Optimism’ File.
The Digital Single Market is expected to be completed by 2015. It stands as a key priority on the Lithuanian EU Presidency agenda, said Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė. But if there’s one thing politicians don’t understand very well, just one thing, it’s the digital world – ask Obama, or ask Merkel if you haven’t got Obama’s […]
Socialist Swoboda Must Apologise For UK Slur, Insists Callanan
Martin Callanan, British MEP and leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament, has strongly criticised Socialist group leader, Hannes Swoboda. Callanan insisted that Swoboda, a close ally of United Kingdom Opposition leader, Ed Miliband, should apologise for his “outrageous slur” against the British government, after claiming that the tragic murder […]
Brok Insists On Proactive EU Foreign Policy
It can’t be business as usual for Ashton’s successor, MEPs insisted, Thursday. Deputies called for a new approach to EU foreign policy based on leadership and the defence of the EU’s interests and values. Above all, they insist, the EU must be proactive, set priorities and make full use of EU and member states’ resources […]