European Union Archives

POLITICS: European Right Divided Over Islam, Enlargement

Three days did not suffice for a consensus to be reached among the right and centre-right forces in the European Union (EU), which are divided over the future composition of the bloc, and even more so over relations with the Muslim world.

LABOUR-EU: No Flood From the East, Only a Heavy Trickle

By IPS Correspondents

The enlargement of the European Union in May 2004 has not led to the feared floodgate of cheap labour from new member states seeking jobs in the West, according to a new study by a civil rights watchdog.

ENVIRONMENT-EU: Car Tax Will Not Solve Emissions Problem, Groups Warn

By IPS Correspondents

New European proposals to reform car taxation will not result in reduced car emissions, warn environment and transport activists, but could instead have the undesired outcome of more pollution, road accidents and congestion.

TURKEY: Membership Of EU Remains A Sweet Dream

By IPS Correspondents

The European Commission insisted Wednesday that talks on Turkey's membership of the European Union should start on time despite the bloc's constitution crisis.

POLITICS-EU: Leaders Face Tough Questions Over Future

By IPS Correspondents

European leaders face one of the bloc's greatest challenges later this week when they meet to thrash out the future of the bloc during a crucial EU summit.

POLITICS: Balkans Shaken by the ‘No’s’

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic

Leaders in the Balkans have tried to play down the significance of the French and Dutch 'no' to the draft European Union (EU) constitution, but their fears have shown through.

POLITICS: EU Future Uncertain After French ‘Non’

By IPS Correspondents

The future of the European Union seemed unclear Monday as Europe woke up to the news that France had voted overwhelmingly against the bloc's new constitution, and forecasts suggested the Netherlands will do the same later this week.

FRANCE: Triumph of People Becomes Crisis for Govt

By Julio Godoy

The clear French vote against the European constitution has precipitated a grave political crisis for France and for the European Union, with no easy solution in sight.

POLITICS-EUROPE: French Preparing to Say No

By Julio Godoy

All opinions polls suggest that the majority of French citizens will vote against the European constitution in the referendum May 29.

DEVELOPMENT: European Bank Turns Towards Balkans

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic

The annual two-day meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) ended Monday in Belgrade with the attention of this financing institution shifting towards the Balkans nations that suffered wars and international isolation in the recent past.

RIGHTS-EU: New Member States Slammed over Gender Policies

By IPS Correspondents

Gender equality is cause for concern in many Central and Eastern European countries a year after their accession to the European Union, a report says.

TRADE: EU Steps Up Pressure on China over Textiles

By IPS Correspondents

The European Union has stepped up pressure on China to curb what it calls a "ruinous" surge in textile exports, urging it to take action or face possible sanctions to protect the bloc's clothing industry.

SOCIETY-BALKANS: The Road to Money Now Heads East

By Vesna Peric Zimonjic

Thousands of men across the Balkans are heading east in search of a better income.

TRADE: EU Hems In Chinese Textile Exports

By IPS Correspondents

The European Union unveiled an "early warning system" Wednesday to monitor import of China's surging textiles and clothing, and to impose safeguards if it reaches "danger zones".

LABOUR-EU: Unions Welcome Changes to Directive on Services

By IPS Correspondents

Trade unions and political groups have hailed a decision by European leaders to revise controversial plans over the European Union's vast services sector.

POLITICS: EU Heads Towards a Population Crisis

By IPS Correspondents

The European Commission is warning that dramatic demographic changes will have serious consequences for the European social and economic model.

UKRAINE: Not Ready for Europe Yet

By Zoltán Dujisin

Viktor Yuschenko, winner of December's heavily disputed Ukrainian presidential elections, is stepping up efforts to justify his reputation as a candidate of the West by seeking integration in the Euro-Atlantic community.

POLITICS-EU: E-Day Looms for Turkey

By IPS Correspondents

EU leaders will debate Turkey's move to join the bloc this week but it remains unclear when the negotiations on Turkey's entry can start, and what conditions the bloc may attach to them.

RIGHTS: One Step Forward, Two Back. Or Is It the Other Way…

By IPS Correspondents

Turkey took a step closer to the European Union Thursday after EU enlargement commissioner Guenter Verheugen said he was "satisfied" that a row over Turkey's penal code had been resolved.

POLITICS: Adultery Comes Into Turkey’s Date with EU

By IPS Correspondents

Turkey may still aspire to speedy talks to join the EU, but its move to make adultery a crime is in the way.

EUROPEAN UNION: From Mao to Bush – The Long March of Portugal’s PM

By Mario de Queiroz

The spirited Maoist student leader at the University of Lisbon, José Manuel Durão Barroso, never imagined during the turbulent years of the Portuguese revolution that three decades later he would become president of the European Commission, where conservative parties prevail.