2014 European Elections

Syriza’s victory: maybe a game-changer for Greece, surely not for the rest of Europe

Many expect Syriza’s victory in the Greek elections last month to finally bring an end to austerity within the Eurozone. Yet many factors suggest that this is highly unlikely. Many expect Syriza’s victory in the Greek elections last month to finally bring an end to austerity within the (…)

Tuesday 10 February 2015

Two European institutions, One president, and the Lisbon Treaty

To shed some light on the confusion surrounding the European Council and the Council of the European Union, it is important to understand what was enacted by the Lisbon Treaty on December 1, 2009. To shed some light on the confusion surrounding the European Council and the Council of the (…)

Sunday 21 September 2014

Juncker’s program: let’s be genuinely ‘united in diversity’

Following the election of Jean-Claude Juncker, Le Taurillon offered to campaigners of different political forces to write up a critique of the program that will be set up by the next commission. Today we present the reaction of a young EPP campaigner. On the July 15th, Jean- Claude Junker was (…)

Wednesday 3 September 2014

JEAN-CLAUDE JUNCKER for Dummies

Dear Reader, we know you’ve got loads of questions racing through your mind these summer days: what swimming pool should I pick? Which pub should I go to? A glass of wine or a nice, refreshing beer? And, of course, who’s the new President of the European Commission? This is why you’re here, (…)

Tuesday 26 August 2014

Mrs Merkel, isolated on the European political chessboard?

The German Vice-Chancellor, from the social democratic SPD party, Sigmar Gabriel, has started over-shadowing Chancellor Merkel, not only in Germany but in Europe as well, where he is increasingly popular with his European socialist counterparts. Here is why. The German socialists managed to (…)

Tuesday 29 July 2014

It’s the parties, stupid!

Prospects for a trans-national European democracy by Jo Leinen President of the European Movement International (Wold Commerce Review june 2014) During the campaign for the 2014 European elections many parties campaigned in favour of further democratisation of the European Union. How exactly (…)

Thursday 17 July 2014

The EU administration: small and efficient

At a time when European institutions are heavily criticized - particularly in the UK - for being an expensive and inefficient Leviathan, it is worth reminding a few facts on how much the EU actually costs and what it does. Eurosceptic argument: The EU is a bureaucratic monster with too many (…)

Thursday 26 June 2014

What have we learned from the first proper European elections in Croatia?

These European Parliament elections were the first proper EP elections in Croatia, after Croatia’s accession to the European Union. In 2013 we elected 12 MEPs and following the referendum on Croatia’s accession to the EU, had our first real chance for Croatian citizens to participate in some (…)

Sunday 15 June 2014

Citizens are not stupid: looking at the European Elections from the outside in

Seen by an outsider, the European Elections actually looked more like a success for Europe and transnational democracy - not a failure. Let me tell you why. I do not doubt the dangers hinted at by the rise of ultra-nationalist forces in Europe or elsewhere. Most of my family died in the (…)

Thursday 12 June 2014

Ireland European Elections Overview

Ireland is used to political earthquakes lately. Since the 2011 General Election Ireland’s party system has changed beyond all recognition. From being the ‘Natural Party of Government’, Fianna Fáil (FF), a centrist party with populist leanings that is a member of ALDE, fell to an unprecedented (…)

Monday 9 June 2014

Ukraine crisis - killing Euroscepticism in Eastern Europe?

Euromaidan set in motion a train of events whose great impact on the world nobody could predict. Ukraine is in turmoil, the Crimean peninsula joined the Russian Federation, the EU and the USA have started economic retaliatory attack and some even speak about the Cold War comeback. The crisis has (…)

Tuesday 3 June 2014

It’s not about them, it’s about YOU

Over 100 million Europeans voted for parties with Spitzenkandidaten in Sunday’s elections, but David Cameron and Viktor Orbán are working behind the scenes to sabotage our democratic choice. Their contempt for European voters is breathtaking. Certain themes pop up again and again when talking (…)

Thursday 29 May 2014
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