European Politics and Institutions

The October European Council was a relatively drama-free stepping stone on the road to a more decisive summit in December.

The world needs a ‘Fourth Way’ based on human rights provisions guaranteeing economic, social, religious and ethnic equality that can be applied across all cultures and faiths.

The current crisis had its origins in the excesses of financial sector. But it soon became a wider economic and sovereign debt crisis, and it is fast becoming a political crisis to which the EU must urgently respond.

The Black Sea region is of huge geostrategic importance to the EU, acting as an energy corridor and a bridge to the East, but the EU is yet to fully harness the potential for closer relations with partners in the region, participants heard in a Policy Dialogue.

The recent polarisation of Albanian politics has seen the country waste a lot of time on its journey to potential EU accession, but the progress made in the last twenty years is striking, heard participants in a Policy Dialogue.

Federalism means different things to different people, but few commentators doubt that eurozone members must become more closely integrated if the EU is to overcome the crisis, heard participants in a Policy Dialogue held in cooperation with Notre Europe.

The EU’s emissions trading scheme will continue to be a key element of its climate policy, but the allocation of permits must be adapted to match the realities of the economic crisis and avoid over-flooding the market, said Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, at a Breakfast Policy Briefing.

At their 28-29 June summit, which took place in ‘deep-crisis mode’, EU leaders agreed on two immediate measures designed to relax bond markets and relieve the pressure on Spain and Italy, participants heard at a Post-Summit Briefing.

Despite disillusionment with the slow pace of progress towards membership, EU accession remains the best anchor to secure economic growth and future prosperity for the Balkan region, heard participants at a Policy Dialogue.

The key to overcoming the stalemate in negotiations and making progress towards uniting Cyprus lies in Ankara’s hands, said George Iacovou, Advisor of the Greek Cypriot Community to the UN Peace Talks, in a Policy Briefing.