Oct 13 2007
The weekend of 11th-13th October saw the first ever multi-lingual and pan-european deliberative poll take place in Brussels. E3G is a partner of this Tomorrow’s Europe initiative, and I was there to see how things took shape.
During the weekend I wrote an article for the dLiberation blog over on openDemocracy, which has been tracking the poll process. If you’d like to comment, I’d suggest you
Aug 30 2007
I recently saw that the homepage of the European Commission’s Representation in the UK includes a web poll entitled “What should be the new main challenge for the EU?”
The top response so far is ‘Fighting climate change’ – way out in front of the other options.
Web poll image
It will be interesting to see if votes for ‘Making the institutions closer to the citizens’
Jun 07 2007
Following the launch of the Italian version of our ‘Europe in the World’ pamphlet, Caffe’ Europa web magazine has published the pamphlet’s concluding section on the political challenge facing Europe.
This was where we set out some ideas about how Europe could invest in democratic mechanisms that would buttress the creaking structures of party politics.
Firstly, we suggested that the European
May 22 2007
Europe must have confidence that by making low-carbon choices it will become more competitive, prosperous and secure.
That’s the key theme of an interview with E3G Founding Director John Ashton, speaking in his role as Special Representative for Climate Change of the UK Foreign Office.
John also reflects on the nature of the political and diplomatic challenge faced, the role of Central and
May 09 2007
The latest in Green Alliance’s soap box series of debates will take place at 6.30pm on the 16th May, focused on the question Can Europe lead the world to a stable climate?.
As coincidence would have it, E3G will be in Rome that day launching the Italian version of our ‘Europe in the World’ pamphlet, which includes some of our thoughts on precisely this issue. We’re disappointed to miss the
May 03 2007
An independent study commissioned by Green MEPs Caroline Lucas and Jean Lambert has revealed that the double seat arrangement of the European Parliament generates at least 20,000 extra tones of CO2 emissions – hastening climate change. But only a unanimous decision by Member States can change this situation.
The report, written by the consultancy Eco-Logica, was presented in Strasbourg on
Feb 27 2007
Over recent weeks, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has been setting out a strong line on the need for Europe to look out at the world if it is to meet its future challenges.
Following below are extracts from his speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 17 January 2007. I’ve highlighted some of his key phrases.
It’s great to see a senior European leader focussing
Feb 27 2007
It seems that José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, is undertaking a high-risk re-election strategy as the end of his term in office comes into view. He certainly had strong words to say about some of his fellow politicians in a speech to the European Parliament last week.
But before getting to the political backbiting, let’s focus on the positive. Barroso is really
Jan 25 2007
Back on January 4th, Timothy Garton Ash’s regular Guardian column made some very pertinent points about the political challenge facing Europe as we enter 2007.
Noting the New Year expansion of the EU from 25 to 27 member states as Bulgaria and Romania joined, he rightly poses the question:
There is so much to celebrate - but why do we see so little celebration?”
The tremendous paradox of
Jan 17 2007
Thanks to Clive Bates for an engaging review and insightful critique of the E3G ‘Europe in the World’ pamphlet on his ‘Bacon Butty’ blog.
Judging from the first paragraph, I think we can say that Clive likes it:
Terrific pamphlet by Tom Burke and Nick Mabey of E3G. Their Europe in the World publication is a vision for Europe painted on the broadest possible canvas - an inspiring call for