The Euro Blog: June 2005

Thursday, June 30, 2005

Perspectives
War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds. The ET: "We, too, want to join the European Union"

- Cartoon by Veenenbos for Der Standard (Vienna)

UK to push for deal on EU budget

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says drawing up a "rational budget" will be a key part of the UK agenda as it takes over the presidency of the EU. Mr Straw said he hoped financial agreement could be reached by the end of the year. European Commission president José Barroso said a deal would "not be easy" and that leaders needed to compromise.

More: BBC News

Saturday, June 25, 2005

What if the EU stops expanding?

The European Union has been expanding by leaps and bounds.
The Economist asks what happens if it stops.

Thursday, June 23, 2005

Blair prepares for EU presidency

Tony Blair is being portrayed as the architect of Europe's latest political crisis as he prepares to launch a British EU presidency which is in deep trouble even before it starts.

Read more: The Independent

- Cartoon by Steve Bell for The Guardian (London)

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Investors feel better in Germany

Germans believe better times may finally lie ahead for their struggling economy. At least that's the conclusion from a poll of investor confidence by the economic institute ZEW.

See more on TV Reuters

- Cartoon by Martin Rowson for The Guardian (London)

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Europe after Beijing?

The eyes will be pointed next month to Singapore, where a meeting of the International Olympic Committee will elect the host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012. Paris is already the winner for many, but the European Union have two more chances to host it: London and Madrid. Moscow and New York are also on the race. The election that will decide will take place from 6 to 9 July.

Discover the 5 candidate cities official websites:

Paris
London
Madrid
New York
Moscow

- Cartoon de Mix & Remix for l'Hebdo (Lausanne)

Saturday, June 18, 2005

Chaos in European summit

The EU summit to agree a budget collapsed last night amid some of the most bitter recriminations ever seen between European leaders, with Jacques Chirac denouncing the British position as pathetic and tragic, and Tony Blair describing the French defence of agricultural subsidies as bizarre.

Read the whole article on The Guardian

Friday, June 17, 2005

EU heading for budget collision

Leaders of the European Union have resumed talks in Brussels to tackle the deadlock over its budget with the UK's rebate at the heart of the dispute.

Britain says it will veto any bid to cut its 4.4bn euro (£3bn) rebate without a reform of farm subsidies - something France refuses to discuss. Sweden has suggested putting off any budget decision for a year.

Read the whole article on BBC News

- Cartoon by Schrank for The Independent (London)

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Europe turmoil as treaty collapses

Tony Blair and Jacques Chirac are set for an icy Paris showdown today after the Prime Minister accused the French President of living in the past and France lost its fight to save the ill-fated constitutional treaty.

Read the whole article in The Times

Monday, June 13, 2005

Can the EU be saved?

Still the referendums. The rejection of the European constitution by France and the Netherlands has given new voice to the euro’s critics. What are the real dangers?

Here's the analysis by The Economist

- Cartoon by Schneider for Tageblatt (Luxembourg)

How our money is spent?

In 2005, the European Union is expected to spend 106.3 billion euros, or 1% of its members' gross national income. Here's how the EU will use it's money this year: Take a look!

Europa más rica

Pueden sentirse mas europeos los catalanes, gallegos y vascos. La UE finalmente permite el uso en las instituciones comunitarias de las lenguas cooficiales de España: el catalán, el gallego y el euskera. Una buena decisión! La Europa sólo tiene a ganar.

Para saber más: El Mundo