Danièle Nouy may not be a well-known name to many Europeans yet, but she has an important role: starting in 2014, the European Central Bank (ECB) will be responsible for the supervision of the major banks in Europe. This is only a first element of the ‘Banking Union’ that Europe has called for since the financial crisis. Others have to follow - otherwise the ‘Banking Union’ will remain toothless.
This article aims to glance beyond the legal and administrative dimensions of EU enlargement and integration and examine conceptions and expressions of identity, suggesting the possibility that, although it is always difficult to judge success and failure in foreign policy making, the notion of identity, if approached with caution, can provide with useful hints for understanding challenges in external and internal EU politics. In this light, a few years down the line, what challenges has enlargement posed to the EU in terms of identity?
Greece takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union at a particularly trying time - for Greece and the whole Union. Before the European Parliament, Prime Minister Samaras underlined that Greece has suffered more than any other country before in the EU. Despite, Greece tries on its commitment to implement structural reforms. In the context of tense EU-Greek relations, are we to expect a radical reorientation of EU policy from the Greek presidency?
2014, marking the centenary of the First World War, is a landmark year for Europe. It may seem as a macabre birthday, for some, to celebrate the kick-off of the deadliest century in Europe, with its First World War erupting in the summer of 1914. Others may think that 100 years is far away, and that Europe is now immune from war. So why is it important to celebrate the centenary of the Great War?
Recent forecasts about the state of the Latvian economy in 2014 are largely optimistic and predict that the Baltic country will maintain its position among the top-performing EU nations this year in terms of economic growth. Many commentators have highlighted the importance of Latvia’s recent accession to the euro zone for its continued post-crisis recovery in 2014. However, apart from facilitating progress towards the Baltic nations’ medium- and long-term economic goals, the euro zone also poses a number of important challenges to national and European policy-makers.
Lampedusa is emblematic for “The Other Euro Crisis”. The number of people who seek sanctuary in the European Union and the life-threatening extent to which they go for refuge render it necessary to revisit our Common European Asylum System with due regard to the New Year’s special: The Recast Dublin Regulation (Dublin III). “A brave new world or a lipstick on a pig?” that is the question.
In the abundant Eurosceptic speech of the British Conservatives, one bête noire stands out: the Working Time Directive. First adopted in 1993 and twice modified since then, this piece of European legislation compels EU member states to adopt minimal norms of working time arrangements. As the debate heats up over its revision, let us ask an important question – is it just costly red tape?
On the 19th and 20th of December 2013, for the first time since 2008, a European Council dedicated a significant part of its time to defence. This article analyses the decisions made at the Council meeting and aims to determine their impact on the future of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
One of the main points of contention of the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy is the relationship of the CSDP with the existing NATO framework. This article aims to present the current status of this complex relationship and the problems affecting their co-existence.
After two months of negotiations, the German election has finally led to the Grand coalition desired by some and feared by others. Chancellor Merkel commands a majority of 504 out of 631 members of the Bundestag, the remaining 127, composed of Die Grünen and Die Linke, form the opposition of 20% of the votes. Merkel autarchy and opposition pro forma, is this democratic? Hardly.