A "fair measure". This is the argument brought up by the French Socialist party whose candidate Francois Hollande has recently proposed to set up a new 75% income tax for incomes above 1 million euros (£834,000). This new proposal, by a man almost sure to stand at the second turn of the presidential election has probably upset a few - if not a lot - of people. Indeed, according to a recent study by Credit Suisse published in October 2011, France is the country with the highest number of millionaires in Europe : 2.6 million. But is there really a general trend of raising taxes for the most fortunates across Europe ? Read more

31 May 2012. This is the date Taoiseach Enda Kenny, head of Fine Gael currently senior partner in a center-left and center-right coalition with the Irish Labour Party since 9 March 2011, has chosen to hold the referendum validating the ratification of the EU's Fiscal Compact signed on 2 March 2012 by the Oireachtas - the country's parliament. This referendum is a major stake for this once prosperous nation, which has suffered from the economic crisis. For the first time, this insular 4.5 million inhabitants republic, which has a habit of rejecting treaties at first (like Lisbon or Nice), could this time find itself completely isolated should the "no" win. Read more

Few scholars have attempted a systematic comparison of populism in Western and post-communist Europe: studies of populism tend to be limited to one region or another, and when pan-European studies do occur, regional specificities disappear in an attempt not to essentialize “east” and “west”. The more theory-driven work on populism, however, offers useful tools to compare the nature and the causes of populist discourse at both ends of the European Union.   Read more

North Kosovo's status remains one of the main challenges to be addressed in the Balkans. Tensions have risen again recently. It is a dangerous turn of events, since violence could lead to the destabilisation of the entire region. Based on interviews with local actors, this article will discuss how bridges can be built and how divides can be overcome. Read more