John Wyles, writing this week in the “European Voice” correctly stresses that the Irish vote has not plunged the European Union into crisis, but that its legitimacy needs a “serious repair job”.
But I disagree that “it would be absurd to ask them to vote a second time when no substantial remodelling of the
Lisbon is needed [...]

The most difficult outcome of yesterday’s encouraging and constructive China-EU roundtable at the Chinese Mission to the EU, between a Chinese Tibetan delegation and Brussels think tanks, was to understand the Chinese approach to the ongoing talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives, a further round taking place next week in Beijing.
Most interestingly, the discussion focussed [...]

We appear to be in for a roller-coaster ride under the French – or rather Sarkozy – Presidency, which begins in a few days. Most worrying is his declared intention to travel to Ireland presidency to help find a solution. His reactions so far are not conducive to his playing a constructive role. [...]

As we continue to examine the implications of the Irish ‘No’, it is pertinent to remember that, less than 30 years ago, half the Member States of the European Union were dictatorships.
That is a measure of the progress of the Union. But such facts are quickly overlooked: “Eaten bread is soon forgotten”
This also [...]

Pawel Swieboda, President of DemosEUROPA, proposes that future treaty reforms should be about single issues such as energy & climate change or foreign policy. This would meet the criticism that new treaties are incomprehensible with a confusing array of changes.
Single issue treaties would mean that the citizens are taken seriously and considered genuine partners in [...]

“America Between the Wars: From 11/9 to 9/11”, by Derek Chollet and James Goldgeier, is an interesting read, in particular in highlighting the continuities of policies of the Clinton and George W Bush Administrations.
American exceptionalism is alive and well in both parties as can be seen from the speeches of both Senators McCain and [...]

The Financial Times first leader of 19 June hits the nail on the head. “It is time the EU leaders went out and sold their success story to their voters.”
Voters will not appreciate the importance of the EU to them unless their leaders explain the importance of the Union and its relevance to their everyday [...]

“In the coming 20 years, China-US-EU relationship will decide the trend of international relations” (Zbigniew Brzezinski: c 2004)
It is timely to review the state of the three bilateral relationships and the prospects for the trilateral relationship, following the 17th Party Congress, the PRC-EU November 2007 Summit, the Third US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in [...]

The EU Summit later this week will begin the search for a solution. But before a problem can be solved, it must be identified. There were several reasons for voting No and it is may not be possible to form an accurate overview.
This is both an Irish problem and an EU problem. It is not [...]

We are probably going to have to wait until just before the Democratic National Convention before we know the identity of Barack Obama’s running mate. For Obama it is a question of whom he will work with; for many it is who may succeed him.
The nominee must both be a vote-winner and compatible to work with. [...]