This post is inspired by an excellent debate hosted last Friday by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, which examined “Israel-Palestine in the New political Configuration: Future Prospects.”
Two ideas strike me as worth consideration, despite the current negative political environment in both Israel and Palestine.  The first is to establish an international trusteeship; and the second is [...]

The following letter has just been published in the European Voice:
 
The European Voice editorial ‘Next Commission president must be appointed in June’ (19-25 March) refers to “the centre-right governments , which are likely to have a majority of MEPs in the next European Parliament and therefore to appoint the next European Commission president.”
 
The European People’s [...]

Europol (European Police Office) assists the law enforcement authorities of Member States in their fight against organised – an important role.  Once again, however, Member State egos come before the interests of EU citizens, which means that Europol, will probably be without a Director when Max-Peter Ratzel retires next month. 
 
Unanimity is required for the [...]

Gordon Brown, in a whirlwind trip to Brussels and the Americas, is seeking to ensure that there will be broad consensus at the G20++ summit in London next month on, in particular, stimulus packages and new regulation. 
 
There is consensus as to the existence of a global economic and financial crisis, but on little else.  [...]

Yesterday’s defeat of the Czech government underlines the need to change the current system of an EU rotating presidency.  It is the third time that a presidency country’s government has been defeated – Denmark in 1993 and Italy in 1996.  
 
It is essential for the leadership and efficiency of the Union that the system be [...]

“…I am proud that by a large majority our British Parliament ratified the Lisbon Treaty”.
 
“And let me repeat: I believe that the European union is uniquely placed to lead in addressing these questions– precisely because we have proved over the last 60 years that we as Europe can meet and master the challenge of cooperation [...]

President Barack Obama is to be congratulated on his video message to Tehran, but he spoiled it by unnecessarily saying:
 
“You, too, have a choice. The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations. You have that right - but it comes with real responsibilities, and [...]

The first leader in the current issue of The Economist refers to the “big idea” that geopolitics is now a bipolar affair, with America and China the only two that matter.  “Thus in London next month the real business will not be the G20 meeting but the ‘G2’ summit between Presidents Barack Obama and Hu [...]

“Owners of capital will stimulate working class to buy more and more of expensive goods, houses and technology, pushing them to take more and more expensive credits, until their debt becomes unbearable.  The unpaid debt will lead to bankruptcy of banks, which will have to be nationalized…”
 
This is a quotation from “Das Kapital” written [...]

A few days ago, Chinese boats jostled with a US naval ocean surveillance vessel that Beijing said was conducting an illegal survey in its waters.  The US National Intelligence Office stated that the Chinese had become assertive in staking claims to international waters and were more militarily aggressive in the South China Sea than before.  [...]