Criticism of Catherine Ashton not going to Haiti shows why a Commission not directly answerable to the electorate has its advantages.  Most national politicians fly to disaster areas for domestic political reasons.  The last thing Haiti wants is herds of VIPs using valuable airport space and requiring attention, but with nothing to offer solely because [...]

The new treaty entered into force on 1 December; Hermann van Rompuy took office on 1 January; Cathleen Ashton, while already High Representative for Foreign & Security Policy, had to face her Europêan Parliament Hearing on 11 January; and the new Commission does not come into being until February.  And yet, to read the media, [...]

A casual reader of the European and American media might be forgiven for thinking that many people see the West losing out to China over trade. It is understandable that many, including of course those who have lost their jobs to China, see a rising trade deficit (EU €169 billion and US $268 billion in [...]

The following letter will appear in European Voice on 21 January: Your report of Catherine Ashton’s hearing gave her two stars out of five (“Commissioners’ hearings”, 14-20 January).  You found her performance “uninspired and uninspiring” and stated that some members of the European Parliament were “exasperated” at “her evasive replies”. These views seem to echo [...]

Lisbon Treaty and a new EU hierarchy point to greater stability and a resurgent dynamism” by Stanley Crossick, published in the Beijing Review 24 December 2009. “The year 2009 was a difficult one for the European Union (EU). The European Parliament elections, held in June, are always disruptive. The results were disappointing with a low [...]

The loss by the US Democrats of Senator Kennedy’s seat in the home of liberalism, could be a wake-up call for the West to take time out from preaching democracy to others, in order to take a good look at how  democracy is faring in our own countries.  In most of them, the government and [...]

“The right of the European citizen to move freely throughout the EU is the clearest and most important demonstration that the EU Treaties are ultimately concerned with individual freedom.” This is how Professor Sir David Edward, former European Court justice, prefaces a report published yesterday by ECAS (European Citizen Action Service) on better enforcement of [...]

In my first post of 11 October 2007, I wrote: “This is the beginning of an unknown journey for me. I hope that you find I have something worthwhile to say and that you will bear with me until I professionalise my blogging.” All I can say that I knew I was talkative but not [...]

Implementation of the Lisbon Treaty will make for more simple and easier communication between European governments By STANLEY CROSSICK Published in the Beijing Review 17 December 2009 After years of debate, disagreements and false starts, the European Union (EU) gave birth to the Lisbon Treaty, at long last, on December 1. First conceived on December [...]

Haiti is one of just 23 countries that recognize Taiwan.  China has in the past used aid to encourage countries to ‘de-recognize’ Taiwan. And yet China was one of the first countries to announce aid to Haiti, which is also receiving aid from Taipei.  A cargo plane left Beijing on 16 January with $2 million [...]