It is a poor reflection on the EU’s China activities if the latest available organigrarmme is nearly five years old and there is no agreement as to how many Dialogues, Working Groups (WG) etc there are.  It indicates a serious lack of coordination.     The structure of EU-China relations according to the Commission in December 2005 [...]

Despite the changed circumstances, the debate over the effectiveness of the ‘Community method’ as compared with ‘intergovernmentalism’, rages on.  Those who regard themselves as ‘true believers’ see the Community method as the Holy Grail.  There is a belief that the Community method equates to Jean Monnet’s methodology.  The European Council is anathema to them as [...]

The EU Summit has come and gone, but was hijacked over the Roma dispute.  This meant that little time was spent on discussing strategies towards third countries, including China.  There was an inconclusive discussion at the recent informal foreign ministers’ meeting. We do know how the EU High Representative for Foreign & Security Policy/Commission Vice [...]

• Many fewer Poles than other EU respondents approve of Obama’s handling of international policies. • Given the choice between accepting a nuclear Iran and taking military action, 64% of Americans and 43% of Europeans favour military action. • Fewer than 20% of EU and US citizens believe that China plays a positive role internationally. [...]

What is the SCO? The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has, to the surprise of many, emerged as a force to be reckoned with in Central Asia. The ‘Shanghai Five’, founded in 1996, became the SCO in 2001.  Its members are China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.  India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are Observers.  Belarus [...]

The Commission President delivered to the European Parliament on 7 September his first State of the Union Message.  This comprised a catalogue of current problems without offering concrete remedies.  Implementation is the problem.  President Barroso has a great opportunity in his second term to make a mark.  But he should focus on a small number [...]

The World Commerce Review of September 2010 contained the following article: US-China relations: storm clouds gathering Stanley Crossick President Hu Jintao’s long-planned visit to the United States is not likely to take place soon, as Beijing has postponed the preparatory talks as tensions mount between the two countries. Their relationship has global reach and influences [...]

We live in a new austerity world and a much more critical look must be taken of all public expenditure.  It is important that the European Parliament has regular contact with third country parliaments.  However, these contacts should be effective and cost-effective.  15 MEPs, representing the parliament’s political groups and a number of Member States, [...]

A worrying and increasingly bitter debate continues in the United States on whether a mosque should be allowed at Ground Zero.  But how widely is it understood  that: • The building is two blocks away from Ground Zero and cannot be seen from there • The building is not a mosque as we know it, but a [...]