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Archives for EU

Trilateral China-EU-US relationship

December 4, 2009

Set out below is my contribution to the debate, organized by the Forum for American/Chinese exchange at Stanford, at Peking University in 19 November 2009 in China-EU-US trilateral relations. We have been asked to address six questions: But first, some broad remarks: I can’t resist commenting on Michael Chapman’s provocative and entertaining contribution. Until this… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

China, EU, US

, China, China-EU-US, Obama

President Sarkozy puts self interest first

December 2, 2009

“Do you know what it means for me to see for the first time in 50 years a French European commissioner in charge of the internal market, including financial services, including the City [of London]?” “I want the world to see the victory of the European model, which has nothing to do with the excesses… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

EU, EU Institutions, EU Treaty & Institutions

, EU financial services, Michel Barnier, Nicolas Sarkozy

Forum on China-EU Strategic Partnership 19-20 November

November 27, 2009

The prime question is: why did Beijing choose to hold such a major event? The decision was only taken in late September. There were some 200 delegates and another 100 observers. The Chinese official line-up was impressive, including Li Keqiang, Li Junru, Dai Binguo, Zhang Zhijun and a separate meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao (see… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

China, EU

, China, China-EU, EU

The new EU appointees: first reactions may be wrong

November 21, 2009

Many reactions to the appointments of Herman van Rompuy as president of the European Council and Catherine Ashton as foreign policy chief have been negative. They deserve a second thought. While the secrecy in which the appointments were made is disappointing, it is understandable that consensus was needed on this occasion; hopefully not next time… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

EU, EU Institutions

, Ashton, European Council President, Foreign Policy High Representative, Lisbon Treaty, Van Rompuy

Lisbon Treaty: single voice or cacophony?

November 15, 2009

We now have our new treaty, which is supposed to enhance the EU’s ability to act by improving the efficiency and effectiveness of its institutions and decision-making process. At last, third countries will deal with a more unified entity; and will know the telephone number to call. Or so we dream… What do we have… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

EU, EU Institutions

, Chris Patten, David Miliband, European Council President, High Representative for CFSP, Peter Mandelson, Tarja Halonen

Lisbon Treaty: Foreign Policy Chief more important

October 31, 2009

It looks at last that the Lisbon Treaty will come into force – even as hoped for – on 1 January 2010. Discussion so far has been mainly on whether Tony Blair should be given the first post, and to a lesser extent on what should be the determining criteria. It seems clear that Blair… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

, Blair, European Council President, Halonen, High Representative, Lisbon Treaty, Miliband, Patten

China and EU: tackling global challenges

October 24, 2009

The following are my concluding remarks at the 6th China-EU Think Tank Roundtable (CIIS-EPC) held in Changzhou, PRC on 21-22 October 2009: We have had a rich and fruitful discussion facilitated by excellent time discipline. Underpinning all discussions was the search for mutual understanding and the elimination of misperceptions. We do not sufficiently trust each… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

China, EU

, Add new tag, China, China-EU

Future role of national parliaments in the EU

September 7, 2009

The German Constitutional Court judgment is likely to provoke parliaments in other Member States to seek ways of controlling their governments when acting in the EU Council. Were they all to choose the Danish model, the consequences for Council negotiations would be dramatic. Danish ministers, before attending EU Council meetings, require a negotiating mandate from… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

EU, EU Institutions

, EU national parliaments, german constitutional court, Myparl, Poettering, Walstrom

Size is relative

August 27, 2009

It’s interesting to compare the populations of EU Member States with those of Chinese provinces: • 14 Chinese provinces figure in the biggest 20 • 4 are bigger than Germany • 8 are bigger than France and the UK • 9 are bigger than Italy • 14 are bigger than Spain • 15 are bigger… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

China, EU

, China, EU, Member States, populations

Have we forgotten our history?

June 15, 2009

The columnist, Gwynne Dyer, has drawn my attention to an article, written by Colonel Sergei Kovalev, Director of the scientific research department at the Institute of Military History. It is entitled “Fictions and Falsifications in Evaluating the USSR’s Role On the Eve of the Second World War.” Kovalev asserts that the Poles, not the Germans,… » read more

Posted by Stanley Crossick

EU, Germany, international, Russia

, balance of power, BRIC, European Community, multipolar world, Russia, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, US hegemony

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