Posts tagged ‘Europe’
Europe: Ireland’s EU referendums
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012A poll on a fiscal treaty would be the ninth EU-related referendum in Ireland. Stephen Dineen looks at the electorate’s track record. The Government’s reluctance to hold a referendum on an EU fiscal compact is not surprising. Regardless of the amount of time, energy and cost involved, Ireland’s relationship with the EU at the polling booth has become complicated. UCD political scientist Professor Richard Sinnott, an expert on Ireland’s voting behaviour in EU referendums, told eolas he believes any forthcoming EU referendum will differ from previous ones. The Irish referendum...[full story]
Europe: European Diary
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012New Parliament President As was widely expected, Socialists and Democrats Group leader Martin Schulz won the European Parliament presidency with 387 votes. This followed a deal with the European People’s Party, which had nominated the previous President (Jerzy Buzek) in 2009. In his acceptance speech, Schulz asserted that the MEPs were the “advocates of ordinary people” and criticised heads of government for making decisions “behind closed doors”. Opposing candidates Nirj Deva and Diana Wallis described Schulz’s election as a ‘stitch-up’ but he says...[full story]
Europe: European Citizen’s Initiative explained
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Peter Cheney considers the pros and cons of the European Citizens’ Initiative, a new system for sending 1 million-strong petitions to the Commission. From 1 April, people can start mass petitions to the European Commission, which it promises to consider as it draws up policy. The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is a lesser known part of the Lisbon Treaty which may improve the EU’s accountability or, alternatively, become a vehicle for populist causes. Commissioners claim that the initiative will help citizens influence EU policy. The Commission is commonly viewed as the most...[full story]
Europe: The Danish presidency’s priorities
Tuesday, February 7th, 2012Denmark is presiding over the Council of the European Union, at a critical time for the euro, although it is not itself a member. The country sees itself as an honest broker amid the crisis, and wants to make Europe more responsible, more dynamic, greener and safer. Responsibility essentially means financial discipline. Denmark has kept a prudent budget and, on its watch, the first European semester (a review of national budgeting) will be completed. It is seeking progress on the Basel 3 standards for banking reform on negotiations on the EU’s 2014-2020 budget (the Multiannual Financial...[full story]
Europe: Nessa Childers – Responsible role
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010Nessa Childers MEP meets Meadhbh Monahan in the European Parliament to discuss her wide remit in Brussels and how decisions made now will affect future generations. In a committee that deals with a broad range of topics, Nessa Childers acknowledges that “if you focus on everything there would be no time.” The Labour woman was elected in June 2009 with 78,338 first preference votes and represents Ireland East which stretches from Offaly to Wexford. As well as being a full member of the Environment Committee (one of the largest committees in the Parliament), Childers is a substitute...[full story]
Europe: Research in the marketplace
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010Research Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn tells Meadhbh Monahan that Europe will support Ireland’s budget and explains the need for more integration between researchers and business. “Europe stands ready to be helpful and to assist in whatever the Irish Government wants done,” was the message from the Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, in advance of the €6 billion budget. The Irish Commissioner, and former Fianna Fáil TD, said that “whatever help is asked for will be provided”. She also appealed to Europe’s government finance departments,...[full story]
Europe: After Lisbon – our place in Europe
Friday, January 1st, 2010Peter Cheney assesses the Lisbon Treaty’s final implications for Ireland in Europe. The anniversary of one celebrated uniting moment in Europe’s history roughly coincided in November with another, more debated one. The Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989 while the Czech President added his signature to the Lisbon Treaty on 3 November 2009. While the swift end of the Iron Curtain was almost universally welcomed, Lisbon has followed a convoluted route and sparked controversy since its signature in the Portuguese capital nearly two years ago. Its consequences at a European level are...[full story]
Europe: State of the nations
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009eolas looks at the make-up of the new European Parliament. Looking across Europe, at first glance only the Green grouping had a good election. The European People’s Party (EPP) remains the largest designation in the Parliament and the now Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), which has replaced the Party of European Socialists (PES), did not benefit as it may have been expected to after an anticipated revolt against centre and right parties. That revolt did not appear, although in Ireland the Labour Party did buck the trend, returning three MEPs: Proinsias de...[full story]
