Research
When negotiations begin: The next phase in EU-Turkey relations
05 November 2004
Turkey has succeeded in completing the first group of Herculean tasks set by the EU. Ten years ago, it was hard to imagine that Turkey would abolish the death penalty, permit children to learn in Kurdish and place a civilian in charge of national security.
A guide to the referenda on the EU constitutional treaty
27 October 2004
On October 29th EU leaders will formally sign the new EU constitutional treaty at a ceremony in Rome. The 25 EU governments will then have two years to ratify the document. Governments can ratify the constitutional treaty by a parliamentary vote, or they can hold a referendum – in a...
A fair referee? The European Commission and EU competition policy
01 October 2004
The EU's policies for enforcing competition and restricting state subsidies are among its biggest success stories. But the way the European Commission conducts these policies is coming under attack.
Europe in space
01 October 2004
Europe should invest more in space-based technology to promote its economic and security interests. The authors argue that major satellite projects such as Galileo not only boost Europe's high-tech industry and competitiveness.
Learning to live with the new Russia
01 October 2004
The terrorist attack on the Beslan school in North Ossetia horrified people all over Europe, as in other continents. And yet, despite the wave of sympathy that briefly united Russians and other Europeans, the fallout from Beslan is likely to damage the relationship between Russia and the EU.
That relationship had...
That relationship had...
Energy security: A new agenda for Europe
01 October 2004
For almost 50 years, Europe's priority has been to achieve peace and prosperity by strengthening the ties between its nations. The last 20 years in particular have seen Europe focused on the internal challenges of German reunification, enlargement and the establishment of the single currency.
A new era in European democracy
01 October 2004
The era of European integration by stealth is over. At least nine EU countries are committed to holding a referendum on the new constitutional treaty.
Ukraine's European choice
01 October 2004
During the 1990s, the EU was busy completing its single market, introducing the euro and helping the Central and East European applicants get ready for accession.
An asset but not a model: Turkey, the EU and the wider Middle East
01 October 2004
Many politicians and commentators tend to disparage the EU's nascent foreign policy. They should travel to Turkey. It is true that the EU has a poor record in making its mark on global crises.
A guide to the referenda on the EU Constitutional treaty
01 October 2004
On 29 October 2004 EU leaders will formally sign the new EU constitutional treaty at a ceremony in Rome. The 25 EU governments will then have two years to ratify the document. Governments can ratify the constitutional treaty by a parliamentary vote, or they can hold a referendum – in a few member-states a referendum is mandatory.
Issue 38 - 2004
24 September 2004
- Learning to live with the new Russia, Charles Grant
- Energy security: A new agenda for Europe, Nick Butler
- A new era in European democracy, Steven Everts, Daniel Keohane
Over but far from finished - The EU's financial services action plan
01 September 2004
The EU has now all but completed the legislative phase of its financial services action plan (FSAP). The action plan is an attempt to reduce the legal obstacles which prevent businesses – whether banks, insurance companies or stock exchanges – from selling their services seamlessly across the EU.
Barroso's Galacticos? The new European Commission
06 August 2004
José Manuel Durão Barroso unveiled his new Commission on 12 August 2004 – confirming his burgeoning reputation as a deft political tactician. Barroso has crafted a carefully balanced team, which emphasises his own independence as incoming Commission president.
The recipe for a successful Commission
02 August 2004
Dear José Manuel Durao Barroso,Congratulations on your appointment as president of the European Commission. You were not everyone's first choice for the post in fact you were initially not even in the running.
Is tax competition bad?
02 August 2004
EU enlargement was meant to be a cause for celebration. But one seemingly esoteric issue is threatening to spoil the fun: taxation. West Europeans fear that low tax rates in the new member-states will lure companies eastward, taking jobs and investment with them.
The peculiarities of the British
02 August 2004
In most European countries, those who dislike the EU tend to be the poor and the less educated, who fear for their future and travel little. The politicians who speak for such people tend to come from the far left or far right.
Issue 37 - 2004
30 July 2004
- The recipe for a successful Commission, Alasdair Murray
- Is tax competition bad?, Katinka Barysch
- The peculiarities of the British, Charles Grant
From drift to strategy: Why the EU should start accession talks with Turkey
02 July 2004
The prospect of membership has been the EU's single most effective foreign policy tool. In their desire to join the EU, countries across the European continent have consolidated democracy, opened up their economies, strengthened their public administrations, and improved relations with their neighbours.
The EU constitutional treaty: The final deal
25 June 2004
EU leaders finally reached agreement on the EU's new constitutional treaty at their Brussels summit on 18 June 2004. Although the summit was marked by a series of acrimonious exchanges, particularly between Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair, EU leaders were determined to agree the new treaty, following the embarrassing collapse of their previous summit in December 2003.
Europe's new defence agency
04 June 2004
By the end of 2004 the EU should have a new defence 'capabilities agency'. The agency’s initial impact on EU defence is likely to be small, but it could make a real difference in the medium to long run.