Michael Berendt's blog

Archives for Defence

Europe’s game of people and politics in full swing

March 22, 2009

It looks very much as if early October will be the time for Ireland’s second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. This is certainly what the ALDE leader Graham Watson assumes after talking with Taoiseach Brian Cowen in Brussels last week. It also reflects recent comments by Europe minister Dick Roche.
An earlier vote – for instance […]

Posted by Michael Berendt

Defence, Elections, European politics, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics

Reassuring words for an autumn vote in Ireland?

December 10, 2008

“The way forward is beginning to emerge”. So said Dick Roche, Ireland’s minister for European affairs, on the eve of the Brussels December summit. It looks like a second Irish referendum for the autumn of 2009.
The Irish Taoiseach Brian Cowen is expected to tell EU colleagues that he will seek a second referendum in the […]

Posted by Michael Berendt

Defence, Elections, European politics, Finance, Kosovo, Treaty of Lisbon, UK politics

Europe prepares for Obama presidency

November 10, 2008

After all the excitement of an amazing US presidential election, here we stand in the cold light of dawn, wondering what happens next. What can we Europeans expect of President Barack Obama? As others have pointed out, his first duty will be to serve the interests of those who elected him and not the political […]

Posted by Michael Berendt

Climate change, Defence, Energy, Finance, International, Russia, Trade

EU relations will test Russian intentions after Georgia invasion

September 8, 2008

The OSCE seems to have serious doubts about Georgia’s role and there are even suggestions that the conflict was provoked by Vice President Cheney in order to boost McCain’s cause in the US elections.
Rash initiatives by the Georgian government in South Ossetia were almost certainly the trigger for the Russian action, but a trigger […]

Posted by Michael Berendt

Defence, Energy, Russia

Alarm bells over single market for defence-related industries

May 16, 2008

Alarm bells have been ringing in certain European ministries. Proposals now under discussion would bring defence-related trade under the auspices of the single market and diplomats are worried. I gather that France is calling for a legal opinion on whether European single market legislation can apply to defence-related products – just a few weeks before […]

Posted by Michael Berendt

Defence

Michael Berendt's blog

Blogging commentary on current events from the perspective of someone who has been closely involved with the policies, the policy-makers and the whole complex network of people who make the process of European integration so exciting and absorbing.


Advertisement