Historian Simon Schama has a marvellous knack of explaining the big themes of history through the life stories of selected individuals. For example, in his “History of Britain”, he describes […]
Blair vs Juncker for president of the European Council Read More »
I went to an interesting discussion this morning on the achievements of the European Union over the past 20 years. There were many of them mentioned: enlargement; the euro; some
Achievements over the past 20 years Read More »
I was asked to give a talk to the politics society at Royal Holloway college in Egham a couple of weeks ago, on the future of the EU after the
The future of the EU after the Lisbon treaty Read More »
By Richard Laming EUOBSERVER / COMMENT – Czech president Vaclav Klaus wants to write his name in the history books. But is he choosing to make the right kind of
The Irish people vote on the fate of the Lisbon treaty today: British eyes are looking west to see what they will decide. One of the founding principles of the
The Irish vote today Read More »
By Richard Laming EUOBSERVER / COMMENT – You can tell a lot about a political system from the buildings it erects to house its decision-makers. They provide a literally concrete
Building European democracy Read More »
A news story in EUobserver last week on the plans for a new building for the Council of Ministers reminded me of the issues we raised the last time the
Symbol of a closed order Read More »
I was delighted to find in an old collection of papers this cartoon: it appeared in The Independent some time in 1991, I think, when the term “subsidiarity” first made
I wrote on this blog at the end of June asking who had won the European elections. The figures on seats won were quickly announced, but it has taken longer
European election results finally published Read More »
By Richard Laming EUOBSERVER / COMMENT – If all goes according to schedule, Jose Manuel Barroso will be confirmed in office this week for a second term as president of
Barroso deserves to be re-elected Read More »
