October European Council
As euinside has already turned it into tradition, we will again be in Brussels for the European Council on October 28/29. This time, however, our expectations are the Council to be much more interesting than we have forecast so far. The reason is that, while focusing on the reform of EU's economic governance, the Council will open a wound that is still unhealed - it will be discussing whether amendments to the Lisbon Treaty should be made, the writing, adopting and ratification of which took almost 10 years. Initially the Council, which is usually being held in December, was withdrawn in October so that there would be enough time the adopted economic governance to be enforced as of January 1st, 2011. Now, with calls growing stronger for amendments to the Treaties, it will be hard for us to forecast what will be the outcome of the two-day summit, which, in fact, makes the event even more interesting.
| © The Council of the European UnionThose who make pension reforms - a step forward!
We are close to a compromise - with these words Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, summarised the discussions in the Council of EU finance ministers (ECOFIN) concerning the request of 9 member states (including Bulgaria) the costs of pension reforms to be removed ...
| © European CouncilSeveral facts and an agreement
"It is a fact that there is a problem in the pension systems of all countries. It is a fact that deficits are being concentrated there. It is a fact that we have to make changes. It is a fact that unless we make changes, the systems will collapse. Those are the conclusions. And now the experts h ...
| © The Council of the European UnionNot whether, but how - that is the question
Following the latest European Council (28-29 October), the question is not whether there will be changes in EU Treaties, but how they will be made. If until recently the idea of changes (after the painful adoption of the Lisbon Treaty) seemed unthinkable, the Franco-German declaration of Deauvil ...
| © The Council of the European UnionThis inappropriate Bulgarian absence
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy came to the European Council with their "Deauville deal" - the request for treaty changes in order to create a permanent crisis fund for the euro area and to impose political sanctions on euro-countries that violate fiscal disc ...
| © REGIERUNGonline/Bergmann EU Treaty changes looked impossible, but became inevitable
The October European Council was as decisive, as it was next to the last. Because although EU leaders have opened the door to important decisions, they left them for the December Council. It could not be otherwise, given that just days before the summit the Franco-German proposal of Deauville co ...
| © euinsideWhat is rule of law and is it possible in Bulgaria?
Travelling throughout Europe by car no matter how tiresome and wasting time it might be, is an extremely teaching adventure. In spite that one cannot stop in towns, villages and cities, still quite a lot of things can be seen and felt. This is why I have many times preferred a car instead of a p ...
| © Government Information Service When the carrots are over, the stick helps
The leaders of the 27 EU countries supported the plans for the Union's economic governance, developed by the finance ministers in the Task Force, headed by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy. Based on the Commission's proposals of 29 September, the reforms will be sent to th ...
| © G20G20: emerging markets vs. advanced countries
Several fronts are being opened on the eve of the summit of the twenty leading economies in the world (the G20) in Seoul. The first front divides the developed countries and the emerging markets. The main dispute among them is something which more and more economists call "currency wars" - the a ...
| © The Council of the European UnionThere will be "limited" changes in the Lisbon Treaty
There will be changes in the Lisbon Treaty, although they will be limited". This became clear at a surprising midnight briefing of the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. The reason for the amendments is the need a permanent ...
| © euinsideDisputes over EU's budget in the beginning of the Council
The issue of EU's budget for next year had totally dominated the beginning of the European Council on Thursday, as it became clear during the press briefing of European Parliament's President Jerzy Buzek. As he threatened earlier, David Cameron raised the issue about the planned increase of the ...
| © Regierung/BergmannA German solo before the start of the European choir on October 28
Only a day before the European Council in Brussels the German chancellor Angela Merkel made a 30-minute flag speech in the Bundestag (the German Parliament), in which she explained the Franco-German plans for reforms of the monetary union. Just days before the Council Germany and France came up ...
| © euinsideThe hot potato of the European Council
The leaders of the 27 EU Member States will arrive at the Council building between 16:30 and 17 p.m. local time. First, they will meet with the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek (in 17:00), then they will make the traditional family photo. Jerzy Buzek will give a briefing for medi ...
| © euinsideOn our way to the European Council in Brussels (28-29 October)
Again euinside's team has decided to travel to Brussels for the European Council on October 28-29 by car instead of a plane - first in order to save expenses (as our team consists of 4 people). And, second, travelling by car gives wonderful opportunities to see life in several EU member states a ...
| © euinsideEuropean Council, Brussels, 28-29 October
While the enclosures around the European Council building in Brussels are still not stretched, the tension before the Council is already palpable. Quite indicative is the fact that yet at 10 a.m. journalists have taken their places, although the European leaders will begin arriving after 4 p.m. ...
| © Présidence de la République - Élysée.frDisappointment in Europe from the deal of Deauville
The Franco-German deal of Deauville has provoked widespread criticism. As euinside wrote, Germany retreated from its position automatic sanctions to be applied on euro area countries that violate financial and economic discipline. The aim was to win French support for a permanent mechanism for c ...
| © European Parliament- Audiovisual ServiceEuropean Parliament wants "Mr. or Ms. Euro"
On the eve of the European Council (28-29 October), the European Parliament also contributed to the ideas about the economic governance of the Union. euinside has already briefed you on the proposals of the Commission and the Task Force, chaired by the President of the European Council, Herman V ...
| © The Council of the European Union