How should we celebrate 25th March 2017, the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome? Many people are asking themselves this tricky question. In my own opinion, it would be better not to celebrate anything at all. …
Verhofstadt, suicide en direct
Il est décidément des hommes politiques qui se croient aptes à toutes les fonctions. Candidat malheureux à la Présidence de la Commission, M. Verhofstadt s’attaque avec le même insuccès à la Présidence du Parlement. Mais l’échec se double ici d’une …
The live suicide of Guy Verhofstadt
Politicians always think they are able to perform in any job. A failed candidate for Commission President, Mr Verhofstadt has now stood for EP President, with the same success. But here, it is failure coupled with indignity. To win votes, …
What is the Boiler Efficiency Directive?
The Boiler Efficiency Directive (92/42/EEC) talks about the efficiency need for new warm-water boilers. Seeing into bettering energy efficiency and reducing the release of carbon dioxide from standard. Lower temperature and gas condensing boilers (4 – 400 kW output). Apart …
The European Parliament and the Wiertz Museum. Win-win or win-lose?
Does anyone remember Antoine Wiertz? For the honest European, Belgian fin de siècle art can be summed up in three names: Ensor, Rops and Khnopff. But not Wiertz! What a pity, because Wiertz was a pioneer of symbolist art, a …
2017: action, action, action
“My right flank is destroyed, my left flank is in retreat, everything is fine – attack!” Those were the words of General Foch in the darkest moments of World War One. We are there once again. Sink or act – …
CETA emerging from the shadow of TTIP Some findings from the EESC’s mission to Canada
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) has broad support among Canadian civil society organisations. Canadians are looking forward to the expected benefits from the deal and are aware of potential challenges. They have therefore already taken steps to prepare certain sectors of …
Brexit and the Common Agricultural Policy
A two-page summary of our in-depth analysis Article 50 and its triggering. The notorious Article 50 (TEU) of the Lisbon Treaty seems clear in its wording. It envisages 3 general steps leading to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU: (1) …
Endocrine disruptors: the Everest of bad EU governance
Given the sensitivity of the issue, I have to be careful and begin by stating that I have no interest, direct or indirect, with any of the players in this dossier which combines all the flaws of today’s EU governance: …
BREXIT & THE COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY
As uncertainty about the practical consequences of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union grows, Michel Jacquot (an expert in WTO and CAP law) and Daniel Guéguen (PACT European Affairs) have decided to take action. In this must-read text, they …