The threat ISIS is posing to the free world is not unprecedented. For hundreds of years piracy has undermined international maritime trade, forcing western powers to pay dowry, or tribute, to the pirates and their host states.
EU's Arms Exports Could be Counterproductive to European Security
Saturday, 24 October 2015 16:12 Written by Bodil Valero
The European Union was founded out of the realization that common interests are a recipe for peace, and in that regard it has been hugely successful and rightly received the Nobel Peace Price. With the exception of the wars in former Yugoslavia, the conflict in Georgia and the illegal and…
More and more people are developing a neighbourhood or city identity in combination with a cultural identity that goes beyond the borders of a nation. These are the plural identities of the future.
The migration crisis is an opportunity for Europe
Monday, 12 October 2015 19:16 Written by Philippe Legrain
The international rules that are meant to guarantee protection for refugees fleeing persecution and death in their home country were designed for Europeans.
World Day Against Death Penalty: Time to Speak Out on Iran
Saturday, 10 October 2015 14:23 Written by Gérard Deprez
This time last year, European Parliament President Martin Schulz wrote to the speaker of the Iranian parliament, expressing grave concern about 26 year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari, who had been sentenced to death for defending herself against sexual assault by a government security official. Mr Schulz asked for a “fair retrial, in line…
Last month the UN launched its long-awaited new Global Goals plan. Within the course of 15 years, 17 global goals have to be achieved so that the world will be a better place. I am not a pessimist, and I have no special powers to predict the future. But I…
“There is not enough Europe in the Union. And there is not enough Union in this Union”. The words are Jean-Claude Juncker’s, President of the European Commission, in his state of union speech on September 9 to the European Parliament. In hardly any other policy area is this truer than…
Where does Belgium’s legalisation of euthanasia leave Belgian prison inmates?
Thursday, 17 September 2015 15:20 Written by Martin Banks
Not so long ago, Farid Bamouhammad considered assisted suicide because of the desperation he felt at the prospect of a life behind bars.
You Never Want a Serious Crisis to go to Waste
Friday, 04 September 2015 15:37 Written by Philippe Legrain
It is often said that the Chinese word for crisis is composed of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity”. In a similar vein, President Barack Obama’s first chief of staff, Rahm Emmanuel, argued that “you never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” And in Europe the notion that…
Europe's migration crisis: "A threat to justice everywhere"
Sunday, 30 August 2015 22:19 Written by Alicja Gescinska
There are many subjects that are difficult to write about, but for me one of the most difficult ones is immigration.
