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.
Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia: We are ready to start negotiations on EU membership
Wednesday, 26 August 2015 11:39 Written by Mose Apelblat
Enlargement used to be one of EU’s key priorities. Not so any longer. EU suffers of enlargement fatigue, with about 40 % of the total population against further enlargement. Currently EU is occupied with more pressing issues such as its own identity, the economic crisis, the Greek crisis and, above…
Family Firms Play a Crucial Role in the European Economy
Friday, 07 August 2015 17:11 Written by Jan Klimek
During my frequent strolls in Brussels I cannot resist to taste Astrid by Neuhaus, Avelanne by Leonidas, dragées Mountain by Callebaut - just to name a few. Of course I am not able to taste all of them as I am in “the chocolate capital of the world”.
In Europe, putting a veil on is considered rebellious, while in Egypt, the act of rebellion is taking it off
Thursday, 30 July 2015 10:43 Written by Koert Debeuf
CAIRO — Four years after Egyptians ousted longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak, many people, especially in Europe, have lost hope in the country. Its elected president, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi, was swept from power — and his death sentence was recently confirmed. Headed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the armed…
EU transparency laws: When the answer really is that simple
Tuesday, 07 July 2015 19:23 Written by Tamira Gunzburg
Almost exactly two years ago, the EU adopted a law that required European oil, gas, mining and logging companies to publish the payments they make to governments in countries where they extract natural resources. The idea was to empower citizens in poor countries with the information needed to hold their…
