The idea of Ireland leaving the EU is a non-issue in Irish politics and likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. However, what is worth considering is whether the EU has left Ireland? To refresh our memories: joining was a very attractive prospect for Ireland: it helped remove us from the shadow of the … Continue reading Ireland and the EU — Who is leaving Whom?
Europe
Iceland’s Rejection Of Talks About EU Membership
The incomprehension of Irish europhiles at Iceland's decisive rejection of European Union membership talks reveals a fundamental unwillingness to confront the historical record and undemocratic character of the European integration project. When 52.8% of Icelandic voters rejected the government's proposal to reopen accession negotiations, the reaction from europhile quarters in Dublin—where the EU has been … Continue reading Iceland’s Rejection Of Talks About EU Membership
Germany Struggles for Existence — Editorial
"Germany's postwar inoculation against far-right extremism has been on the wane for over a decade and, on Sunday [6th September], it finally gave up. Voters in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt embraced the Alternative for Germany to an unprecedented extent: it won 44 per cent support on a record turn out of 76 per cent". … Continue reading Germany Struggles for Existence — Editorial
German Perspectives:
Herbert Remmel has forwarded the following newspaper account of the swing to the Alliance For Germany Party in and the rout of the previous 'Party of Government': the Christian Democrats Preliminary Thoughts Towards An Assessment Of The Election Results in Saxony-Anhalt From An Anti-Fascist Perspective by Ulrich Schneider [National Executive member, Die Linke] The high … Continue reading German Perspectives:
Currency Making After World War 2
An Italian Prime Minister at the Versailles Conference at the end of the Great War of 1914-18 was shocked to find that the British believed their own war propaganda and were therefore incapable of making a peace settlement based on fact. The Versailles Settlement was a punitive arrangement, based on a morality generated by wishful … Continue reading Currency Making After World War 2
The Mess That Is The EU Today
Comment on The Politico Article “ 'A mess': EU Commission accused of overstepping on foreign policy” This was the title of an article in POLITICO (1.7.26) on an interview with former top EU diplomat Josep Borrell by by Jaccopo Barigazzi. It deserves noting at some length as it well illustrates the current state of governance … Continue reading The Mess That Is The EU Today
Sleepwalkers Into World War
It has been fashionable to talk of the World War of 1914 as resulting from sleep-walking by the European Powers. This, of course, is complete nonsense. Any reading of British accounts, including the insider memoirs of the illustrious Cabinet Secretary, Sir Maurice Hankey, shows that there was a well-worked out and purposeful plan for a Great War … Continue reading Sleepwalkers Into World War
Proposed changes to EU Maritime Law
Eamon Dyas The Irish Times reported (6.7.26) that Ireland is leading European talks on strengthening maritime legal controls with a European Ocean Act. This idea could not claim to be a component of international maritime law without UN approval. Of course there is nothing to stop the EU embarking on such a course but the … Continue reading Proposed changes to EU Maritime Law
The Metamorphosis Of Europe!
Europe appears to be dividing on pre-EU lines, and even on pre-World War I lines. It was conceived to be a melting pot by the dominant Power, Britain, in 1919, and new shapes were drawn from it to be states in the League of Nations. Those shapes did not hold against the pressure from underlying … Continue reading The Metamorphosis Of Europe!
Pie In The Sky: EU Ambitions In Armenia And Ukraine
The Guardian reported on May 4th that: “The EU is sending a team of experts specialised in combating Russian propaganda and interference to Armenia, as it increases its support to the former Soviet republic in a tense political period. In a highly symbolic sequence of events, EU leaders will hold their first summit with Armenia, after … Continue reading Pie In The Sky: EU Ambitions In Armenia And Ukraine
