Category Archives: Democratic Accountability
Peacebuilding in Europe: No Social Justice, No Peace
I’ve spent a good portion of my professional career working with and for stakeholders within the peacebuilding sector. My interest in conflict prevention and peacebuilding work has always been rooted in its acknowledgement and starting assumptions of complexity and nuance.
Peacebuilding in Europe: No Social Justice, No Peace
I’ve spent a good portion of my professional career working with and for stakeholders within the peacebuilding sector. My interest in conflict prevention and peacebuilding work has always been rooted in its acknowledgement and starting assumptions of complexity and nuance.
Faith in Commission appointments
The sudden, unusual and controversial appointment of Martin Selmayr to be the new Secretary General of the European Commission has been dominating offstage conversations in Brussels for a more than a month. The small Brussels bubble media has provided almost
Faith in Commission appointments
The sudden, unusual and controversial appointment of Martin Selmayr to be the new Secretary General of the European Commission has been dominating offstage conversations in Brussels for a more than a month. The small Brussels bubble media has provided almost
Much militarisation, little transparency
The EU’s security and defence policy was up for review on 25–26 June 2015, when the heads of government of the 28 EU Member States gathered in Brussels for a summit meeting (known as a European Council meeting). This is
Much militarisation, little transparency
The EU’s security and defence policy was up for review on 25–26 June 2015, when the heads of government of the 28 EU Member States gathered in Brussels for a summit meeting (known as a European Council meeting). This is
Parliamentarians of Europe demand accountability for drone strikes
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), a prestigious human rights watchdog, recently voted to hold European national governments to account for their involvement in drone strikes. The decision was taken in the PACE chamber in Strasbourg (France)
Parliamentarians of Europe demand accountability for drone strikes
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), a prestigious human rights watchdog, recently voted to hold European national governments to account for their involvement in drone strikes. The decision was taken in the PACE chamber in Strasbourg (France)
Europe and the local level
The European Union Committee of the Regions (CoR) estimates that seventy percent of EU policies have a direct regional or local impact, and EU funds can certainly play a significant role in developing regions. The role played by the CoR,
Europe and the local level
The European Union Committee of the Regions (CoR) estimates that seventy percent of EU policies have a direct regional or local impact, and EU funds can certainly play a significant role in developing regions. The role played by the CoR,
Transcending loathing
One of the decisions this week at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has been related to the killings of journalists, police, and Jewish people in a kosher supermarket in Paris. The recommendation (to the Committee of Ministers) asks
Transcending loathing
One of the decisions this week at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) has been related to the killings of journalists, police, and Jewish people in a kosher supermarket in Paris. The recommendation (to the Committee of Ministers) asks
An invitation to promote human rights
Before I start, I might note that some of the topics here, the structures by which human rights are protected, might seem overly formalistic and even boring. However, in the end of the day, it is those structures that make
An invitation to promote human rights
Before I start, I might note that some of the topics here, the structures by which human rights are protected, might seem overly formalistic and even boring. However, in the end of the day, it is those structures that make
The Circular Economy and “better regulation”
On Tuesday the 16th of December 2014 the European Commission announced its work plan for 2015. This College of Commissioners has only been in office since the start of November, and given President Jean-Claude Juncker’s stated aim of being bigger
The Circular Economy and “better regulation”
On Tuesday the 16th of December 2014 the European Commission announced its work plan for 2015. This College of Commissioners has only been in office since the start of November, and given President Jean-Claude Juncker’s stated aim of being bigger
Liberating People instead of Trade
They tell us that the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union (EU) and Canada has been finalised – but not what the text is. In fact, if you search on the European Commission website for CETA, you
Liberating People instead of Trade
They tell us that the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union (EU) and Canada has been finalised – but not what the text is. In fact, if you search on the European Commission website for CETA, you
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