Greece and Turkey should build on "low politics"

Two of the major allies in NATO and the wider Mediterranean region, Greece and Turkey have long being faced with huge dilemmas of stability and security in the Middle East and North Africa. Under the current pivotal shifts of global and regional influence, these two countries have a lot to win by cooperating closely and consistently.

The unfolding of the Greek financial crisis has been heightened up during the last six months. Even after the first agreement at the latest Euro Summit over a third bailout deal, economic conditions and the future of Greece inside Eurozone are not yet secured. And not that much because the Greek government does not look for it, but because the financial deal has nothing to incite hopeful thoughts over growth development. The bailout deal is not investment-oriented  nor addresses the major macroeconomic burdens of the Greek economy. 

Progress despite adversity: women's empowerment and conflict in Colombia

The Colombian case is an example of progress in women’s empowerment in the face of formidable and continuing challenges. Progress is identified in relation to: legal gains for women’s rights and gender equality; women’s presence and representation in public and elected positions; the advancement of a gender-responsive approach to addressing the legacies of conflict and associated mechanisms of memorialisation, reparations, restitution and transitional justice.

Britain's renegotiation: Advice to Mr Cameron

To succeed in his renegotiation, David Cameron needs to build an alliance for reforms that benefit the EU as a whole. Shortly after midnight on June 26th, a new chapter in the chequered history of Britain in Europe opened in Brussels. The European Council conclusions note, in two lines on page eight, that David Cameron, re-elected as prime minister, "set out his plans for an (In/Out) referendum in the UK" and that "the European Council agreed to revert to the matter in December". What will happen then will depend on how Cameron handles his intended negotiation about reform of the EU and Britain's relationship with it: he has yet to tell the European Council what he wants. But his plans will certainly work in London: the promise of a referendum was set out in the Conservative Party's election manifesto, and, despite misgivings in the House of Lords, a century-old convention that the unelected upper chamber does not obstruct a government's manifesto measures means that the necessary enabling legislation will not be blocked. So in 2017, or, more likely 2016, the British will vote on Brexit.