Ο πολιτικός πόλεμος στην Ε.Ε.

Η Γερμανίδα καγκελάριος Άνγκελα Μέρκελ απαντά σε ερωτήσεις στην τελική συνέντευξη Τύπου μιας συνόδου κορυφής τής ΕΕ στις Βρυξέλλες. (Courtesy Reuters)

Είναι η χειρότερη και ταυτόχρονα η καλύτερη εποχή για την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση (ΕΕ). Η υποστήριξη για την ευρωπαϊκή ολοκλήρωση είναι στα χαμηλότερα επίπεδα όλων των εποχών. Η οικονομική ανάκαμψη της ηπείρου είναι στην καλύτερη περίπτωση χλιαρή. Μια ολόκληρη γενιά στη Νότια Ευρώπη έχει σημαδευτεί από ποσοστά ανεργίας των νέων που κυμαίνονται από 30% έως 50%. Τα ακροδεξιά και αντι-ευρωπαϊκά κόμματα απολαμβάνουν πρωτοφανή επίπεδα στήριξης στην Γαλλία, την Ελλάδα, την Ουγγαρία, τις Κάτω Χώρες και το Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο. Σε διεθνές επίπεδο, η ΕΕ έχει αποδειχθεί ανίκανη να αποτρέψει την ρωσική επιθετικότητα στην Ουκρανία. Εσωτερικά, η ΕΕ φάνηκε εξίσου ανίκανη να σταματήσει την διολίσθηση της Ουγγαρίας προς την απολυταρχία ή να μπλοκάρει τις συζητήσεις στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο σχετικά με μια πιθανή έξοδο. Με λίγα λόγια, η ΕΕ σπάνια φαινόταν πιο αδύνατη ή λιγότερο δημοφιλής.

Europe cannot afford to look inwards in 2014

2014 is the year of decisions in Europe. Between 22 and 25 May, elections will be held across the 28 European member states to elect a new European Parliament. As soon as the parliamentarians come to office, they will need to elect the new European Commission President and decide on whether or not to approve the new Commission.

What can we expect of Europe and its new leadership? An inward-looking assemblage of nation states, focused on domestic problems rather than global problems? Or an outward-facing and united community, working globally for the common good?  

Presidential candidates, European federalism and Tony Giddens

These European elections promise to be difficult for the EU. Opinion polls are predicting a surge in support for anti-EU parties of left and right. Furthermore, if past elections are a guide to the future, voter turnout will fall again. It slid steadily from 63 per cent in the first European elections, in 1979, to 43 per cent five years ago. The European Parliament – despite gaining more powers through each successive treaty change – has failed to convince a majority of voters that it is an admirable or useful institution.



 But despite these ill omens, many ‘federalists’ – who may be defined as those wanting a significant transfer of powers to EU institutions – are getting excited. This is because the European elections may, for the first time, determine the choice of the president of the European Commission. Each of the main pan-European political parties has chosen a designated candidate for that job. Many federalists hope and expect that the political party which gains the most votes will see its candidate anointed president. They believe that this method of choosing the president would make the EU more democratic: voters would see a link between the way they vote and the person running the Commission. 

Algeria: U.S. Drone Dispute Underscores Tensions

Algeria's recent presidential election granted a fourth term to President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika, giving the political establishment additional time to implement constitutional changes as well as political and economic reforms. The president and his allies hope to foster a civilian state that can check the power of the military and security forces. Whether under civilian or military rule, however, security concerns will continue to play a key role in Algerian politics. This fact is underscored by a recent disagreement between Algiers and Washington over the sale of armed unmanned aerial vehicles, known colloquially as drones, and associated technology.


U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Algerian President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika on April 3 in Algiers.(JACQUELYN MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Algeria and the United States share concerns about regional militancy and view drones as useful tools in the fight against terrorism. However, deep divisions remain between the two on who will oversee technology and operations. As the United States tries to improve indigenous counterterrorism capabilities region-wide, this dispute highlights a major challenge: One of its most capable potential partners continues to pursue its own prerogatives, to the detriment of U.S. strategy. In accordance with Algeria's geopolitical imperatives, the country will continue to reject foreign oversight over domestic decision-making and oppose expanded Western influence in its strategic periphery.

Turkey’s Erdogan Prepares for Another Showdown After Mine Accident

Violent protests have erupted in Turkey at the climax of the country’s worst mining accident in which 274 miners have already been declared dead, with an estimated 120 still trapped underground.



The accident threatens to reignite last summer’s nationwide protests and end the brief reprieve won by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) with their March victory in local elections.