Europe in the World - The New Federalist

Integration: Europe Succeeds, Africa Fails. But why?

It is often said that Africa is a lost continent from which little other than oil and diamonds should be expected. In particular, commentators are prompt to point to Africa’s enduring political and economic failures. But rarely do these commentators take the time to understand and explain the (…)

Friday 4 July 2008

Israeli-Hamas Truce: A New Deal

The truce between the Israeli government and the Hamas-led authorities of the Gaza strip began on Thursday morning 19 June 2008. The truce was mediated by Egypt and holds the possibility for new relationships if strong follow-up measures are taken quickly. There are many in Israel, in Gaza, (…)

Monday 30 June 2008

Latin America: The Lost Continent?

Whether or not the European Union has been good for the European continent is nearly without question - from the European Coal and Steel Community to the 27 countries today that make up economic, political and – if politicians in Brussels have their way – cultural union. Success in spreading (…)

Friday 20 June 2008

FAO: Another Missed Opportunity for the European Union

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) meeting ended Thursday and demonstrated to the world once more the inability of individual states to address the main world problems. This is despite the opportunities of the last few months presented by increased media attention that obliging the (…)

Wednesday 18 June 2008

World Food Policy: The Road to Madrid

“Within a decade, no child will go hungry, no family will fear for its next day’s bread, and no human being’s future and capacity will be stunted by malnutrition” At the 3-5 June 2008 World Food Security Conference in Rome called by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a growing (…)

Friday 13 June 2008

Security and Defence after the Lisbon Treaty

When and if Ireland ratifies the Lisbon Treaty on 12 June the European Union (EU) would have overcome the impasse that accompanied the rejection of the EU Constitution. The Lisbon Treaty will facilitate some necessary changes to the EU’s institutional operability, not least in relation to the (…)

Friday 6 June 2008

European Integration: A Model for Africa?

The elected representatives of the European and African people have stressed the importance of supra-national integration for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, drawing on the experience of the European integration process. The EU-ACP Joint Parliamentary Assembly was created in the (…)

Sunday 25 May 2008

World Social Forum Convenes in Nigeria to Engineer the New Face of the Altermondialist Movement

From the 31st of March to April 3rd, the World Social Forum International Council met in Abuja, Nigeria to discuss the world conjuncture, the movement’s situation, and the Forum’s future. The World Social Forum (WSF) has been a mainstay in the international arena since 2001 and convenes an (…)

Friday 2 May 2008

To Boycott ot not to boycott: is this the question?

Since the recent uprising of anti-Chinese demonstrations following the passage of the Olympic Torch, the big issue on the table is whether the EU should finally show some teeth on the issue of Human Rights in China. Influential Human Rights NGOs, such as Reporters Without Boarders, have called (…)

Monday 28 April 2008

East African Community: Towards the Monetary Union

At the last Summit held on August 20th, 2007, the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State deliberated and decided to move expeditiously towards establishing a Common Market and a Monetary Union by 2012 and then move on to a Political Federation. The EAC Council of Ministers, who met in (…)

Sunday 20 April 2008

Defending Hell on Earth: EU troops deploy in Chad

Thousands of refugees and humanitarian aid workers will look forward to the long overdue deployment of a European Union (EU) force to the harsh grasslands of Chad and Central African Republic (CAR) where they are currently housed. The eastern Chadian town of Abeché recently saw the arrival of (…)

Monday 18 February 2008

Kenya Decide: Harambee or Genocide?

Messrs Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga need to find a solution to the maelstrom brewing in what was an exemplar of prosperity and stability in Africa. A lack of pragmatism or an escalation of the violence beyond the control of politicians could result in civil war, regional instability and the (…)

Wednesday 6 February 2008