Yea, another think post

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Yup, I've gone on posted my 6th post over on thinkaboutit.eu. This one is about the EPP-ED and their new tag-line..

I got a press release today from the EPP-ED Group of the European Parliament. In it they inform me of an event to launch their new tag-line. The tag-line is “Europe’s Driving Force” (now you see why the UK Conservatives left them).

Read Full Post, dont forget to rate it! Thanks! :)

FF split on joining ELDR??

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According to John over at Semper-Idem splits seam to be developing between the National Party and the MEP's in Brussels. I wonder why that is?

This of course was announced with great fanfare at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis by an Taoiseach Brian Cowen. He said in his opening speech the following:

Given the changing role of the Parliament and the new structures of its groups, Fianna Fáil has no alternative but to reconsider current arrangements. We need to strengthen our work with others who share our basic approach while insisting on the right to vote in accordance with the views of the people we represent. To that end, we will soon advance a proposal to join, for the first time, a pan-European party - the European Liberal, Democratic and Reform Party. Our representatives have been part of that party's group in the Council of Europe for some time and this has worked out well - particularly because it is a group which works hard to respect the views of smaller countries.

Following June's election, should everything progress as expected, we will then consider joining the parliamentary group to which the ELDR is affiliated. I am confident that we can negotiate a position that will strengthen our voice and that of all people who believe in a Europe of states working closely together.

Yet in yesterdays Irish Times Brian Crowley MEP insisted that ""no deal had yet been done" on whether the FF MEPs would join the ALDE Group in the parliament. I wonder why he said that? Is it because he knows that he will lose many of his perks if FF leave the UEN? What perks you ask? Well as co-president of the UEN (A position he is unlikely to attain in the ALDE Group) he is entitled to a car! He doesn't seam willing to give that up.

All know that my prediction of the end of the UEN being in 2009 seams to be accurate enough.

This is posted on the Thinkaboutit.eu website aswell! Do read and rate it there!

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Dialogue TV - Help Shape the EPP's Manifesto

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The European Peoples Party have launched an online consultation on their draft manifesto (availible here in PDF). They have called it Dialogue TV. It is a multimedia site with video's on the major subjects in the manifesto.


The major subjects are:
1. Creating Prosperity for Everyone
2. Making Europe a Safer Place
3. Combatting Climate Change
4. Tackling the Demographic Challenge
5. Uniting Europe on the World Stage

What are the EPP hoping to get from Dialogue TV?

The EPP hope that Dialogue TV will approach and actively engage European citizens in a dialogue. A high aim considering how many EU citizens visit the EPP website? The EPP also want Dialogue TV to present the EPP's. program and ideas ahead of the European elections in June 2009.

This is going to be hard sell as it has to compete with the likes of Party of European Socialits "Yourspace" and also disinterestin the European ELections.

So people this is your chance to influence the EPP's (and therefore Fine Gael's if you are in Ireland) Manifesto. Take the Opportunity! Start the Dialogue!

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EU News Sources

In trawling through the Think About It blog, there is a interesting post on News Sources. I had heard of most of them before like EUobserver, International Herald Tribune Europe, Euractiv, BBC - Europe, Financial Times, European Voice and The Economist - Europe. Most of these I am subbed too or visit on occassion.

But the post also points in the direction of ones I didn't know existed! One of those is Euro¦Topics which presents a daily round up of news from around Europe. It translate them into English, French, Spanish and German. Its really interesting to see how stories are reported across Europe. EUFeeds is a project from the EJC (who are running the competition) and is a fascinating way to see headlines in each country. It covers national papers as well as local papers. It is really interesting! EUX.TV has interesting videos on the EU as of course does the Euronews website.

For those interesting in Business and what something to complement their reading of the Economist and the FT should check out EUBusiness. For politics heads like myself The Parliament is one to check out as is NewEurope. The European Media Monitor is also one to check out, this is funded by the European Commission and is a one stop shop for EU related news.

Do you have any that I (or others) may find useful?

Lisbon - Round II

Image by stephen.spillane via FlickrSo the stage is being set for us to vote on the EXACT same treaty again. Granted the only difference is that the member states will agree not to limit the number of EU Commissioners. The other changes will be copper fastening what we already have. A protocol on Abortion (Attached to Maastricht!), Military (Attached to Nice after Nice I) and Tax Sovereignty which is in all the treaties! Really come on like! How stupid do the government think we are? While I love Europe and the EU and all the good it does it, I am not voting for this treaty unless our Government and specifically our Taoiseach shows some leadership!

Martina Devlin has an excellent column in todays Indo on Brian Cowen's lack of leadership especially in comparison to Gordon Brown who "transformed himself into a phoenix among politicians, emerging gloriously from the ashes of his career after bold steps to tackle the banking meltdown". Which is true and opinion polls have shown that with a marked decline in the lead the Tories have over Labour.

The same cannot be said for Brian Cowen and Fianna Fail here. When ever there is an announcement all that follows is confusion and blame games. No one in this country will take the blame. When it was obvious to the dogs on the street that the Lisbon Referendum was going to fail, Brian Cowen decided to blame Fine Gael and Labour for not pulling their weight when it was obvious Fianna Fail TD's and suppporters where not canvassing (I didn't get canvassed by any 'Yes' group).

Though I am suppportive of the European Project, I am more supportive of Democracy and think unless there is substansive change to the treaty I shall be voting no.

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What HAS Europe done for us?????

Check this out it is from the European Movement! I think its the UK one.

Very reminiscent of a Monty Python movie! pity about the quality!



I think its good. What are other peoples opinion on the EU?

Morning Briefing, December 18

Morning,

Its one week to Christmas, hope you all have your Christmas shopping done, unlike me.

RTÉ have a story on how Circuses are to get grants from the Arts Council.

BreakingNews.ie are reminding people of when to post their letters and parcels as today is the last day for post to the UK

BreakingNews.ie also report that detectives have arrested a man in connection with the murder of 5 prostitutes in the UK

France 24 main story is the resuption of 6 party talks on North Korea.

Al Jazeera is running a report on how Muslims in Europe are being discriminated against.

Finally CNN leads with a story that reformists are leading in the polls in recent elections in Iran.

I hope to post up a picture of my house tomorrow as my Dad (hes like a 5-year old at Christmas, and the rest of us arent much better) has done a fantastic job at decorating the house!

Have a good day!