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EU climate concessions but some things never change Print E-mail
10 March 2010
European Union climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard made pronouncements in the European Parliament 9 March that mark an abrupt change of direction for European Union climate policy on a number of points, writes Stephen Gardner.
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EU bids for more security powers Print E-mail
06 March 2010
SecurityEmboldened by the Lisbon Treaty, Brussels is making an ambitious grab for more surveillance powers, writes Stephen Gardner. Plans for amassing data on individuals and making it available across the continent are contained in an "internal security strategy for the European Union," which has been approved by justice ministers.
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Data storage breaches privacy, Germany’s top court says Print E-mail
05 March 2010
Germany’s highest court, the Bundesverfassungsgericht or Federal Constitutional Court, has suspended a law that requires Internet and telephone operators to store for up to six months data on their customers’ telephone, email and Internet communications, writes Stephen Gardner.
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European Parliament: more spending scrutiny Print E-mail
05 March 2010
European ParliamentThe European Parliament's secretive secretariat is having a new and uncomfortable experience. The Parliament's budgets committee is asking probing questions about its management of the Parliament's budget, writes Stephen Gardner.
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Wine in a cold climate Print E-mail
09 February 2010
Nearly two centuries after Napoleon attempted to destroy Belgium’s vineyards as a way to protect French producers, the reputation of Belgium’s viticulture is re-emerging from the shadow of its illustrious neighbour, writes Jon Eldridge.
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Money well spent? Print E-mail
05 February 2010
European ParliamentDocuments published by the European Parliament's budget committee have revealed a final sum for the amount spent by the Parliament on advertising the 2009 European elections: €21.4 million, writes Stephen Gardner.
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The German way of business Print E-mail
02 February 2010
Germany is sometimes viewed as a slow-mover on CSR. But German companies argue that by complying with a strict regulatory framework, they have been doing CSR for years, writes Stephen Gardner.
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