March 19, 2007
Dr. Muhammad Shamsaddin Megalommatis: Within a few days, European Union’s 27 member states’ leaders will meet in Berlin to feast in commemoration of the signature of the Treaty of Rome, on 25 March 1957. The German presidency wants to push...
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March 06, 2007
The Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), focusing primarily on the areas of racism and discrimination and formally opened on 1 March 2007 in Vienna, has been criticised as being "a superfluous institution with a limited mandate"...... Census officials counting head by...
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March 04, 2007
Top EU official to visit Turkey Vice president of the European Commission responsible for institutional relations and communication strategies, Margot Wallström, will visit Turkey next week, reported the Anatolia news agency. Wallström is scheduled to meet some members of the...
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February 25, 2007
Turkey's pro-European elite is the target of a growing wave of violent ultra-nationalism says Newsweek... More thinking needs on this piece.... Hratch Tchilingirian in Hrant Dink and Armenians in Turkey The assassination of the Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink on 19...
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February 20, 2007
BIA reports that there were 293 cases of thought crime in Turkey in 2006. MetroPoll opinion poll results published in many newspapers today... VIA * Migrants help tolerant Spain boom Ministers reject EU targets for slashing national red tape; EU...
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February 12, 2007
Christian Egenhofer, in this Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) policy brief, examines the nature and effectiveness of targets set by the EU in the context of its new energy and climate-change package. * EU undecided over energy 'industrial revolution';...
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February 08, 2007
Italy - La Repubblica | Wednesday, February 7, 2007; Nick Hornby on violence in football stadiums "The British writer Nick Hornby, crazy about football, was devastated by the death last week of a policeman during violent confrontations around a football...
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February 02, 2007
Emre Toros, a political scientist and teaches at Atılım University, Ankara, says: ....I want to illustrate my argument with the slogans used during Dink's funeral: �We are all Hrant� and �We are all Armenians.� Although the former was welcomed by...
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January 17, 2007
Mr Olli Rehn, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, in The European perspective for the Western Balkans Western Balkans Panel at the International Conference Hall organised by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rome, 16 January 2007 Paul Delvaux (1897-1994), Les Courtisanes or...
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January 16, 2007
Another apocalyptic article from Newsweek! but no, EU should at least survive until next year. Otherwise, my thesis of emergence will become a retrospective study; a situation I wouldn't like... Denis MacShane, a Labour M.P. and who was Britain's Europe...
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Ilnur Cevik in Is Turkey really seeking its peace? A two-day conference on the Kurdish issue ended in Ankara on Sunday showing the problem is as divisive as ever and a set of solutions are still not on the table....
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The newly elected Austrian government has taken over plans by its predecessor to hold a referendum on Turkey’s entry to the EU, but supports an early accession of the Western Balkan countries. *** EU Parliament prepares for midterm reshuffle Halfway...
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January 10, 2007
Gideon Rachman in After 15 astounding years, the Union enters its surreal phase says: ........The whole incident is symptomatic of the EU's broader problem with reality. For the truth is that the EU is poised to spend the next five...
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January 08, 2007
The European Parliament looks set to have the first far-right grouping within its corridors by mid-January, with MEPs from new member states Bulgaria and Romania helping to make the formation possible. BBC: Far-right MEPs set to join forces Le...
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THE CYPRUS GOVERNMENT has issued a veiled threat to Bulgarian Turks who live in the north, following questions over whether they would be allowed to cross to the south after entering the island illegally. The issue was raised earlier in...
January 07, 2007
from Hayan Maani from Jordan. Will Iran be the next battlefield? VIA Rick Steves says "Turkey is even tastier, friendlier, cheaper, and richer in culture and history than its more popular neighbor, Greece. But the average Turk looks like...
January 05, 2007
Turkish business and EU accession By Sinan Ülgen Hürriyet's Top 10 Cultural Centers in Turkey 1. AKM - İSTANBUL 2. Aksanat - İSTANBUL 3. Bilkent Müzik Fakültesi Salonu - ANKARA 4. Yapı Kredi Kültür Merkezi - İSTANBUL 5. Diyarbakır Kültür...
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"In this article in the periodical Integration, the German Minister of State for Europe, Günter Gloser, lists the energy priorities of the German Presidency during the first half of 2007................. [in German] In the mean time, Russia has expressed dismay...
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12:23 AM
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January 04, 2007
Stella Willborn in CafeBabel discusses whether the EU handle so many official languages? * Portugal - Diário de Notícias | Sunday, December 10, 2006; Multilingualism, a conundrum for the EU EU welcomed Romania and Bulgaria Welcome to Romania... Danube II:...
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January 01, 2007
Romania and Bulgaria were getting ready to celebrate their entry into the European Union at midnight with rock music and traditional dancing. And as EU Observer notes, Fireworks, VIP guests, street parties and live music are taking over Bucharest and...
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December 30, 2006
The Economist: Next year marks the EU's 50th anniversary Analysis: Europe's 2006 By STEFAN NICOLA Ralf Beste and Hans-Jürgen Schlamp in Germany Prepares to Take Helm of EU and G8 2007 will be a big year for Germany: As...
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02:11 PM
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December 28, 2006
The Finnish EU presidency is winding down to an unspectacular end, having been trumped by Russia's stormy relations with the bloc and the enduring Cyprus problem.............. Barroso's energy liberalisation plans to face uphill struggle; European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso...
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02:13 PM
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December 26, 2006
No, it is not the amount I have in the bank, in fact mine is lower than this. 403,03 YTL is the new minimum wage Turkish government offers today Vatan newspaper says 2 new TV channels will be launched next...
[it is Christmas time, traffic really slowed down, many blogs and sites are producing fewer posts nowadays, but this blog will keep the same tempo. Hahaha i could't let you leave without posts and happy Christmas for all who care!...
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12:19 AM
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December 24, 2006
Authors: Stefano Micossi and Daniel Gros Notes: In light of the severe crisis afflicting the European Union and the low regard with which the Union’s institutions are held by public opinion, Stefano Micossi and Daniel Gros argue in this Policy...
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December 21, 2006
Cafe Babel has it: What is in store for new year's Europe? We look at the upcoming leaders, movers and shakers who will transform the face of the EU in 2007 The official launch of a common energy policy in...
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December 18, 2006
Support for further enlargement of the European Union has fallen in the UK and Spain in the past six months, in a further sign that the policy is losing public favour. However, religion is not at the root of such...
December 16, 2006
Papers across Europe reflect on the main themes covered by the EU's end-of-year summit in Brussels and DJ Nozem explains Why I'm not Covering the EU Summit:) Mark Mardell of BBC Europe editor says "After the excitement of some EU...
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11:54 PM
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European Union leaders have said that countries wanting to join will have to meet strict conditions from now on, but that the EU's doors are still open.. It is also stated that New EU 'consensus' over enlargement highly fragile. In...
December 15, 2006
European Union leaders meeting in Brussels are due to signal that new countries wanting to join the bloc will face a tougher examination than ever. Tougher entry rules stall EU enlargement which means Turkey faces difficult journey to become...
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December 14, 2006
EU leaders gathered in Brussels to discuss stricter rules for admitting new member states. Hence, Should EU expansion be reconsidered?; hot BBC discussion starts... Of course, in this meeting of Heads of state to discuss EU enlargement strategy, Turkey has...
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05:34 PM
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The heads of the 25 European Union states are expected to make it harder for new members to join, when they meet for their annual summit in Brussels. Via George Parker and Daniel Dombey in EU leaders to start closing...
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11:55 AM
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Nobel laureate for literature Orhan Pamuk of Turkey holds his medal as he poses with daughter Ryya after the prize ceremony in Stockholm December 10, 2006. The European Union's decision to partially suspend Turkey's entry talks will cause problems...
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04:07 AM
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BBC starts another Should Turkey join the EU? while BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell meets the isolated Turkish Cypriot community and asks what it feels like in the spotlight, as relations between the European Union and would-be member Turkey go...
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02:26 AM
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December 10, 2006
Intermarriage, Language and Economic Assimilation Process: A Case Study of France This 31-page discussion paper studies the role of intermarriage in the process of immigrant economic assimilation in France By Xin Meng, Dominique Meurs The European Union's new members- Through...
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10:33 PM
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December 07, 2006
The EU is studying an offer by Turkey to open one port and one airport to traffic from Cyprus, Finland says. The European Commission said the move, if confirmed, was "an important step" towards breaking the deadlock over Turkey's EU...
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December 06, 2006
REPORT on the Commission's Communication on the Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2006–2007 Committee on Foreign Affairs Rapporteur: Elmar Brok MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION on the Commission's Communication on the Enlargement Strategy and Main Challenges 2006–2007 (2006/2252(INI)) The...
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December 04, 2006
If the European Union now spurns Turkey, it will deservedly stand accused of historic dishonesty and perfidy says Martin Kettle. Sabah has a brief round up of non-Turkish press and quotes from the Guardian, Turkey as "Healthy man of Europe"...
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06:44 PM
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Hugh Williamson in Berlin, Peggy Hollinger in Paris and,Wolfgang Proissl in Brussels says: Germany and France will tomorrow demand tougher conditions for Turkey's troubled European Union membership bid, in a move likely to cause new divisions over Ankara at next...
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11:16 AM
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December 01, 2006
Pope met world Orthodox leader and later visited one of Turkey's most famous mosques in what is being seen as an attempt to mend relations with the Muslim community. I should say his praying at the Blue Mosque instead of...
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11:54 AM
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November 29, 2006
The European Commission is set to recommend that parts of the EU's talks with Turkey about EU membership should be suspended, the BBC has learned. Therefore, Talks With Turkey Now "on Lower Level": Germany's Steinmeier says. Merkel says EU can't...
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03:50 PM
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November 24, 2006
The EU and Russia will not start talks on a new post-2007 "Strategic Partnership Treaty" at a summit in Helsinki on Friday after Poland on Thursday upheld its veto on the issue, despite intense two-day long negotiations in Brussels and...
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November 22, 2006
Dossier of Wednesday, November 15, 2006; Islam in Europe In many European countries, Muslims have expressed the desire to see their religion given a higher profile in public life. What are the Christian majority's views on this? And is there...
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10:16 AM
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November 18, 2006
Spain, France and Italy have unveiled a Middle East peace plan amid frustration over the latest developments between Israelis and Palestinians, with London surprised by the initiative and Israel rejecting it immediately. Hungary and Real Madrid football legend Ferenc Puskas...
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November 17, 2006
The commander of the Turkish army says his country has suspended all military ties with France. Gen Ilker Basbug said this was in protest at a bill passed by the French National Assembly to make it a crime to deny...
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12:39 AM
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November 15, 2006
A senior Vatican cardinal has expressed concern over the use of some Muslim veils by Islamic immigrants in Europe. Barroso defends Romania's new 'multilingualism' job: European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has played down criticism from socialist MEPs who said...
November 13, 2006
Dossier of Friday, November 10, 2006; The Cypriot conundrum The question of partion in Cyprus, divided since 1974 between Turkish Cypriots in the North and Greeks in the South is weighing heavily on discussions between the EU and Turkey. Brussels...
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November 11, 2006
The Commission has fleshed out what 'absorption capacity' actually means for future EU-applicant countries. Brief News: Alongside the 8 November progress reports on Turkey and the Balkan applicant nations, the Commission also spelled out its future enlargement strategy. The absorption...
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04:40 PM
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LA Times editorial says "It's too important to Europe, and vice versa, for talks over its entrance into the EU to founder.... Flag-drapped coffin of former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is carried by honour guards during his funeral ceremony at...
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November 09, 2006
Brussels' efforts to keep the Turkey EU talks on track by not recommending whether to freeze negotiations over the Cyprus issue has sparked further speculation on what a possible "train crash" in Ankara's accession process could look like. But Turkey...
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08:21 PM
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November 04, 2006
A draft European Commission report raises fresh doubts about Turkey's bid to join the EU. The draft, seen by the BBC ahead of its publication next week, says the pace of reforms has slowed down and it urges Turkey to...
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November 02, 2006
More than 70 Muslim workers at France's main airport have been stripped of their security clearance for allegedly posing a risk to passengers.... In other news; German skull row troops suspended; Alcohol has become the leading cause of death in...
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Well, I cannot join this year's AAA but for those up for San Jose, Savage Minds people are up to promote Open Access and here is also a summary of what they are up to in terms of presentations. Lorenz...
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11:13 AM
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October 31, 2006
German chancellor Angela Merkel has said that her country's EU presidency in the first half of next year will "not solve the problem" of the shelved EU constitution, following discussions on the charter with Dutch leader Jan Peter Balkenende. The...
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October 30, 2006
Dossier of Friday, October 27, 2006; Soldiers' photos damage the image of German armed forces Photos of German soldiers posing with skulls in Afghanistan have sparked a fierce debate about the the deployment of German armed forces abroad and the...
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09:10 PM
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October 27, 2006
"An army of unemployed". Cartoonist Semih Balcioglu passed away. May rest him in piece... update: Mavi Boncuk provides a good biography The European Union and Turkey should work to resolve their differences because a possible disruption of Ankara's accession...
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04:26 PM
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Interior ministers from Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland, who attended a two-day UK meeting on 25-26 October 2006, were told by UK Home Secretary and MI5 chief John Reid that terrorism is the "biggest threat to all European nations"....
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October 26, 2006
The survey by A&G shows a dramatic drop in Turkish public support for entering the EU. This signal comes as a warning only weeks before the Commission’s report. Only 2.8 per cent of respondents trust France, and 3.2 per cent...
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Dominic Casciani of BBC News community affairs focuses on Restrictions on two new nations- The Home Office has announced plans to limit the arrival of workers from Bulgaria and Romania and asks whether this will work. In the mean time,...
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