Social Europe

Urbanisation And Globalisation

The phenomenon we have been witnessing for some time now looks more and more like an industrial revolution overturned. Vast masses of migrants converge on

Youth Unemployment – How Do The Austrians Do It?

In 11 EU member states youth unemployment is over than 25% and it is 49% or higher in Croatia, Spain and Greece. This fact is

The Mediterranean Gods Cannot Do It Alone

The ancient’s world geopolitical center, the cradle of civilization, the Mediterranean Basin; a unique location with some of the world’s most important geostrategic corners. Life

What Is Europe About?

At its foundation the European project was primarily about peace. Following the murderous preceding decades this was rightly the overriding priority. It was also about

Why The ECJ Should Reject The German Constitutional Court’s Ruling

Despite having a positive effect on the economic situation within the Eurozone, the European Central Bank’s Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) program has proved controversial, with

How To Explain The Swiss Vote Against The Free Movement Of Workers

On 8 February 2009, almost 60 percent of Swiss voters supported the extension of the bilateral EU-Switzerland agreement on the free movement of workers to

Positive Developments Can Result From Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most salient issues facing governments across Europe, but does it have the potential to alter the political and social

The Disastrous Labor And Social Reforms In Spain

Spain, under pressure from the Troika (International Monetary Fund, European Commission and European Central Bank) has gone through three major labor market reforms, presented to

The Arab Spring And The Changing Balance Of Global Power

More than three years have passed since Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid and inadvertently lit the spark

The Swiss Referendum, Free Movement, Xenophobia, and Substitution Effects

Of course, it is not easy to strike a fair balance when qualifying the Swiss referendum of 9 February 2014: Is it all about xenophobia

How A German Sovereign Wealth Fund Could Help To Rebalance The Eurozone

Germany is on the dock, big time. In its 2013 ‘Alert Mechanism Report’ the European Commission announced that Germany jointly with Luxembourg would have to

How To Make EU Governance More Effective

Recently I was asked to speak somewhere in The Netherlands about Croatia and the European democracy debate. Of course I did not get very far

Death To Machines?

At the start of the Industrial Revolution, textile workers in the Midlands and the North of England, mainly weavers, staged a spontaneous revolt, smashing machinery