Serbia has elected a new President. Against all odds and polls Tomislav Nicolic has won over the incumbent, Boris Tadic, though by a narrow majority. The new President has dubious political credentials. For most of his political career, he has been associated with the extreme right. He has been vice president of the Serbian Radical… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
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English, Enlargement & Neighbours, EU Priorities and Opinion |
The German government aims to have one million electric vehicles on the roads by 2020. To that end, it grants some € 500 million for the development of battery technology, to be channelled via a “National Platform Electro Mobility” (NPE). Battery-driven electric vehicles will also be exempt from the vehicle tax for 10 years. But… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
May 15, 2012
Humanity will run out of fossil fuels before the end of this century latest. It will therefore need to develop sustainable substitutes, especially for air and road transport, as well as for shipping. Biofuels will be one of them, renewable electricity to power electrical vehicles another one. Both will be complementary. Biofuels produced from corn,… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
The Lisbon Treaty has opened the way for a more active EU involvement in health issues. It offers the Union more leeway in the fight against health epidemics, including tobacco, alcohol abuse and obesity. The principal responsibility for health remains, of course, with individual member States, most which would not appreciate the EU intervening in… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
May 2, 2012
The EU is facing its worst ever economic and financial crisis. Unemployment has reached intolerable levels. One in ten EU active citizens and one in four Spaniards are out of work. To overcome the crisis Europe needs to step up productive investments, rapidly and without bureaucratic strings. Most governments are not willing or able to… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
Western democracies are committed to the respect of public and private international law. But when exposed to infringements, they often feel powerless. The Argentinian nationalisation of 51 per cent of the oil and gas company YPF, owned by the Spanish Repsol is the latest case in point. Argentina argues it needs to exert full control… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
Thoughts on energy and climate, the Mediterranean and whatever comes to mind.
