December 18, 2012
The Lisbon Treaty contains an important provision for a leaner Executive. According to Article 17 the number of Commissioners will be reduced to two thirds of the number of Member States, as of 1st November 2014, i.e. to 18 instead of 28, unless the European Council unanimously decides otherwise. That is what the European Council… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
December 7, 2012
According to the IEA, global green house gas emissions will have to decline substantially – from close to 40 billion tons in 2012 to only 23 billion tons in 2030 – to prevent average temperatures on earth from soaring beyond the 2009 international target of +2°C. Such a decline is most unlikely to take place.… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
December 3, 2012
On November 30th 2012, Israel has suffered one of its worst diplomatic defeats ever. It has not been able to prevent the UN from upgrading the status of the Palestinian Authority in the General Assembly from “observer” to “non-member observer state” status. More than two thirds of the 193 UN member states voted in favour… » read more
Posted by Eberhard Rhein
Thoughts on energy and climate, the Mediterranean and whatever comes to mind.
