IDN InDepthNews informs on topics related to globalization, global governance and international cooperation http://indepthnews.net/area2.php?key=EU Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:45:15 +0100 http://indepthnews.net/images/rechts.jpg http://indepthnews.net/area2.php?key=EU 292 117 IDN InDepthNews | Analysis That Matters de-de rjaura@globalommedia.com(Ramesh Jaura) jbusse@globalommedia.com(Joerg-Werner Busse) 60 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-25%2020:45:15&key2=1 By Julio Godoy IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint BERLIN (IDN) - One anecdote being repeatedly told these days is that some 20 years ago, the then U.S. foreign minister James Baker, angry with the Israeli government of the time for the lack of progress in the Middle East peace talks, gave his direct telephone number to his colleague in Tel Aviv, and urged him to call. But you only call me when you are serious about peace, Baker reportedly said. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-25%2020:45:15&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-22%2000:17:11&key2=1 By Shada Islam* IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint BRUSSELS (IDN) - Times change. Foreign relations used to be the exclusive domain of governments. Foreign ministries operated behind closed doors. Diplomats met other government officials, attended receptions and once in a while hosted a "cultural event" showcasing national folk music and dance. Contrast that with the vast array of non-state actors which drive and influence relations among countries in today's globalised and inter-connected world. Diplomats can still do their bit on behalf of governments.But with 24/7 news channels, the Internet, Twitter and other social networking tools, state representatives are fast losing their monopoly on fashioning public attitudes and perceptions. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-22%2000:17:11&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-19%2009:47:17&key2=1 By Thomas Hammarberg* IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint STRASBOURG (IDN) - Several thousand persons have been forcibly returned to Kosovo by west European states in the last few years, mainly from Austria, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. Among the returnees have been persons belonging to minorities, and in particular Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians. For them these deportations have not had a happy ending. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-19%2009:47:17&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-17%2013:20:14&key2=1 By J. Chandler IDN-InDepth News Analysis TORONTO (IDN) - The United Nations has decided to help advance gender equality and women's rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country in South-Eastern Europe whose Constitution assures gender equality but women in the country are still restricted in the exercise of their fundamental rights and freedoms because of entrenched tradition. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-17%2013:20:14&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-17%2010:52:41&key2=1 By Petra Ramatowski IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis WARSAW (IDN) - Backed by the U.S. and France, Poland is set to tread the nuclear path and hopes to start generating atomic power by 2021. Presently, coal accounts for over 93 percent of the eastern European country's electricity, demand for which is expected to double by 2025. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-17%2010:52:41&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-14%2018:17:56&key2=1 By Shada Islam* IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint BRUSSELS (IDN) - Two years ago at their meeting in Beijing, Asian and European leaders vowed joint action to rebuild the battered global economy. "We swim together, or we sink together," European Commission President José Manuel Barroso told the ASEM summit. Can that message of solidarity and pledge of collective action be repeated again when Asia-Europe leaders gather in Brussels on October 4-5? http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-14%2018:17:56&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-11%2018:37:24&key2=1 By Jaya Ramachandran IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis PARIS (IDN) - A new report has praised Britain to the skies for its profound commitment to helping countries in dire need of money and a wide range of resources vital for economic and social development, but cautioned that there is ample scope for doing things better for the benefit of the taxpayer at home and the poor abroad. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-11%2018:37:24&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-08%2000:02:21&key2=1 By Shada Islam* IDN-InDepth NewsViewpoint BRUSSELS (IDN) - Asia-Europe relations used to be about business, not politics. The emergence of the Southeast Asian "tiger" economies in the 1980s and Europe's quest for a share of the region's booming market helped spur the drive for closer Asia-Europe relations and the launch in Bangkok in 1996 of ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting), an informal platform for discussion between the two sides. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-08%2000:02:21&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-06%2017:45:38&key2=1 By Brenda Sorensen IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis STOCKHOLM (IDN) - The Nordic countries appear to be undergoing a renaissance of nuclear energy. Within three weeks of the Swedish parliament permitting new atomic power plants from 2011, neighbouring Finland's legislators have given the go-ahead for two new atomic reactors. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-06%2017:45:38&key2=1 http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-05%2018:21:05&key2=1 By Jaya Ramachandran IDN-InDepth NewsAnalysis BRUSSELS (IDN) - Top-ranking leaders of the European Commission have told Zimbabwe that they expect "further concrete progress" and "clear signs of improved political environment", given which the country might receive additional money. The 27-nation European Union (EU) has provided the landlocked country in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, 180 million Euros for health, education, food security and governance. http://indepthnews.net/news/news.php?key1=2010-07-05%2018:21:05&key2=1