EEAS, which is expected to take on some consular activities, would be a stepping stone to a single "supranational" euro-diplomatic service.Apocalyptic Hope    ...................  EU Index .................. Translation (all languages)

Search this site powered by FreeFind

EU GOVERNANCE page 1
Including : Hi Rep of EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Diplomatic Service
Energy Tsar , External Affairs, Foreign Minister, , global embassies,
President of the European Council ( 2 1/2 yr. term ) , an EU representative at UN Security Council, "one voice" for the EU

Also: Sarkozy, Blair, Merkel, Kohler


INTRODUCTION :

Updates on the EU http://www.euobserver.com

 Complete Basic info on European Union (excellent resource)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union

The 3 Governing Bodies of the EU are:

1.The European Commission Executive Branch ( serving EU interests, supranational;
not national interests)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commission
Jose M. Barroso president of the European Commission;
The Commission is the power of the European Union ( Executive Branch) . It is located in Brussels, Belgium.

EU Commission Housed at the Berlaymont Building

Photo :
http://www.itu.dk/people/kom/MP/berlaymont.php

2. The European Parliament : Josep Borrell Fontelles , president of European Parliament
http://www.euroresidentes.com/euroresiuk/Spanish_Government/Josep_Borrell.htm

European Parliament meets in three places :
Brussels , Luxembourg, and Strasbourg, France

http://www.europarl.eu.int/abc/visit/visit_en.htm

Empty seat in EU Parliament # 666
http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=666

Eventually there will be "eParliament" (global internet input by everyone...yes, you and me )
"eParliament" will be handled through service-support software in Bangalore, India)
They like to know where we stand on issues.


West Bengal, India ; Commuter-Network
http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20040517/opinion01.shtml

3.  Council of Ministers; aka "Council of European Union" ( representing 25 Member-Nation States ) ;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_the_European_Union
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_member_states

 
Four Councils in all: ( count them ...sure gets confusing )
C of Ministers ( CEU ) ; CEI Human Rights ; of Europe COE ; and EC European Council


A. Council of Europe International Human Rights;
Palace of Europe--- Strasbourg, France
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe 
More info at www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/eu.html
mostly anti- Christian legislation

4. The Council
of Europe COE ( not to be confused with the "European Council-Commission" )
It has 45 representatives.


B. European Council--European Summit ( ministers +Commission President )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Council

Legal Body of Adoption
( Judicial )
The European Council ( EC ) is located in Brussels, Belgium. ( rotating presidency )
http://ue.eu.int/cms3_fo/showPage.ASP?lang=en

Institutions of the EU
http://europa.eu.int/inst-en.htm

Brussels Belgium appears to be the place of governance
* ECHR moving from Strasbourg to Brussels ?? --March 19, 2004
Council of Europe (COE) .... not to be confused with the Belgian EC European Council
and European Parliament of Strasbourg, France.
all relocated to Brussel March 19, 2004 ?

"Alliance of Civilizations" ( Western "Christian" and Muslim ) -- July 28, 2005
The fox will lie down with the leopard

The proposal to bring together Christian and Muslim nations was raised by Spain’s leader Jose Rodriguez Zapatero during a bilateral meeting on Wednesday
http://euobserver.com/?aid=19652&rk=1

Latest Press Releases http://ue.eu.int/cms3_applications/applications/newsRoom/latest.ASP?lang=1&cmsid=363
http://www.opendemocracy.net
http://www.europaworld.org/ Peter Sain ley Berry
EU TRUTH http://www.eutruth.org.uk/


TWO MEN waiting in the WINGS ( major end-time persons, as we see it )
1.) Union Minister of Foreign Affairs -- Possibly a U.S. politician ; a trans-Atlantic citizen ?
2.) Lamb with 2 horns-- remaining in ANOTHER Country pg 2 ) endorsing the UMFA

A
NEW Foreign Minister ( Ed: we do not think it is Solana )
Description of the Foreign Affairs Hi Rep www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/umfa.html
EU Foreign Affairs http://www.euobserver.com/?sid=24

Global "Mr. Europe " speaks for the West -- Oct. 22, 2007

Commission = international ; Council = national interests
As things stand, Mr Solana wields political clout as the representative of national governments, but lacks staff and funds, because the EU’s considerable aid budget and worldwide network of quasi-embassies is controlled by the bureaucratic arm of the EU, the European Commission. The new quasi-foreign minister (whose title will continue to be High Representative) will work for both national governments and the commission
[ Ed: AND for international governments ] , giving him money, a diplomatic corps, and political power.
The new foreign supremo will have a rival, [ Ed: supposedly ] however. The Lisbon treaty creates a new post of an EU president. More properly, the new office-holder will be the standing president of the European Council (the body that represents national leaders). The holder will probably be a European former head of government [ Ed: most likely Blair ] , elected by serving heads for a two-and-a-half-year term, renewable once. The new president will chair all summits, ending the current system which sees nations taking six-month-long turns to preside over EU leaders’ gatherings
For Euro-enthusiasts, a Mr Europe would fill an important vacancy in the global diplomatic order. He would “permit us to better transmit our
value
s [
Ed: "Mr. Human Rights" ]
and affirm our role as defenders of peace on the international scene,” [ Ed: enforces international laws ]
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10006760

UMFA : now called " High Representative of UFA and SP " -- June 22, 2007 (
Ed: HRUFASP for short )
The proposed EU foreign minister will now have the clunkier title of High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, while the text in several places makes clear that the EU should not get any more foreign policy powers.
http://euobserver.com/9/24342/?rk=1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6232540.stm

High Representative of the European Union for FP, Defense and Security -- June 22, 2007
The title would be High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, defense and security, instead of the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Ed: a double portfolio .....
The new foreign policy chief will take over the jobs from present foreign policy chief Javier Solana and EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
The new foreign policy chief would chair meetings of the 27 EU foreign ministers and head a combined foreign service with both national and EU diplomats. http://english.people.com.cn/200706/23/eng20070623_386984.html
Ed: HREUFPDS for short

Vice-President of European Commission -- June 22, 2007
Under the deal, the foreign policy chief would be called High Representative of the European Union
and serve also as vice-president of the executive European Commission,
but would not get the title of 'foreign minister' as in the constitution.
The new foreign policy chief would chair meetings of EU foreign ministers and head a combined external action service drawing on both national and EU diplomats,http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20070622-0746-eu-treaty-foreign.html

Moves to make EU foreign policy more decisive were at the heart of the constitutional treaty. All 27 member states signed up to a deal to create a single “foreign minister” who would sit in both the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, and thus end the absurd situation of having two representatives for every external issue. There was also to be a common “external action service” of EU diplomats running everything from diplomacy to development assistance.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/25ee73b6-1f56-11dc-ac86-000b5df10621,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F25ee73b6-
1f56-11dc-ac86-000b5df10621.html&_i_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnews%3Fhl%3Den

______________________________________________________

LISBON TREATY

The Lisbon Treaty's main innovations include an EU foreign minister, a permanent president of the EU and freeing up the decision-making process in several areas.
http://euobserver.com/9/26193/?rk=1  May 23, 2008

1. Hi Rep of EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ( we do not believe will be Solana )
supported by EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ...European External Action Service EEAS ... Diplomacy
( with a Diplomatic Corp ...embassies around the world )

The
NEW Hi Rep of Foreign Affairs just might turn out to be an American politician .

We do
not think Solana is the man who will be the Eighth King of Rev. 17
Solana is a solid-state physicist, dealing in nuclear priorities.
Will
another quasi-nuclear physicist become the
NEW Hi Rep of Foreign Affairs ?
http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/2002/carter-bio.html

US -EU need common defense and foreign policy -- April 27, 2007
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/27/news/eu.php
Trans-Atlantic Common economy
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/27/news/eu.php?page=2
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/27/news/eu.php?page=3

EU wants a
LIBERAL Voice Rep (
Ed: politically correct ) on Human Rights -- March 14, 2008
"Nor is the abuse of human rights something that affects women alone. Our pluralistic European society comprises minorities of every sort. Discrimination and persecution on the grounds of race, religion
( Ed: politically OK to criminalize true Believers in Jesus Christ and label us as "intolerant" although we afford all citizens freedom of choice )
(or apostasy), sexuality ( Ed: EU already endorses homosexuality and is attempting now to legitimisize incest ) ,
appearance, gender, disability abound as do ethnic tensions. We, in Europe, are far from being the universal beacon of enlightenment that we would like other others to perceive."

Yet if Europe stands for anything it stands for human rights. Individual freedoms need to be promoted and protected from intimidation
( Ed: But this does not pertain to Born-Again Christians who have a Conservative viewpoint, rather than the LIBERAL politically correct viewpoint espoused here ) . Diversity, freedom of expression, are sources of strength, not weakness. But realising this strength requires a voice in elevated councils. That is why Europe needs a High Representative for Human Rights to speak up in defence of minorities ( Ed: gays, politically correct issues ) everywhere, to investigate and expose abuse without fear or favour and not afraid to embarrass governments or religions ( Ed: must loathe the mores of historically-confirmed righteousness as Chronicled in the Bible ).
Wherever in the world, Mr Kazemi might feel safer with the eye of a High Representative upon him
( Ed: But will Christians become an "endangered species" ??? Yes, most emphatically YES ) .
http://euobserver.com/9/25830/?rk=1

Foreign Minister reigns. -- March 7, 2008

"Who will handle the relations between democratic Europe and despotic Russia; between two nuclear armed continents that share a long border? Will it be Europe's Foreign Minister designate under the Lisbon Treaty, Or will it be the President of the European Council?
Europe's nations have yet to learn that it is better to have a strong foreign policy that delivers 80 per cent of what you want than a weak policy that delivers 100 per cent, but whose very weakness makes it, in practice, unimplementable."
But a strong European foreign policy will require leadership and diplomatic skills of the highest order, both to secure the policy at home and then to put it across abroad. As the Constitutional Convention of 2003 foresaw, Europe does need someone to speak with both personal and constitutional authority on Foreign Affairs

[ EU Foreign Minister ] "will be a quasi-Secretary of State role."
http://euobserver.com/9/25790/?rk=1

EU wants a Foreign Minister -- Sept. 6, 2006 ....
mostly Spain, Italy and France
want a stronger EU military
A majority of EU citizens are in favour of having a single EU foreign minister for the bloc, the results of a new survey have shown.
Conducted by the German Marshall Fund in June across several member states including France, Germany, the UK and Italy, the survey showed that 65 percent of respondents would like to see the post created

http://euobserver.com/9/22350/?rk=1

EU's "One Voice"
-- July 15, 2005
Above all else, the EU has to speak with one voice in the world. Only then can it bring its economic and political weight to bear. Only then can it help to tackle global problems. This is what our partners in the world expect
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/14/opinion/edpresidents.php

Thomson (
and Reuters) only for finance and health and info
-- Feb. 20, 2008
one media for one voice ( Ed: monopoly means more control; less free speech )
"The European Commission has approved Thomson's acquisition of Reuters, a move that opens the door to the creation of the largest financial news and information service in the world, but cuts the number of major firms in the sector from three down to two."
Having been given a green light on Tuesday (19 February 2008 ), Thomson, the Canadian financial information and workflow software provider, is to purchase UK-based Reuters, the newswire and financial data service, for €11.5 billion
EU officials investigated the merger and negotiated the settlement package in concert with US regulators
http://euobserver.com/9/25692/?rk=1

Carter courts European press -- Aug. 28, 2006
blasts Blair; allies himself with anti-Americanism
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/27/AR2006082701094.html

Union Rep of Foreign Affairs to have seat on UN Security Council
The European constitution creates a powerful new European foreign minister and commits Europe to setting up a common defence policy. It also requires Britain and France to give up their seats on the UN Security Council
to the EU foreign minister on matters where the EU has agreed a common foreign policy.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-1477627,00.html

As Foreign Rep , he has the ability to convene an EU Council meeting in the case of emergency
http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/Javier_Solana
We believe that the
soon-to-come UMFA will convene EU Council meetings to the end.of this age
Solana is merely the fore-runner, in our opinion

Ed: We do not see Mr. Solana as being the "one voice"... but there is one who is still yet to come on the scene

The EU will work with
the new UN called "the Community of Democracies" (CD) and the
CCD... Council of the Community of Democracies"
please see www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/2bibi.html

Solana to retire -- Oct. 20, 2006 ... so far no creditable replacement (
Ed: but keep watching. Prophecy is being fulfilled )
the deadlock on the EU constitution means that Mr Solana will not get the job as official EU foreign minister – foreseen for November in the shelved charter.
http://euobserver.com/9/22684/?rk=1

3 posts
European Foreign Rep
also head of Commission and External Relations
At the same time, this new foreign minister would be a vice president of the Commission, [ Ed: handling external relations] the EU's executive body
As the constitution itself states: "The high representative and the commissioner of external relations causes duplication and confusion. It will be merged into a single European minister for foreign affairs who will be able to speak for the union on those subjects where the latter has a common position." Europe's first foreign minister would also have a diplomatic service; national governments would retain their own foreign ministries
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/16/news/europe.php

Union Rep of Foreign Affairs ( UMFA )
The UMFA will then replace the high representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy
(currently Javier Solana
) as well as the Commisioner responsible for external relations (currently Benita Ferrero Waldner). However the UMFA will not replace the Commissioners for Trade (Peter Mandelson) or the Commissioner for Development Co-operation and Humanitarian Aid (Louis Michel).
http://constitution.eurostep.org/wcm/index.php?option=com_content&task=section&id=13&Itemid=313

Shades of Daniel 9:27 ...........
The EU
will have a single legal personality, allowing it to sign international treaties. June 18, 2003
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=128630

Will the "one voice" speak from the Security Council of the UN also ??
EU wants "one voice" to sit in the Security Council for global policy -- Jan. 25, 2005
This commitment to multilateralism is a founding principle of EU foreign relations. Our goal is to strengthen international security through concerted work within the framework of international organisations".
"I think that one should consider a special seat for the EU in the security council given its foreign policy significance
Europe must speak with one voice in the Security Council".

At the moment, the UN security council has fifteen members. Of these, five are permanent veto-wielding members – the UK, France, China, Russia and the US. The other ten are elected by the General Assembly for two-year periods.
In all, 191 countries are members of the UN.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=18227&rk=1

Council on Foreign Relations
http://www.foreignaffairs.org
CFR ISSUES
http://www.cfr.org/transition2005/index.php Transition 2005

The new European Foreign Rep works for the Foreign Secretary and other Foreign Ministers
The Treaty states explicitly that the European Foreign Minister works for national Foreign Ministers: 'The Union Minister for Foreign Affairs shall conduct the Union's common foreign and security policy. He or she shall contribute by his or her proposals to the development of that policy, which he or she shall carry out as mandated by the Council' (Article I-28).
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1107293025866

European Foreign Rep ...vice-president of the EU Commission; European Council Minister
The position and role of the European Foreign Minister is one of the main issues still being negotiated in the Constitutional Treaty. The proposal most seriously considered is that of a so-called “double-hatted” Foreign Minister who would combine the role of Vice-President of the powerful European Commission, with that of Minister functioning under the even more powerful European Council of Member States. No adequate procedures have been proposed to secure clear accountability and control of the activities of this “superman” or “superwoman”, who, given the double hats, can turn to various procedures - mostly as he/she would see most appropriate (Article I-27). There is also no role given to the European Parliament to exercise control over the actions of the European Foreign Minister.


EEAS -- European External Affairs Service ..... Diplomatic Service ( Corp ) around the world

160 ( Ed: largest amount of any ) "Embassies of the Union" -- May 6, 2008
European External Action Service" (EEAS)
Working papers circulating in Brussels suggest that more than 160 EU offices around the world, including in member states, would become embassies.
EEAS, which is expected to take on some consular activities, would be a stepping stone to a single "supranational" ( Ed: Global governance ) euro-diplomatic service.
Up to 20,000 Diplomats, officials
The EEAS will number between 2,500 to 3,000 officials at its inception in January next year. It is then expected to grow to 7,000, or even up to 20,000, according to different estimates
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/1922140/EU-plans-international-embassies.html

European External Action Service ( Ed: global diplomatic corp ) Nov. 27, 2007
effective January 1, 2009
The treaty says the newly created diplomatic force – officially called European External Action Service - will "assist" the EU's future top foreign policy official, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy .The newly-styled high representative will have a "double hat" and cover the existing posts of member states' foreign policy chief – currently Javier Solana – and the European Commission's external relations commissioner.
Consequently, the EU diplomatic force will consist of officials from the secretariat of the EU Council (which is Mr Solana's office), commission staff as well as seconded diplomats from national capitals.
The service is likely to employ thousands of staff ...
Meanwhile, national foreign ministries and the European Parliament are already worried that sensitive political and security positions will be prepared by the service behind closed doors and beyond their political influence - a concern which was highlighted at the EPC meeting
http://euobserver.com/9/25207/?rk=1

Creation of an EU diplomatic corp --June 22, 2007
Thousands of European commission officials serving in its 120 delegations around the world - effectively diplomats in waiting - will come under his or her control. The minister is also expected to chair the EU Council of foreign ministers, helping to define sensitive polices throughout the world, from the US to China, Iran and Iraq.
The draft drawn up early this morning states the EU’s foreign policy will lead to “the progressive framing of a common defence policy that might lead to a common defence
But critics say this will not be enough to prevent the EU corps from growing into a fully-fledged diplomatic service
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/23/ntreaty423.xml

In addition, as demanded by Britain the treaty will not refer to the appointment of a first-ever EU “foreign minister” but to a “high representative for foreign and security policy.” Britain claims that the title of foreign minister would give the impression that national governments were ceding sovereignty on foreign policy to the EU.
http://www.neurope.eu/view_news.php?id=75389

Commentary by Dr. Ed Hindson ( the
King is Coming telecast ) World Prophetic Ministry newsletter February 2008 ....
"
The European Union ( EU ) has edged closer toward becoming a superstate by proposing joint EU embassies throughout the world. The proposal came days before the signing of the controversial European Reform Treaty ( formerly the European Constitution), which creates a European diplomatic service and a new post ------ that of an EU Foreign Minister.

The European Commission plans for travelers to use services at consulates in any EU country, suggesting that members can merge their embassies, with standard rules for help available to European citizens traveling abroad, and also to facilitate repatriation of corps from abroad.
If travelers run into difficulties, they can use embassy services in any of the EU's 27 member nations, representing 490 million citizens. Pooling of resources can allow smaller EU countries to use a larger member country's consulate.

The EU's citizens are already supposed to be able to use another member state's consulate if their country is not represented abroad .... but co-operation between the embassies and consulates is considered "patchy". The Commission is basically upping awareness of consulate's duties to EU travelers who lose passports or get arrested .....
" ( This ) is possibly another subtle step toward the European superpower described in the Book of Revelation." --
quoting British politician William Hague.


Diplomatic Service -- April 14, 2008
the diplomatic service - a new body meant to back up the new foreign minister post and give coherence to the bloc's external policy.
...... that the service should be linked to both member states and the commission.
This is a highly political question with some countries and MEPs fearing that if the commission is not fully involved, then the diplomatic service will simply become a tool of larger countries.
EU diplomats must also grapple with the set up of the regular ministerial meetings. This runs the gamut from exactly what powers will fall to the foreign minister when chairing the external relations council to when agendas should be sent out for the meeting
http://euobserver.com/9/25968/?rk=1


Hi Rep and Diplomatic Corps (
Ed:not Solana) -- May 30, 2005
The creation of the external service ( Ed : diplomatic corps ) to support a new EU foreign minister is one of the central provisions of the constitution rejected by French voters on Sunday.
Both President George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, have made clear statements of support for European integration, stopping just short of explicit endorsement of the constitution. "You have seen in the first five months of 2005 a substantial revival of US-European co-operation and we find Europe to be an active and very good partner," Nicholas Burns, US undersecretary of state, told the FT recently

In particular, Washington has made clear it would like greater European help for Iraq, which will be the subject of a joint EU-US conference in Brussels on June 22. During the French referendum campaign Mr Solana argued that a No vote could halt the EU's progress towards a more coherent foreign policy.

The paper on an external service ( Ed : diplomatic corps ) , drawn up by Mr Solana and the European Commission for discussion by foreign ministers next month before a June 16-17 summit, says most of the EU's 25 member states believe the diplomatic service should have a wide role.
It would take in parts of the Commission's directorate for external relations, responsible for dealing with different regions of the world, but not areas such as trade and development. It would also incorporate Commission delegations across the world, currently numbering more than 100. The paper says a majority of member states supported the idea that these "Union delegations might take on additional tasks such as consular protection and visas".
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/cc39fa28-d170-11d9-9c1d-00000e2511c8.html

Diplomatic Service to have Consular role -- May 31, 2005
Mr Solana is to present a paper suggesting the service could play a consular role for EU nationals and would
occupy a place of its own in the EU system between the European Commission and member states, according to the Financial Times.
The EU's external action service to support the ( Ed : new ) European foreign minister is one of the key new proposals
The service should take over some responsibilities of the Commission's directorate for external relations, dealing with different regions of the world and also incorporate Commission delegations across the world.
The EU delegations - currently over 100 - might then take on additional tasks such as consular protection and visas.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=19206&rk=1

Union Minister for Foreign Affairs to be assisted by EEAS ( External Action Service;Diplomatic Corp, embassies)
"To assist the future Union Minister for Foreign Affairs, introduced in Article I- 27 of the Constitution, to perform his or her duties, the Convention agrees on the need for the Council of Ministers and the Commission to agree, without prejudice to the rights of the European Parliament, to establish under the Minister's authority one joint service (European External Action Service) composed of officials from relevant departments of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and of the Commission and staff seconded from national diplomatic services.
The staff of the Union's delegations, as defined in Article III-230, shall be provided from this joint service.
The Convention is of the view that the necessary arrangements for the establishment of the joint service should be made within the first year after entry into force of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe."

http://gandalf.aksis.uib.no/~brit/EXPORT-EU-Constitution/Draft-EU-Constitution-June-2004/DECLARATIONONTHECREATIONOFAEUROPEAN
EXTER.html#Topic616

http://gandalf.aksis.uib.no/~brit/EXPORT-EU-Constitution/Draft-EU-Constitution-June-2004/contents.htm

http://gandalf.aksis.uib.no/~brit/EXPORT-EU-Constitution/Draft-EU-Constitution-June-2004/DECLARATIONONTHECREATIONOFAEUROPEANEXTER.html

EEAS... Diplomatic Corps
http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/EN/declarations/84999.pdf

DIPLOMATIC SERVICE ... "The External Action Service" -- May 29, 2005
And a fear expressed by some MEPs in the parliament is that the body [ Ed : Extern. Action Serv ; Diplomatic Corp ]
sits neither in the commission or the council but alone and becomes too independent.

The resolution says the parliament is "convinced ...[the service] should be incorporated, in organisational and budgetary terms, in the commission's staff structure
According to German centre-right MEP Elmar Brok, the service would help the EU foreign minister, envisioned in the EU constitution, to "fulfil his brief".
Speaking about the European Commission's 128 delegations around the world, Mr Brok added "These could easily be expanded into real EU embassies, with its personnel drawn from the member states on a rotating basis.

They would then no longer be trade representations, but could represent the EU's common positions".
This viewpoint appears to be backed by theory. According to some, the diplomatic service could still survive even if the constitution is brought to a halt by being rejected in referendums.
http://www.euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=19172

US to increase it Diplomatic Service -- Jan. 19, 2006
Adding that there are still almost 200 world cities of over a million inhabitants without any US presence - despite its 7,440-strong diplomatic corps abroad - Ms Rice indicated "This is where the action is today, and this is where we must be."
The first shift will amount to around 100 diplomats from Europe and Washington to be sent immediately to expanded embassies in countries such as India, China and Lebanon
The US foreign minister explained the move as part of the administration's plan to build up a "transformational diplomacy," which attempts "to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world
[ Ed: does this mean that the US diplomatic corps will serve all interests of democracy ? ]
http://euobserver.com/?aid=20721&rk=1

US to increase envoys -- Jan 20, 2006
Change agents to the third world of developing countries
"She [ C Rice ] said her plan was part of a strategy for "transformational diplomacy." She said she hoped to create a new kind of diplomatic corps that can work with people abroad, as U.S. diplomats are doing now in Iraq and Afghanistan, with the intent of helping to transform developing countries into democracies and to fight terrorism
"We must begin to lay the diplomatic foundations to secure a future of freedom for all people"
Ed: 1,000 points of light ??
A senior State Department official who briefed reporters Wednesday compared the strategy to the Pentagon's plan for shifting as many as 70,000 soldiers in the coming years from Cold War-era bases in Germany, Japan and South Korea to smaller bases around the world. He said the State Department needed to move people "into more critical strategic areas so that we have more of a presence
"virtual posts" ...
Ed: reach out and touch someone
The State Department will also set up "virtual posts," where people can visit a Web site and chat online with U.S. diplomats, Rice said.  "This digital meeting room enables foreign citizens, young people most of all, to engage online with American diplomats who could be hundreds of miles away," Rice said, adding that Internet diplomacy would be a cost-effective way to expand U.S. presence in a country
http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/19/news/diplo.php

External Affairs (relations) ... Diplomatic Service

European politicians are hoping that the two-day conference will at the very least iron out loose threads in the foreign policy arena. At the moment, Europe has two officials who speak on foreign affairs topics but wield no real power. The constitution wants to merge the two into one minister who will give an expanded Europe more political weight in foreign policy questions.

"The important thing is that the key questions in foreign policy are solved in Naples," Elmar Brok, European parliamentarian, told the German daily Die Welt. "The European Foreign Minister post will need to be specified ... without limitations."
http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1433_A_1043928,00.html Nov. 27, 2003

The external affairs council will be chaired by the NEW Union Minister of Foreign Affairs.
http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=11626

Diplomatic Service External Affairs ) too powerful -- Feb. 28, 2005
A draft report by the head of the External Relations Committee, German Christian Democrat MEP Elmar Brok, warns that that setting up the [Diplomatic ] service as a centre ground between the European Commission and the Council could result in an
"independent super administration".
The report warns that the diplomatic service, which is set to have between 5000 and 7000 members, could
 "take on an uncontrollable life of its own"
The aim of the service, which will encompass the EU's 124 delegations abroad, is to back up the new post of EU foreign minister and make the bloc's foreign policy more coherent.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=18515&rk=1


Breydel Building may house the Diplomatic Service of the UMFA - External Affairs Service ... Diplomatic Corp
financial times

Brussels at odds over new post -- Feb. 28, 2005
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/9309cc5a-88e2-11d9-b7ed-00000e2511c8,dwp_uuid=d4f2ab60-c98e-11d7-81c6-0820abe49a01.htm

External Affairs position at top of agenda -- May 13, 2004
In other words, he would like the European foreign minister position to be brought forward and come into force before the whole Constitution is put into place
The EU foreign minister would be responsible for handling the EU's external relations - and would also be vice-president of the European Commission.

The person would also eventually have an "external action service" or a diplomatic service to provide back-up.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=16004&rk=1

It is our feeling that the one to watch is the NEW Union Minister of Foreign Affairs .... in charge of Security and Defense and External Affairs.

We need a common foreign policy -- Feb. 26, 2004
Explaining the EU's new strategy, he [ Solana ] stressed it would not act alone outside its borders but operate with the international community [ U.S. ], as well as becoming a stronger and more able supporter of the United Nations.
"Ultimately I believe that the best way Europe can contribute to building a stronger UN is by building a strong, a capable, Europe," Solana said. [ E.U dictates policy, U.N.( C.D.) backs up policy with consensus and NATO forces;
U.S. forces are already under U.N. control through NATO]

"No challenge of today can be solved by one country alone, not even the most important country. Multilateralism is not the choice of the weak but the choice of the wise," he continued.
This editor in brackets.
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040225161821.lmsoz5du

Powell : Common EU-US values
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/031118124413.8x29g0ma

Solana reappointed to foreign-policy ( internal affairs)-- June 30, 2004
Javier Solana of Spain was re-appointed to run the foreign policy machinery, military staff headquarters and the new anti-terrorism agency, as well as the 60,000-man rapid reaction force. [non-NATO-Alliance ]
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/core/Content/displayPrintable.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/06/30/weu30.xml&site=5

Solana wants multipolar world--June 21, 2003
The document pledges for a multipolar world by stating that although the US is "in a dominant position as
a
military actor" after the Cold War, "no single country is able to tackle today's complex problems entirely on its own".
Solutions to these problems should be extending the zone of security around Europe and strengthening the global order - but the paper also stresses the importance of transatlantic relations.
Significantly, the document says that "conflict prevention and threat prevention cannot start too early.
http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?aid=11813

Although Solana may head the Defense Ministry, who will he report to ?
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/031117165538.tc9zdaufEU

NEW FM also to head Foreign Affairs
Council ; implement aid-programs --May 17, 2004
implements the EU's aid programs. In addition, the office would serve as vice-president of the European Commission and chair of the foreign affairs council.
The new EU foreign minister would be the single representative for the EU in foreign affairs
http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1433_A_1205634_1_A,00.html

Solana wants to be pragmatic, results-orientated -- Jan. 25, 2005
http://euobserver.com/?aid=18224&rk=1

Who is Javier Solana ? A Biography
http://www.explore-biography.com/political_figures/J/Javier_Solana.html

Solana prepares the US to align more with the EU --July 28, 2004
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=B87C2514-C928-46AA-B4CBEA3837E64F08

New Commission begins in 2009 -- May 17, 2004
Although the new position is not foreseen until 2009 when the new institutional changes for the European Commission are scheduled to come into force, ways are being examined to start the post during the next commission term, which begins in November.

The new foreign minister will combine the diplomatic role of Mr Solana with external relations Commissioner Chris Patten, who implements the EU's aid programmes.
The person would be vice-president of the European Commission and would chair the foreign affairs council.
The new EU foreign minister would alone represent the EU in foreign affairs - in contrast to today, where Mr Solana is also flanked by the foreign ministers of the country holding the rotating six-month presidency.
There is also a push to get the diplomatic machinery in place. [ diplomatic corps ]

A new discussion text put forward by the Irish Presidency for discussion today suggests that setting up the
diplomatic service
for the foreign minister begins soon after the treaty is signed - which is set to be this year.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=16054&rk=1

Solana ( from Rome) prepares EU global command -- July 27, 2004
EU God-less Constitution a Global Constitution ???????
The European Union must be able to act outside its borders if it is to ensure the security of its 450 million citizens, the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana told Italian diplomats here Tuesday.
Solana said Europe was "confronted with a situation in which the security of our citizens requires that we act outside our borders," and to do so, it needed to re-examine its institutional framework.

"The Constitution seeks to answer this demand," Solana said, adding that the document reflected agreement on "a higher level of ambition the EU should have as an international actor".
He was speaking in Rome to an annual conference of Italy's 140 ambassadors at the invitation of Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
http://www.eubusiness.com/afp/040727115946.wbakzk92

"New" European Commission 2009 ( Institutional changes)
http://www.euireland.ie/news/enlargement/0304/institutionalchanges.htm

Despite the will of the people ..... May 30, 2005
For regardless of the constitution, the reality is that the countries of the EU are already the helpless captives of an all-encompassing, anti-democratic bureaucracy with a life of its own.
Much of the constitution was always going to be imposed upon us anyway through the seemingly endless wrinkles in existing EU treaties. Indeed, the creation of an EU diplomatic service and the harmonisation of criminal justice are already well under way.
In other words, nothing so trivial as the will of the people would ever be allowed to derail the EU project, which has come to define the world view for a whole class of politicians, bureaucrats and lawyers who have governed the nations of Europe for a generation.

The second great myth is that the EU can become a rival global power to the US:
the social welfare state versus the unbridled free-market.
Euro-fanatics are so wrapped up in this infantile hostility that they have failed to notice that the world has moved on.

As the MEP Daniel Hannan has argued, the main threat to freedom comes from supra-national tyrannies — communism, Nazism, Islamic totalitarianism —to which only the nation state can offer any proper defence.
Its extension of EU powers would take away what remains of our ability to govern ourselves.
It would deprive us of control over finance, foreign policy, defence, taxation, social security, criminal justice, immigration and a host of other policies. The wholesale transfer of power to a brand-new pseudo-state would reduce Parliament to the status of Westminster regional council. As such, it sounds a death knell for democracy.
http://www.melaniephillips.com/articles/archives/001229.html

A finger in every pie...
EU offices in other nations -- Nov. 22, 2006
In the commission paper, the "common offices" plan is linked to proposals made by Brussels last June which revived the EU diplomatic service idea, such as the exchange of diplomatic personnel and common diplomatic training schemes. The "common offices" could also in the longer term issue EU visas and the legalisation of documents, according to the draft.
One complication factor is that third countries also need to legally agree to the protection by one EU member state of another member state's citizens - a hurdle which Brussels seeks to overcome by pressing for inclusion of consular protection clauses in bilateral and EU agreements with third states.
http://euobserver.com:80/9/22927/?rk=1
Ed: Let's not forget that all diplomatic offices comes under the governance of the UMFA the EU foreign Minister ( "chairman" of global policy )

George Soros : EU should promote global governance
-- Nov. 21. 2006
Liberal democracy ( global socialism ) "Open Society Institute " ...... pragmatic governance
"An open society is an imperfect society which holds itself open to improvement," he said . [ Ed: does not want Constitution; which gives ethical guidelines]
"make the union function more efficiently."
"simplifying the EU's decision-making process which he said is "urgent" for the bloc to act more effectively on the world stage. "

http://euobserver.com:80/9/22915/?rk=1


Sarkozy

Sarkozy wants to revamp Capitalism -- Oct. 17, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/16/AR2008101604020.html?hpid=sec-world

Sarkozy and the MidEast -- July 2008 --Mediterranean countries
"We will build peace in the Mediterranean together." Sarkozy's big idea is to use imperial Rome's centre of the world as a unifying factor linking 44 countries that are home to 800 million people.
Yesterday's summit committed participants to "peace, stability and security" in a region beset with conflict, including Israel and the Arab world, Syria and Lebanon, Morocco and Algeria, Turkey and Greece, Cyprus, and much of the Balkans. President Bashar Assad of Syria sat in the same room as Israel's prime minister, Ehud Olmert, who, in turn, appeared alongside the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, to announce that peace was within grasp.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/14/france.eu

Sarkozy: point-man on global food crisis - April 18, 2008
wants public-private partnership + gov ( socialism + fascism = authoritarianism )
" He says that greater co-ordination is needed among international financial institutions, governments and the private sector about world farming."
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hsU5KNWkeWR1LoQTVIeCu9k84D1A

France overshadowing Slovenia
-- Jan. 15, 2008 ( Ed: shows embassies as representing more than one )
"Practically, Slovenia is already relying on 110 French embassies where it does not have representation itself, following an arrangement between the two governments
One diplomat summed up the attitude of France towards Slovenia as being "You can do your dance but it will be up to us to make the real decisions," suggesting that on two topics in particular -
1. the liberalisation of the EU's energy giants and
2. picking the names for the top EU posts that are coming up next year -
are being tacitly left to Paris [ Ed: Sarkozy ]
A Slovene spokesperson said: "on a working level, we have very good relations," and denied that any dossiers were being explicitly left to France."
http://euobserver.com/9/25452/?rk=1

France : Nicholas Sarkozy
( Ed: we do not see him as the AC or FP )
Sarkozy, often mocked as "the American friend" and blamed for 'ultra-liberal' worldviews, will lean towards a more Atlanticist policy. Nevertheless, there are several reasons that any expectations for a drastic change in the country's Middle East policy, or foreign policy in general, should be downplayed.
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2007/dawns58.htm


Tony Blair
Role of 'Permanent '
President of the European Council --Aug. 18, 2008
-- 5 year term
This would very much put the President in the foreign policy field. It would also foresee a formal hierarchy among member states as it would give priority to those considered most affected.This kind of scenario has been predicted by some smaller member states who fear that the president would have an all-powerful role, reducing the say of certain governments, although the working principle of the bloc is that member states are equal.
http://euobserver.com/9/26613/?rk=1

Uk, Britain, England : Tony Blair ... President of the European Council ??
( Ed: we do
not see him as the AC or FP )

Tony Blair --and dozens of other high profiles like Oprah--wants to unite religions -- May 30, 2008 NY City ( see
Rev. 17:18 )
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2050848/Tony-Blair-on-mission-to-'unite-religions'.html

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation -- May 30, 2008 New York City see
Rev. 17:18
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7427809.stm

Sarkozy wants Junker for EU long-term president -- May 7, 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday (6 May) let it be known that instead of the UK former prime minister taking the post, he would prefer the job go to Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker.
http://euobserver.com/9/26091/?rk=1

T. Blair-- lover of Sharia and Palestinian State Funding-- Dec. 17, 2007
90 assemble in Paris on Dec. 19 for Palestinian bonanza
Blair to co-chair the event
(IsraelNN.com) Representatives of some 70 nations and another 20 international delegations will convene in Paris on Monday in a one-day "Conference of Donors for a Palestinian State." The goal is to raise hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, on behalf of a Palestinian state adjoining, crowding - and threatening - the State of Israel.
Participating organizations include the European Commission, the Arab League, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and European and Arab financial funds.  All 27 members of the European Union will be represented, as will be Middle East countries, the Group of Eight industrialized nations, Brazil, China, India and Norway
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124588

Britain -- lover of Sharia Banking -- Dec. 13, 2007
The west is giving away the know-how, with gusto, to enable Shari’a banking and guarantee its success throughout the world. And to what ends?
For one,
Britain’s PM Gordon Brown has pointedly stated that he intends to make London the Islamic finance capital of the world. Further, he pledged that in 2008 the British government will issue its own “sukuk”, or Shari’a compliant bonds. Yes, government debt issued as Shari’a compliant
http://www.newswithviews.com/Wood/patrick29.htm

T. Blair -- Nov. 16, 2007
( Ed: Although NOT the AC or FP, the EU President will endorse all that the AC stipulates . .. Once Bush's "poodle", he will become the AC's "parrot" ..as we see it )
but would seek to drive his own agenda. Remember the bold peroration he made to the European Parliament, on the eve of the 2005 British Presidency - a speech that heralded much incidentally and was highly regarded despite (or perhaps because) he laid into so many of Europe's sacred cows
[ Ed: or any other -- like American -- sacred cows. Our "sacred cow" is the Bill of Rights ]
... it gives us an inkling of how the Presidency of the European Council could look very different, both to Europe and the wider world if Blair, or someone like him, were to be appointed.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man
http://euobserver.com/9/25161/?rk=1

President of Europe ?-- April 21, 2007 --Patrick Buchanan
The price of his becoming president of Europe is surrender of his country's sovereignty.
Unless and until Britain gives up the pound, and accepts the euro as its currency, she cannot be a full member of the new Europe and Blair cannot be president. But before Britain can give up the pound, Blair must call a referendum and persuade his people to give up their currency and, with it, control of their economy. That referendum will pit him against Margaret Thatcher, the Tories and a majority of Britons, who do not wish to give up any more freedom or independence to Europe.

On top of the national governments of Europe has been added a new layer of transnational government. A new and more distant socialist bureaucracy has arisen to be piled on top of the old state bureaucracies. With this difference: These new bureaucrats have no loyalty to any country
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=32158

President Blair
-- reinforcing foreign policy and defense
Critics claim it would create a powerbase for greater EU centralisation on issues like foreign policy and defence.
The president would be appointed by other EU leaders, rather than being directly elected
http://peeringintodarkness.com/ctd/?p=4612

Executive Role
He will continue to make the case for his modernising, progressive brand of centre-left politics and is thought to be preparing his own foundation – a smaller version of that set up by Bill Clinton, former US president – as a means of carrying forward his work in these areas.
However, at only 56, he would like to find an “executive role”
Mr Blair is said to be attracted by the idea of becoming president of the European Council,

He is deeply frustrated at leaving the European stage at a time when his three most senior counterparts are set to be like-minded reformers. He has formed close working relationships with Angela Merkel, German chancellor, and José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president.
He has also been wooed, and to a degree imitated, by Nicolas Sarkozy, the rightwing contender and favourite to become French president in Sunday’s elections
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/4b7e16a2-f9a6-11db-9b6b-000b5df10621.html

earth-ethic, climate change
Other speculation is that he may wish to continue to campaign for development and better government in Africa and may use his celebrity status to seek more urgent action to combat climate change.
http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-234/0705046751164523.htm

Blair : more power to the
EU COUNCIL , and commission
" must partner with the US "
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2522931.stm


Former policy under Angela Merkel ( Jan- June 2007 )
Trans-Atlantic Market Place -- Feb. 2, 2007
"Earlier this month German chancellor Angela Merkel said she would promote a transatlantic marketplace in the face of growing competition from Asia and Latin America, indicating that closer ties with Washington should be forged through regulatory co-ordination in concrete areas such as patents and financial markets"
http://euobserver.com/9/23402/?rk=1
please see www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/6bibi-2.html
and also www.cybertime.net/~ajgood/3bibi.html

TAFTA ( transatlantic free trade zone )
Chancellor Angela Merkel's sudden interest in promoting a free trade dialogue with the United States during her term at the head of the European Union in the first half of 2007. Such a move, if successful, would completely rework the global trading regime, and with it global power balances.

until you realize that that collective GDP of such a TAFTA grouping is roughly $24 trillion (out of a global total of approximately $43 trillion).
... "the United States and European Union would be partners in the most powerful economic grouping in history....
With the two joined at the hip in TAFTA, their negotiating power would become nearly absolute, giving both players the ability to dictate terms to any state that sought to join their joint trade network
http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=275955&selected=Global+Market+Brief
http://www.stratfor.com/products/premium/read_article.php?id=275955

Europe needs leadership -- Dec. 23, 2006
" many people feel that that Europe is at a juncture where it badly needs robust leadership.
This is made even more necessary as the United States moves into its "Lame-Duck President Year" - the fourth year of the second term
[ Ed: no lame-duck here; when there is no need of votes, there is more arbitrariness. Watch the stricter enforcements]

2007 agenda for German leadership of the EU - - Oct. 13, 2006
The deepening that should have occurred would have come with the Constitutional Treaty: an EU Foreign Minister, a semi-permanent President of the Council, extended majority voting and so on. But the Treaty has not been ratified and for the moment Europe is like a distorted photograph - extended in one direction but not in the other.

There are two alternatives to this. First, that we do not enlarge further;
second, that we enlarge and deepen significantly - a quasi-federal structure, perhaps, with a stronger, but more democratic, Brussels.
Neither of these is palatable - the one for strategic reasons, the other for reasons of domestic politics: the notion of 'superstate' has been firmly rejected.
Yet the notion of a feeble and febrile Europe is unpalatable also
http://euobserver.com/9/22633/?rk=1


 


Future Warnings

European Gulag -- Nov. 2006
" Hence, we have now been warned. Meanwhile they are introducing more and more ideology. The Soviet Union used to be a state run by ideology. Today’s ideology of the European Union is social-democratic, statist, and a big part of it is also political correctness. I watch very carefully how political correctness spreads and becomes an oppressive ideology, not to mention the fact that they forbid smoking almost everywhere now.
Look at this persecution of people like the Swedish pastor who was persecuted for several months because he said that the Bible does not approve homosexuality. France passed the same law of hate speech concerning gays. Britain is passing hate speech laws concerning race relations and now religious speech, and so on and so forth.
What you observe, taken into perspective, is a systematic introduction of ideology which could later be enforced with oppressive measures. Apparently that is the whole purpose of Europol. Otherwise why do we need it? To me Europol looks very suspicious. I watch very carefully who is persecuted for what and what is happening, because that is one field in which I am an expert. I know how Gulags spring up" -- Vladimir Bukovksy
http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/865

Socialism
President ( Vaclav ) Klaus ( Checkloslovakia ) spoke last Monday, warning for the new “substitute ideologies of socialism” such as “Europeanism” and “NGOism.” These “isms” are currently threatening Europe. “In the first decade of the 21st century we should not concentrate exclusively on socialism,” he said.
As substitutes of socialism, Václav Klaus cited “environmentalism (with its Earth First, not Freedom First principle), radical humanrightism (based – as de Jasay precisely argues – on not distinguishing rights and rightism), the ideology of ‘civic society’ (or communitarism), which is nothing less than one version of post-Marxist collectivism which wants privileges for organized groups, and in consequence, a refeudalization of society […], multiculturalism, feminism, apolitical technocratism (based on the resentment against politics and politicians), internationalism (and especially its European variant called Europeanism) and a rapidly growing phenomenon I call NGOism
“[Europe] is a system of relations and relationships of individual countries, which must not be based on false internationalism, on supranational organizations and on misunderstanding of globalization and of externalities, but which will be based on good neighborliness of free, sovereign countries and on international pacts and agreements.”
http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/206
http://www.klaus.cz/klaus2/asp/clanek.asp?id=wFYl3mgsTzI6

Call for "Social Europe "
Social Europe is defined as a set of "common values" such as social justice, equality and solidarity
http://euobserver.com/9/23505/?rk=1

e-governance
Electronic Governance is the application of Information Technology
( Ed: IT ... digitally networked computerization and databases )
to the processes of Government functioning in order to bring about
Simple, Moral, ( Ed: ???? Whoa ! ) Accountable, Responsive and Transparent (SMART) Governance.
Electronic governance also involves transformation from being a passive information and service provider to active citizen involvement.
( Ed: soliciting recruitment and loyalty....eventually mandated )
http://likeitreadit.blogspot.com/2006/11/what-is-e-governance-evolution-of-word.html


ENERGY TSAR -- Sept. 25, 2006
French prime minister Dominique de Villepin has proposed a new EU energy representative and a high-profile summit with the bloc's energy suppliers during next year's German EU presidency. [ Jan - June 30, 2007 ]
Speaking at the International Bertelsmann Forum in Berlin on Friday (22 September -2006 ), Mr de Villepin suggested that a
new EU special representative on energy - negotiating on behalf of the bloc's member states - should work closely with foreign policy chief Javier Solana and energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs.
"Our weight in negotiations with producers will increase in proportion to our ability to speak with a single voice," he said, according to press reports.
http://euobserver.com/9/22491/?rk=1

Blackouts; Need Energy regulations -- Oct. 12, 2006
A commission action plan – due out next week - will propose new EU design regulations for household items such as boilers, TVs and light bulbs and suggest extending EU rules on energy-saving for building design.
Energy is set to be one of the key issues on the agenda when Germany takes over the rotating EU presidency in January 2007.
http://euobserver.com/9/22626/?rk=1

Light bulbs, Ethernet and infinite Wi-Fi (
many graphics and comments )
The NoCat Night Light
Almost simultaneously, we all looked up and noticed the lamps hanging from the wooden rafters. What if you could house an AP in a package the size of a large lightbulb, and install it in an existing light socket? This seemed like a good idea, but how would you get network access to it without running CAT5 to the socket? Easy: Powerline Ethernet.
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/h/352

Incandescent light bulbs not Wi-Fi enough -- Feb. 4, 2007
Lloyd Levine, a Democrat from the California Lower House, plans to introduce legislation which would outlaw incandescent bulbs in the state by 2012. Assemblyman Levine wants to force consumers to use only the more energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps or other alternatives such as light emitting diodes (LEDs
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/9194/1066/

LEDs Light Emitting Diodes
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/led.htm


EU Commissioner at UN -- Oct. 3, 2006 --UN reform
Mr Malloch Brown explained that the European Commission office in New York working on UN issues "tends to be on the good side of issues so people are kind of quite keen to see it evolve – so it will get there but it is just going to be steady persuasion."
"I'm a huge fan of it," he stated. The number two UN official was in Brussels to speak at a policy briefing on UN reform in Brussels arranged by EU think-tank Friends of Europe.
http://euobserver.com/9/22553/?rk=1


U.S. Ambassador to the EU : C. Boyden Gray ( lawyer ) -- July 27, 2005

Apart from lobbying and judicial affairs, Mr Gray has been involved in health and environmental issues, like biotechnology, trade, clean air and risk management.
http://euobserver.com/?aid=19644&rk=1

Bio : C. Boyden Gray
Environmentalist; Lawyer for GWHerbert Bush,
Biotech ( fda)
In addition to his environmental work, Mr. Gray has extensive experience with FDA new drug approval procedures, and was one of the principal architects of the 1997 FDAMA legislation, the first FDA reform legislation in 60 years. He represented software developers in the Microsoft antitrust case, as well as other clients in legislative struggles over antitrust and other matters at the federal level. Mr. Gray served as a sergeant in the US Marine Corps Reserve from 1965-1970.

http://www.wilmerhale.com/boyden_gray/

EU banks to register anyone making an Intn'l Money Transfer
-- July 27, 2005
The aim of the proposals is to disrupt anonymous flows of money pouring into Europe.  Banks and wire transfer companies receiving transfers of money from outside the EU would be able to accept the money only if it were accompanied by the name, address and account number of the sender.
 They would also be required to include this information with money they transfer to other countries outside the EU.  Banks would have to keep records of transfers, would have to report suspicious transactions, and would have to make their records available to the authorities provided they were investigating money laundering or terrorism.  
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/07/26/news/union.php

Cocaine -- choice of MEPs -- July 15, 2005 ... Satan's candy
Systematic controls of 46 toilets in the European Parliament have revealed traces of cocaine, according to German TV magazine AKTE 05 - five years after the same reporters found cocaine traces in the German parliament.
The quantities found in MEPs' toilets imply regular use, according to the German TV show revealing the findings last night
Producer and moderator of AKTE 05 Ulrich Meyer said that consumption of cocaine is a problem which pervades all of society, a problem that is "bigger than many politicians are willing to believe".
http://euobserver.com/?aid=19587&rk=1

Senior workforce -- July 26, 2005 .. work till you drop
No more retirement years; work until 69 years old.