EU newcomers welcomed to the club
5th May 2004

The new 25-member European Union has marked its historic expansion with celebrations across the new bloc. The 15 old members welcomed in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia at midnight.

The most high-profile festivities took place in Ireland, current holder of the rotating EU presidency.  more

EU opens new front in trade war
2nd March 2004

The European Union (EU) has imposed escalating tariffs on US companies that will cost American business hundreds of millions of dollars. It is the first time that the EU has hit US firms with sanctions as part of a trade dispute. The EU is imposing a 5% increase in duty on a range of goods, from honey to roller skates to nuclear reactors.

The aim is to force the US Congress to change a law that gives an unfair tax advantage to US exporters. The EU sanctions will increase by a further 1% each month until they affect US exports worth $666m (£356m, 533m euro) a year. more

Suspend the IGC to consult the EU citizens
1st March 2004

There is much to be said for concluding the negotiations on the Constitutional Treaty as soon as possible, as it has been fiercely advocated by the European Parliament and by now also appears to be the general inclination among the governments involved in the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC). The draft Constitutional Treaty features a wide range of reforms that few can reasonably oppose and that may well be of major importance to ensure the continued functioning of the enlarged European Union. more

Nice or bust. The Polish position after the Brussels Summit.
18th December 2003

Poland appears determined to maintain its tough stance following the failure of the Brussels summit to reach agreement on the draft constitution. Both the government and opposition are declaring that no compromise is possible other than waiting till say 2009 before deciding whether to change the Nice voting system for the double majority proposed by Giscard d’Estaing and the Convention. more