Europe
Apart from a few years in the middle-east, I've lived my whole life in europe; the great majority in britain. I am a european, both from conviction and pragmatism. Europe, of which the uk remains a part, is helping forge a new way forward for the world. It is a lighthouse of how old enemies can become not just new allies, but so closely bound and integrated that their future prosperity depends on them hanging ever closer together. At its best, europe brings real benefits from bigger and freer flowing markets, economies of scale, the circulation of best practice and safety in numbers. I have written a lot about europe, mainly in my guise of new europe, and you can read it all here. Watch the clip, by oscar-winning producer alice doyard
a directive at whose service (December 2006)
[with Wouter Coussens] Whereas the creation of a single market for goods took decades and several hundred pieces of legislation, the Commission essentially tried to establish a single market for services with just one directive, and without too much of a fuss...
Attached File: Connected 26 - A Directive at Whose Service.pdf
the future of Europe (October 2006)
[with Katharina Gnath] The British delegate at the conference that agreed the EU's founding treaty left early, saying "I leave because you will never agree, and if you agree you will never implement it, and if you implement it, it will be a disaster". Wrong, wrong and - yes - wrong again...
Attached File: Connected 25 - The Future of Europe.pdf
powerless europe: why is the euro area still a political dwarf ? (September 2006)
[Lorenzo Bini Smaghi] Unified European representation can be achieved only in exchange for the Member States' own seats. Otherwise, the number of European representatives would unacceptably increase. As the Member States tend to believe their participation in international institutions and fora such as the IMF and G7 provides them with prestige, they tend to oppose unified European representation...
Attached File: powerless europe (september 2006).doc
powerless europe - the complete article
[Lorenzo Bini Smaghi] Attached is the full version of this journal article about why the euro area, or even the EU, needs to get its act together in terms of single representation on the world stage.
Attached File: Powerless Europe.pdf
the quiet road to 2009 (August 2007)
This meat-and-potatoes stuff is a little boring. It is also a test. Citizens' lack of identification and engagment with the EU, together with what the so-called democratic deficit, has long been seen as getting worse...
Attached File: the quiet road to 2009 (August 2007).doc
let battle commence ! (June 2007)
Logic strongly suggests that if citizens want the EU to survive and be effective in the years to come, the new Treaty must be ratified...
Attached File: let battle commence ! (june 2007).doc
the new push from paris (May 2007)
The French need reconciliation with a Europe which was made in their own image, but which has slipped remorselessly beyond their control..
Attached File: the new push from paris (may 2007).doc
ties that bind (April 2007)
Like its population, Europe's economy is rather mature and American flirtation with the virile new South-East Asian kids on the block should come as no surprise, particularly as the EU-US marriage has been rocky for years...
Attached File: ties that bind (april 2007).doc
energy: the battle that is not just hot air (March 2007)
In most countries, the same big company dominates the national market and controls both infrastructure and supply. Incumbents have little incentive to invest heavily to redesign systems to open them to competitors...
Attached File: energy, the battle that is not hot air (march 2007).doc
it’s the commission, stupid ! (February 2007)
The current Commission is centre-right. However, this has come about almost by stealth, and many are reluctant to admit it, preferring to talk of the Commission in terms of splendid neutrality. Meanwhile, it pushes hard for liberalising measures...
Attached File: it's the commission, stupid (february 2007).doc