“Imagine it’s a Council and nobody goes.” Admittedly, the original pacifist slogan is a little different, nor was war on the agenda at Wednesday’s meeting of EU environment ministers. But a fight. The “all-important, landmark, historic fight against climate change.” There were already plenty of such descriptions in the opening statements of the participants. It’s […]
All of Europe is wondering these days how to get a grip on rising energy prices. Although someone who obviously knows how to do it has long since come up with the solution. Instead of the ‘green transition’ we should concentrate on ‘the sustainable development of oil, gas and coal.’ Says Vladimir Putin, the man […]
In the Family Party in the European Parliament, the mandate passes from father to son
Family Party – the name says it all. The Family Party, which is represented by a Member of the European Parliament, is now undergoing a generational change. This is to be taken literally. The party’s chairman, Helmut Geuking, is stepping down as a Member of the European Parliament and handing over to his son. Niels […]
Lux Leaks, Panama Papers, now Pandora: the public is no longer surprised when the tax avoidance practices of the rich and powerful are revealed. Nevertheless, it is unpleasant for those exposed to be dragged into the limelight in this way. And they try crisis communication, more or less successfully. A little how (not) to:Self-victimisation – […]
“Happy German Unity Day!” congratulated the German ambassador to Belgium, Martin Kotthaus, yesterday via Twitter in French. The tweet was accompanied by a drawing by Berlin comic artist Flix (Felix Görmann) showing the Belgian comic characters Spirou and Fantasio leaning under a rain of confetti at the Brandenburg Gate – with a surgical mask, pretzel […]
Some legends are spun around their first meeting in January 2016. Tim Cook is said to have been very loud when the Apple boss visited Margrethe Vestager in her office in Berlaymont. A fact that apparently made little impression on the Competition Commissioner: Eight months later, she condemned the US company to pay €13 billion […]
Pump up the jam
Oh, Monday. If you lack the necessary energy to start the working week after the winter vacations or even just the weekend, try the following lines: “Pump up the jam, pump it upWhile your feet are stompin’And the jam is pumpin’Look ahead, the crowd is jumpin’“You might want to turn the music up and dance […]
Background discussions – technical briefings in Commission jargon – are very helpful for us EU rapporteurs in analyzing the often complex legislative projects of the European Commission. Because there, our questions meet the working level of the EU Commission. And thus with the experts who have developed these projects. Although it is usually clear what […]
Christmas mail
Do you still receive mail at Christmas – i.e. real paper postcards with Christmas motifs and good wishes for the festive season? If so, you can rejoice because most people now prefer to send an electronic message rather than going to the trouble and expense of doing so.Of course, it’s a shame that writing real […]
The photos are somewhat reminiscent of the oil price crisis of 1973, but in color: long lines of vehicles in front of the gas pumps, frustrated drivers who have to turn back empty-handed. For four days in a row, massive supply bottlenecks have been causing problems in the United Kingdom; at times, two-thirds of service […]