Spotlight on Sovereignty
Cameron Pushes for Reform of European Court of Human Rights
HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE, SOCIETY & CULTURE, DIPLOMACY
January 31, 2012
British Prime Minister declares: "once-in-a-generation chance" of improving the way Europeans advance the cause of human rights.
Greece Angry over Germany's Proposal of Domestic Budget Overseer
HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE, SOCIETY & CULTURE
January 30, 2012
Greece's finance minister Evangelos Venizelos has rejected a German plan for the euro zone to impose a budget overseer on to Athens in return for a new 130-billion euro bailout, saying it would improperly force his country to choose between financial assistance and national dignity. To read more, click here.
State Department Appoints Members of Advisory Panel on OECD Guidelines
ECONOMICS, CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP, FINANCE & TRADE
January 30, 2012
The State Department has appointed representatives from business, labor, civil society, academia to serve on a Stakeholder Advisory Board on the U.S. National Contact Point for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. To read more, click here.
ECHR Rejects Romania's Attempt to Thwart Church Clergy Labor Union
HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE, SOCIETY & CULTURE
January 30, 2012
The European Court of Human Rights has decided that Romania violated the free-association rights of clergy in the Romanian Orthodox Church who, over the objection of Church officials, wanted to organize. To read more, click here.
Hungary's Orban Responds to Criticism of EU "Left"
HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE, SOCIETY & CULTURE
January 30, 2012
At a European Parliament session held in Strasbourg last week, Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban defended legal and constitutional actions taken by his controlling political party. To read more, click here.
German Socialist Elected President of European Parliament
DIPLOMACY
January 30, 2012
Last week in Strasbourg, MEPs elected Martin Schulz to be the next President of the European Parliament to serve until July 2014. To read more, click here.
UN Intervention Agenda Marks 2012 as "Year of Prevention"
HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE, SOCIETY & CULTURE
January 30, 2012
Calling on United Nations member states to make the "Responsibility to Protect" doctrine "a living reality for peoples of the world," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon views States as having a "moral responsibility" to intervene in domestic matters when a country is failing to adequately protect its citizens from harm. To read more, click here.
Croatia's Citizens Vote to Join European Union
SECURITY, DIPLOMACY
January 25, 2012
On January 22, Croatian citizens voted in favor of EU membership and, before Croatia can join the EU on July 1, 2013, the Croatian Parliament and the Parliaments of all 27 Member States must complete the ratification process. To read more, click here.
EC Starts "Accelerated" Infringement Proceedings Against Hungary
HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE, SOCIETY & CULTURE
January 25, 2012
The European Commission has started legal action against Hungary over legislation that came into force at the beginning of the year under Hungary's new constitution. To read more, click here.
UN and EU Spend 5.3 Million Euros on "Climate Smart" Farming
ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY, HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW & JUSTICE
January 25, 2012
The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization and the European Commission are partnering to help developing countries transition to a "climate-smart" approach to agriculture that they claim better resists climate change and reduces carbon emissions. To read more, click here.
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