As the Brexit negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union go into the next phase, the EU has suggested a transition period in which Britain essentially remains in the union for two more years. The government in London seems keen on the idea. The precedent, however, is incredible.
In a recent move by Social Democrats and Greens in the European Parliament, there has been a call to phase-out the use of phosphate in the fast-food product döner kebab. This was, at least, the headline of international news outlets, until the Social Democrat parliamentary faction reacted online, calling the decision “fake news”.
In Washington, several of Donald Trump’s nominations to key federal government positions are being held up for political reasons. Among them is that of William H. Northey, who was appointed by the White House to the post of Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation. Northey’s confirmation is currently being blocked by Senator […]
When Star Wars makes the news, it’s usually a sign that either a new movie or video game just came out. Despite Star Wars: Battlefront 2 recently being sold around the world, it is the Belgian Gambling Commission that made international headlines on the back of the successful movie and gaming franchise. The commission is looking into […]
Whenever you change cities you find yourself in the situation of not knowing your surroundings. You end up straying through your area until you assemble the mosaic of its character. I’m embarrassed to admit that it took me two months to figure out that my quarter in Brussels is actually the Polish quarter. The fact […]
Martin Schulz thinks he has a brilliant idea. In reaction to his party agreeing to commence coalition talks with Angela Merkel’s center-right CDU/CSU, the former German Social Democratic leader issued a fresh call for a “United States of Europe.” He made the announcement in a tweet sent on December 7:
Usually WordPress has been so kind to offer an automated ‘year in review’ (as in 2014 and 2015). Since this is not the case this year, I have collected my numbers from this on my own! Thousands of views and visitors and over 350 publications. It’s been good!
In order to balance the democratic deficit that the European Union has been accused of having, the EU’s Commission has been extensively engaged in the subsidization of civil society. The result: NGOs are non-pluralistic, politically biased in favor of the EU, all while funding remains nontransparent.
On this day, Dec. 1, five years ago, the Australian government implemented the mandatory plain packaging of all tobacco products. This means that cigarettes, rolled tobacco, and the likes, can only be sold in packs that do not show the particular brand in question. This is to deter especially young people from getting their hands of […]
In an attempt to break the deadlock in the ongoing Brexit negotiations between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the United Kingdom has agreed to give in on key negotiating positions. According to estimates, the bill for leaving the union will now land somewhere between 45 and 55 billion pounds sterling ($61 to $74 […]
Bill Wirtz 