This article argues that the current EU regulatory system in the field of food safety fails to live up to the objectives it has set for itself. The existing decision-making scheme is based on a classic risk analysis model that relies heavily on scientific risk assessment.
This publication is the outcome of a seminar on democracy promotion in a transatlantic perspective organized jointly between the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies and Sweden’s Democracy Ambassador, Maria Leissner on 29 September 2008 in Stockholm. The aim of the publication is to make public the wealth of ideas and experiences that were presented at the seminar which deserves to be brought into the debate about democracy assistance and the possibility of enhanced future transatlantic cooperation.
The Czech Presidency of 2009 inherited a fully charged agenda after France. Three severe external crises confronted the Czech government as it took over at the helm of the EU: the gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia; renewed hostilities in the Gaza Strip; and the deepest global economic crisis since the Great Depression.
National courts are Community courts and as such they should do everything needed to make sure that the preliminary rulings procedure functions as efficiently as possible. The effectiveness of this system is obviously based on a healthy dialogue (discourse) between the two main protagonists: the Court of Justice and the national court.
The latest poll of the Swedish public opinion regarding the EU shows that the levels of support are at an all-time high since the membership in 1995. There is now almost a majority supporting the EU.
The external dimension of the European Union’s policy on migration and asylum has become an increasingly important feature of the Union’s relations with third countries. It is shaped not only by the foreign policy interests of the member states but also by changes in internal politics of the member states.
The intention of the ongoing review of the EU budget is to create a budget that is better adapted at facing future challenges. At the same time it raises fundamental questions about what the EU is and should do.
The new U.S. administration inherited a formidable set of international challenges including wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the prospect of a nuclear Iran and a resurgent Russia. Moreover, a deep economic crisis has radically changed the preconditions for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy and the international status of the USA during the previous president reached unprecedented low levels.
The General Court has since 1998 developed its practice on cross-border healthcare. But the development has taken place without guidance from EU regulators.
The French Presidency selected four priorities – immigration, defence, climate change and energy, agriculture – in line with the European agenda but also with national interests. The Union for the Mediterraneanwas later added to this list.