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Thursday 4 June

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A combination of the expenses scandal in Westminster and the European parliamentary elections is producing a strange outcome in the newspapers. On the one hand, we are told that the European elections don’t matter much, that the turnout on 4 June will be low and deservedly so. On the other hand, we are told that MPs have been abusing expenses because they don’t have anything else to do, now that all their power has gone to the European Union.

The first argument has some merit. Some of the most important issues that politics deals with – the balance between public and private spending in the economy, criminal justice, education – are dealt with at national level and not by the EU. If those are the only things you care about, then there is no reason to vote.

But if you are interested in the way we work and earn a living, then the European Parliament is for you. Read more here.



European democracy
How the Treaty of Lisbon will make the EU more democratic (20/12/07)
The Treaty of Lisbon (formerly known as the Reform Treaty) was signed on 13 December 2007 and it marks the next stage in the development of the European Union. Each successive step since the Treaty of Rome has extended the powers of the European Union and improved the Union’s democratic functioning, and the Lisbon treaty is no exception. More

What's in the new Treaty? - a short background briefing
An opportunity for democracy - submission by Federal Union to the House of Lords European Union Committee inquiry into the impact of the Reform Treaty on the institutions of the EU
The Treaty of Lisbon: an impact assessment - report by the House of Lords European Union Committee
The European Union after the European Reform Treaty - Brendan Donnelly
Should there be a referendum on the next European treaty? - a background briefing from Federal Union
A treaty for foreign policy (on EUobserver.com)
What do the referendum campaigners really want? (on EUobserver.com)



Crisis in the Middle East
Reflections on the revolution in Iraq (25/03/08)
It is now five years since the start of the war in Iraq, five years in which the toll in money, in lives and in so much else has mounted continually. The cost of the war has turned out to be truly staggering, but saying that now cannot undo the mistakes of the past. The real test is what comes next. Can we learn any lessons from history? More
More about the crisis in the Middle East



World peace and the reform of the United Nations
Taking Democracy Global: Assessing the Benefits and Challenges of a Global Parliamentary Assembly
Increasingly the world's diverse political communities - local, provincial and national - have at their common core a popularly elected legislative body. This Booklet is dedicated to the proposition that the increasingly powerful international system should no longer stand apart from the movement to democratize planetary social life. More
More about world federalism


Climate change
An inconvenient truth (15/10/06)
Al Gore’s climate change film gives examples of some of the consequences of climate change. It is a relevant film because of what climate change says about contemporary decision-making in politics. National governments can’t protect their citizens, no matter they try and do. It is going to need more than that. More
More about climate change


Openness in the EU
A sunshine policy for Europe (10/10/06)
You’ve got to admire the slogan. “Let sunshine win the day.” Just when David Cameron was being accused of lacking policies and substance, he pulls this one out of the hat and confounds all his critics. Suddenly, all those political forces supporting showers or demanding drizzle are left flat-footed. More
More about openness in the EU


Federalism in the UK
Billy Bragg is wrong about the House of Lords (22/03/04)
The need to bring democracy to the second chamber in Westminster is long overdue, but Billy Bragg's proposal goes about it the wrong way. He makes three assumptions, none of which are correct. More
More about federalism in the UK


Britain and the euro
Pro-Europeans say government is not serious about joining the euro (09/06/03)
Pro-Europeans have criticised today’s statement by Gordon Brown for not outlining a serious commitment to joining the euro. The government needs to make it “clear and unambiguous” that it intends to join. More
More about joining the euro
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Latest news
The Socialists should oppose the nomination of Barroso - on EUobserver (30/06/09)
26 and a half members - on EUobserver (11/06/09)
EU fishing policy faces up to federal reality - on EUobserver (24/04/09)
Did Barack Obama talk out of turn about Turkey? - on EUobserver (09/04/09)
The case for a global parliamentary assembly - Report from the Federal Union AGM (28/03/09)
The future agenda and role of the European Parliament - Report from the Federal Union AGM (28/03/09)
Strange news: a British pro-European policy - in EUobserver (25/03/09)
Gordon Brown turns his back - in EUobserver (19/03/09)
Unfair tax havens - in the Daily Telegraph (26/02/09)
Completing the process of devolution - in the Guardian (19/02/09)
Do the Socialists have vision and principle? - on EUobserver.com (11/02/09)
The silence of the lambs - Brendan Donnelly on why Britain hasn't joined the euro (15/01/09)
Should Britain join the euro? A lesson from history - Richard Laming (15/01/09)
Federal Union review of 2008 (07/01/09)
 
       
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