Nov. 02
Archive: November 2009
Nov. 02
Solana in Washington this week
Nov. 03
Czech President Signs Lisbon Treaty — What Holly Thinks
Czech president Vaclav Klaus signed the Lisbon Treaty today, which means the long-awaited document will now become European Union law.
Nov. 05
EU to choose a president and foreign minister by Nov. 15
“In less than two weeks – Nov. 12 or 15, depending on scheduling – the Council of Europe is expected to decide on its first president, a ‘George Washington of Europe,’ and on a high representative for foreign affairs.”
Nov. 07
Ban Ki-moon urges faith leaders to impact climate deal
“U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged religious leaders on Tuesday to push their governments to take bolder action on climate change at a key U.N. summit next month.”
Nov. 07
All for One?
“The Lisbon Treaty creates an EU president, sure. But it’s the new foreign policy czar who might really change the world.”
Nov. 09
EU leaders to discuss top jobs at Berlin dinner
“The [EU] leaders will try to agree on the two posts at a dinner in the German capital on Monday (9 November) evening, with Swedish Prime Minister Frederik Reinfeld having taken soundings in recent days from his EU peers.”
Nov. 09
Europe on the rise
Newsweek reveals “How the financial crisis could leave Europe even stronger than America”
Nov. 10
The illusive foreign minister — who will it be?
Filling Javier Solana’s shoes is proving to be very challenging for EU leaders.
Nov. 15
Erekat: PA planning to declare statehood
“The Palestinian Authority is mobilizing international support for declaring statehood, chief PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Saturday. … The concept was first proposed by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, he said.”
Nov. 17
EU top jobs summit could drag on for days
“A deal on the EU top jobs remains far from reach ahead of a special summit on Thursday (19 November) that could require a follow-up meeting the next day.”
Nov. 19
Decision time looms for EU top jobs
“After weeks of speculation and recriminations over a lack of transparency, EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday evening (19 November) to decide who will take up the new posts created under the Lisbon Treaty. … But the lack of consensus over either of the posts means a dark horse may yet steal the show.”
Nov. 19
Baroness Ashton becomes Europe’s first foreign minister
“A British politician was tonight celebrating after becoming Europe’s first ‘foreign minister.’”
Nov. 22
The End of a Theory? — What Holly Thinks
Last week — after 10 years as the EU foreign minister — Javier Solana was replaced by a successor, signaling what appears to be his inevitable exit from this powerful post. Is this news the death knell of my father’s theory?
Nov. 23
Solana’s Silence — What Holly Thinks
Sometimes silence speaks louder than words. This axiom proves true in an interview Javier Solana conducted with Euronews on Monday.
Nov. 27
The EU’s ‘nice’ stich-up
Nov. 27
The Missing Secretary General — What Holly Thinks
The page for the secretary general has been suddenly removed from the Western European Union’s Web site — with no press release or word of explanation.
Nov. 30
Developing: Baroness Ashton ‘scandal’?
“Baroness Ashton of Upholland’s past came back to haunt her yesterday when the European Union’s new foreign affairs chief was forced to deny taking funds from the Soviet Union during her days as treasurer for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.”