12 November 2018 Last weekend's gathering of world leaders to commemorate the centenary of the World War I armistice was also an occasion to celebrate 70 years of European peace and stability. It was also appropriate to recognise the European Union's contribution to this extended period of prosperity. However, there existed also a sense of [...]
9 July 2019 Has the impetus behind European reform, so evident following French President Macron's victory last year, now stalled? The recent Italian election result illustrates that the appeal of populist remedies to Europe's ills has not receded, and Euro-scepticism remains widespread. The challenge remains for Europe's mainstream national leaders, along with the EU institutions [...]
26 September 2017 Despite Europe’s recent economic upswing, Germany’s election result provides a stark reminder of the region’s political discontent in the aftermath of the Euro crisis, protracted unemployment, and increasing income inequality. Following the disappointing elections, can Chancellor Merkel and French President Macron produce the domestic and EU reforms needed to produce European prosperity? [...]
3 July 2017 In announcing his recent decision that America would withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, President Trump rationalised this choice indicating he represented the citizens of Pittsburgh, not those of Paris. His remarks, however, suggest the President perceives Pittsburgh as a heavily polluting city in industrial decline, requiring the government’s protection from the [...]