November 25, 2016
During the presidential campaign, Donald Trump has expressed the view that the US should take a hard look at NATO with a view to dismantling it. His declarations have caused an uproar among the global power elites, but his stance on the issue is fully justified. NATO as a military alliance is affected by obsolescence… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
September 23, 2016
I’m not going to write about Bratislava’s informal September summit, for nothing of substance regarding the future of the Union has been decided there. Fact is, EU political leaders have delayed important decisions for the spring of 2017, after the results of the American elections are in. Why does the next American president matter ?… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
July 1, 2016
Because of the shock of Brexit, one may be forgiven for overlooking the fact that this week could rightfully be called “the week of trade bloc summits”. In Europe, the 27 remaining leaders of the EU have gathered for two days in Brussels to adopt a common position concerning the upcoming withdrawal of Great Britain… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
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, Central Europe, E.U., Latin America, trade, trade bloc, USA |
June 10, 2016
Pew research data released a few days ago indicates a growing dissatisfaction with the EU even in countries like France and the Netherlands, founding members of the Union. It would be easy, of course, to blame the spread of euroscepticism on Brexit, on the 2008 financial debacle or last year’s migration crisis. In fact, as… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
May 6, 2016
During the 90’s, the uncontested dean of American diplomacy, the late George Kennan, fulminated against NATO’s expansion eastwards, which he considered both unnecessary and potentially dangerous for the security of the United States. The Clinton and Bush administrations did not heed sound professional advice and now the Baltics’ inclusion into NATO is creating major headaches… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
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, E.U., geopolitics, NATO, Russia, USA |
April 13, 2016
In December 2015, Project Syndicate published an article signed by Daniel Gros on the migration crisis facing the European Union. Over the following weeks, I and a few commentators such as Mr. Ulf Klein exchanged views and opinions in the “comment” section next to the article. In short, this is what I had to say… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
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, E.U., EU Priorities and Opinion, refugee crisis, unemployment |
April 5, 2016
What is the connection between the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels and the huge size of the tax-avoidance industry, as illustrated by the recent publication of the “Panama Papers” ? On a superficial level, none. In actual fact, the exponential proliferation of illegal activities – the drug and arms trade, the rapid multiplication of… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
March 14, 2016
The EU’s macroeconomic indicators for 2015 – the growth rate standing at 0.3 percent, the inflation rate at 0.2 percent – paint the picture of a continent severely affected by what economists call “secular stagnation“. Secular stagnation is afflicting not only the EU but also Japan, and in the years ahead it will most probably… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
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, E.U. |
February 1, 2016
The biggest refugee crisis in Europe since WWII looks set to get worse in 2016. The country most responsible for the huge inflow of migrants from the Middle East is, as we all know, Germany. What is less well-documented is the fact that its state apparatus simply cannot cope anymore. Chancellor Angela Merkel is quick… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
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, E.U. |
January 4, 2016
At the beginning of the year, it has become customary for ‘pundits’ to make predictions about forthcoming developments which might affect the global economy, elections in leading countries or international relations. From my part, I would like to take my readers back in time, in an attempt to make today’s armed conflicts around the world… » read more
Posted by Spotlight on Geopolitics
