European Union

Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern has spoken out against picking and choosing parts of the EU constitution saying it risks unravelling if member states simply take out the bits they like best. "This finely balanced package, once unravelled, will be impossible to put together again", the Irish leader told European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels on Wednesday (8 November).

In Short:The Commission has fleshed out what 'absorption capacity' actually means for future EU-applicant countries.Brief News:Alongside the 8 November progress reports on Turkey and the Balkan applicant nations, the Commission also spelled out its future enlargement strategy. The absorption capacity, which achieved renewed importance at the EU summit in June 2006 (see EurActiv 16 June 2006),  has been renamed to the less controversial "integration capacity".

The Commission’s reports on the Western Balkans show that the EU has taken a tougher line on future enlargements. Tackling issues of judiciary reform, corruption and organised crime are some of the key issues.

EU foreign ministers have given a downbeat assessment on the chances of keeping Turkey's accession talks on track, with the Finnish EU presidency openly doubting its chances of reaching a deal on Cyprus and with Austria urging a "breathing pause" in the talks.

Abstract: > Justice and Home Affairs cooperation in the European Union has developed rapidly since the end of the 1990s. Now under the label of the ‘Area of Freedom, Security and Justice’, the EU’s responsibilities have grown considerably in the effort to combat cross–border crime (including terrorism) and illegal immigration. This article outlines recent developments in this area, along with key obstacles to continued cooperation. The analysis focuses on five dimensions of security and risk management related to JHA cooperation: the conceptual context in which cooperation takes place, the various policy–making initiatives, the role of information exchange and analysis, operational instruments and the various aims of legislation. These dimensions shed light not only on the EU’s particular role in this increasingly active area of policy making, but also on the main challenges to further cooperation and integration. >

MEPs in the constitutional affairs committee on Monday (13 November) voted strongly in favour of a report by Finnish centre-right deputy Alexander Stubb which argues that a number of internal reforms are "essential" before the union expands. The list is in line with the EU constitution.

The United States has waded into the debate on the fate of Turkey's EU accession talks, questioning an EU deadline for Ankara to lift a blockade on Cypriot trade while proposing to continue the talks in any case.

The Balkans Needs to Form its Own Union With early EU entry for Balkans states unlikely, they should consider forming a union of their own.By Peter Sain ley Berry in Cardiff (Balkan Insight, 9 Nov 06)There was understandable disappointment in the Balkans after the European Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, told the European parliament a month ago that further enlargement would have to be put on hold until the EU had resolved its internal institutional problems.

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Several former EU politicians have called for a "leap" on the European political scene to create enough impetus to see through institutional reform in the bloc by 2009. A joint declaration, published in Florence on Friday (17 November) urges member states to "get back on the path to reform of the European institutions."

The commission's detailed blueprint for the new model ENP - which aims to create a ring of peaceful and economically advanced states around the EU's borders - will be unveiled in Brussels on 29 November in time for the upcoming German EU presidency to dovetail the ideas with its own foreign policy thinking.

Drawing on tough lessons from past enlargements, the EU will from now on take an extra cautious approach to future expansion of the bloc with its own welfare becoming a major factor, according to a new enlargement strategy report.

Vasile Puscas, university professor and EU chief negotiator has published a study on Romanian accession negotiations and urges the EU to revise its negotiation and communication policy.

The introduction of the new "EU integration capacity" condition for the new member states is to be welcomed as long as it is accompanied by clear explanation and criteria of when the capacity is present and when not. This new condition emphasizes the two-way street of the enlargement process: it is as much about countries adapting to the EU requirements as it is about the EU being ready to welcome the new member states.

The European Commission is signalling growing interest in ideas to boost the EU constitution with new elements which are attractive to citizens, while openly attacking French proposals to reduce the charter to a "mini treaty." Although the commission is still careful not to take too firm a position on the fate of the constitution – out of fear of offending EU capitals on the sensitive issue - a clearer picture of Brussels' thinking is slowly emergi

The EU-critical Socialist Party and the anti-immigrant Party for Freedom are the biggest winners of the Dutch elections. Balkenende's Christian-Democrat CDA remains the strongest formation but future coalition talks will be difficult.

Croatia's bid for EU membership has received a boost from MEPs determined to make sure that their report criticising the European Commission's overall enlargement strategy does not undermine Zagreb's prospects for joining the club. An enlargement report approved by the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Thursday (23 November) "welcomes the progress made by Croatia on its way into the European Union.