During the UK referendum campaign, the Leave camp’s arguments for leaving the European Union focused on, (i) a full economic recovery only made possible outside the EU, (ii) close to zero immigration and, (iii) a financed healthcare system. Whilst a non negligible proportion of the Brexit voters are clearly isolationist and/or xenophobic, I do […]
European ideals
Mayhem in Florence
In the beginning, there was Rome – six paths leading away from the city, towards an ever closer union of six warring nations. Then, there was Maastricht, the symbol of a European treaty that no-one voted for. More recently, Lisbon, emblem of the same treaty that no-one got a chance to vote for. Now, there […]
(M)Alice In Euroland – Juncker’s Playing With The F-Word
Juncker through the looking-glass There are many words beginning with the letter “F” that are not suitable for the ears of small children. The word, alluded to, but not pronounced by Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, certainly falls into this category. I feel great passion for the European Union, but the annual […]
Lost For Words – The Importance Of Learning A Foreign Language
I usually relate quite strongly to the opinion articles written in the Guardian. Most of them have a sort of utopic-leftish tinge that refreshes me with romanticism and idealism, so out-of-place in today’s world. The article inspiring this post, however, is filled with short-sightedness, misconceptions, and even borders on contempt towards others. The author, who […]
The Week When The UK Lost The Plot…And My Sympathy
When historians look back at Brexit, dates will be remembered for different reasons: the flawed referendum campaign, the death of Jo Cox, the result itself, triggering Article 50, and the general election that misfires, to name but a few. This week will be remembered as the week when the UK really lost the Brexit plot. […]
Brexit Musings (3) – Welcome To Amsterdam Schiphol
Well, not much to chew on this week, concerning Brexit. However, I do have an idea: with the tenors of the UK political landscape out of the country for the summer, maybe it is time to close the borders – before they get back. Wishful thinking I know, but it’s a nice thought. There is […]
Pour L’Amour De La Nation (For The Love Of The Nation)
Individualism, patriotism, nationalism?…A spectre of human interpretations of the world around us – each one a potential danger. Maybe I have no sense of patriotism due to my upbringing – loving two cultures and living in a third. However, more importantly, the world I live in is my representation and no-one else’s. For Donald Trump, […]
British and EU Expats – Our EU Citizen Status Remains In The Balance
The European Union has a common mission to extend, enhance and expand rights, not reduce them. We will never endorse their retroactive removal. The European parliament will reserve its right to reject any agreement that treats EU citizens, regardless of their nationality, less favourably than they are at present. This is a question of the […]
Brexit And EU Nationals (II) – The UK’s Proposals
For over a year, Theresa May has prided herself in refusing to reassure EU nationals about the impact of Brexit on their personal lives, until the Brexit negotiations had started, and the EU had given similar reassurances concerning UK nationals in the EU. It must be said that she has kept to her word, and […]
Brexit And EU Nationals (I) – The European Council’s Proposals
The prospective deal that Theresa May offers EU citizens already living in the UK, is a minimalist view on an ideal world for EU nationals. Once again, she has failed to make a connection with ordinary people, this time with genuinely worried EU expats in the UK, and British expats living in the EU. Her […]