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Archive for May, 2014

Security: Watching over the G20

  • May 28th, 2014
  • Posted by EU Australia

Brisbane wikipediaSorting through problems of a troubled world in eyeball-to-eyeball contact among heads of government – at the G20 —  always holds out the hope of getting some solutions though real communication.

It also means risk and high organisation; why squads of armed police this month have been deployed for exercises  — with air support, in water, and rehearsing street movements —  close to the bottom of the world, for the G20 summit in November.

Lee Duffield writes:

 

… Read More »

Weekend Voting: EU and Ukraine

  • May 27th, 2014
  • Posted by EU Australia

Voters in the elections for the European Parliament gave a big boost to the right-wing nationalist parties campaigning on anti-EU and anti-immigration platforms – especially in France and the United Kingdom.

Ukraine presidential elections EU flagg - EU

The elections in Ukraine saw a strong turn-out, except in the strife-torn Eastern region, and a huge win for the front-runner, Petro Poroshenko. … Read More »

“Peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted” – EU Ambassador

  • May 26th, 2014
  • Posted by EU Australia

Fabrizi SemThe European Union representative in Australia Sem Fabrizi says the troubles in Ukraine are a reminder of the EU’s key mission, to build peace; highlighting the point that “peace cannot be taken for granted”.

The Ambassador has been reiterating the strengths of the European idea in addresses to gatherings around Europe Day, 9 May each year: a durable economy, and democratic values, both linked with preventing war. … Read More »

Cannes: Festival Commentaries

  • May 25th, 2014
  • Posted by EU Australia

Cannes Cannes PosterThe Cannes Film Festival on Saturday awarded the Palme d’Or for Best Film to Winter Sleep from Turkey.

During the festivities, the Jury President, Jane Campion, deplored the poor representation of women in the winners’ lists; Cate Blanchett criticised an attack on arts funding in the Australian federal budget; Nicole Kidman starred in the opening film, about a blonde princess; and David Gulpilil won Best Actor in a talent-seeking contest parallel to the main event. … Read More »

Ukraine pushes on with elections

  • May 24th, 2014
  • Posted by EU Australia

Ukraine This Sunday’s vote for the Presidency of Ukraine is a bid to settle and stabilise the violent confrontations of the last six months.

There’ll be no voting in Crimea, annexed by Russia in March, and it’s been jeopardised by the continuing conflict in the Donbass region in the country’s east; officials persisting with trying to issue ballots, armed gangs on the “Russian” side destroying ballot boxes. … Read More »

European Parliament elections – world-weary voters make their choice …

  • May 24th, 2014
  • Posted by EU Australia

EU map - EP ConstituenciesVoting in the European Parliament elections this weekend (22-25.5.14) sees a rather jaded electorate wondering if the effort is fully worthwhile – according to the pre-poll survey of all 28 member countries conducted for the European Union. … Read More »