In The News

Food Imports: Tough New Checks

February 5, 2003
Thailand’s announcement of more stringent inspections of food imports from the EU and other areas comes after the EU’s own announcement of stricter regulation against Thai food imports. Thai officials claim the new policy is not a retaliation against the EU, whose more rigorous inspections have caused Thai food exporters large financial losses. - YaleGlobal

Filmmakers Seek Protection from U.S. Dominance

Alan Riding February 5, 2003
The World Trade Organization has begun a new round of negotiations on trade in services, and European filmmakers, fearful of foreign media giants intruding further into domestic industries, are hosting a cultural convention at the Louvre to campaign for continued cultural protection. Although cultural products are currently exempt from the regulations of the WTO, American and other international...

Election for Criminal Court Judges Starts

Mark Turner February 4, 2003
The upcoming election of the first bench of judges for the International Criminal Court has raised interesting debates among the 88 member states on issues of sovereignty and citizenship; especially between some European countries and the United States, which differ greatly on these issues. The Court will handle trials of crimes against humanity, and while diplomats have expressed satisfaction at...

EU Must Face Up to a Fractured Future

Anatol Lieven February 2, 2003
Despite repeated protests against American unilateralism, European Union leaders may have to reconcile themselves to the idea that they will be unable to prevent the Bush administration from waging war in Iraq. While the oft-cited “Transatlantic gap” has yet to materialize, the power gap between the United States and Europe has never been more real. As this opinion explores, without a drastic...

The Qaeda Vipers in Europe’s Bosom

Jonathan Stevenson February 1, 2003
Europe has been a hotbed of al Qaeda activity, even serving as a planning center for some of the militant Muslims who carried out the September 11 attacks on the US. Social conditions for Muslims in Europe are such that many Muslim immigrants feel alienated in places like Britain. Though European governments have been aggressive in arresting terrorist suspects since September 11 and have...

Europeans Warn of Terror Attacks in Event of War in Iraq

Marlise Simons January 29, 2003
Investigations and arrests of terrorist suspects throughout Europe reveal evidence of possible terrorist action against European cities should war with Iraq break out. Those arrested, mostly immigrants from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, were recruited, trained, and supplied by radical groups in Chechnya and Afghanistan. The large population of Muslim immigrants in Western Europe and the porous...

Europe Acts Against US Effort on Ports

Gregory Couch January 28, 2003
The European Union's member states are joined together in an effort to remain competitive in an increasingly fierce and globally integrated world economy. It remains to be seen, however, whether the trend of globalization will undermine their national sovereignty. The United States, in an effort to combat terrorism abroad, has made bilateral trade and shipping security arrangements with...