In The News

Controlling the Flow

Gamal Nkrumah June 27, 2003
In the same week that European Union (EU) leaders met in Thessaloniki, Greece to discuss migration issues, a vessel carrying African migrants trying to enter Europe sank off the coast of Tunisia, killing some 70 people. This was one of the many vessels operated by illegal immigrant-trafficking gangs in Northern Africa who carry Africans to Mediterranean coastlines. Ironically, top on the agenda...

Time to Trade

Anke Bryson June 27, 2003
Three years ago, Germany’s major stock exchange operator, Deutsche Börse, extended its trading hours until 8:00pm. The move, an anomaly in a country where all shops close every Sunday, was designed to appeal to a flood of new private investors who had no time to speculate during the regular work day. Now, after a market decline caused those investors to flee, Deutsche Börse will likely bow to the...

EU Agrees Radical Farming Reforms

Tobias Buck June 26, 2003
The European Union (EU) has ended year-long negotiations on its common agricultural policy but the world has yet to see its implications. Although the original proposal, drafted by the pro-reform EU farm commissioner Franz Fischler was heavily diluted, he did achieve part of its goal to overhaul Europe's stronghold on billions of Euros in subsidies. France, the biggest beneficiary of the...

Cargo Ship Raided by Greece Was Going to Sudanese Capital

Frank Bruni June 24, 2003
Greek officials detained a ship carrying several hundred tons of explosives bound for Sudan this weekend. The ship, with a crew of five Ukrainians and two Azerbaijanis, went undetected by marine officials as well as US anti-terrorism intelligence for over six weeks - departing from Albania, collecting its cargo in Tunisia, and stopping in Istanbul - before Greece detained it in response to a tip...

Europe Set to Begin Digital Tax

Bob Tedeschi June 23, 2003
Unlike traditional trade transaction, e-commerce conducted online across national borders creates new tax issues that can be confusing. As Europe's number of internet users grows and overtakes the US and Canada, the European Union (EU) is scheduled to begin a new value-added tax plan, which will levy taxes on all imported goods and services purchased over the Internet. Foreign companies,...

Europe Snubs World's Poor

June 23, 2003
The European Union’s (EU) continued reluctance to reform its agricultural subsidies is criticized in this New York Times editorial. After a host of high-profile summit meetings and private conferences, it says, reform plans for Europe's agricultural policies will be "watered down as to virtually meaningless." One of the proposed plans is to reform the subsidy on Europe's cows...

EU Immigration Plans Arouse Debate in Germany

Carola Schlagheck June 20, 2003
Immigration policy is dividing Germany and temporarily stalling the ratification of the European Union’s constitution. Though German Chancellor Schröder supports the draft, his government is deeply divided over two immigration-related proposals – the Greek plan to harmonize immigration and asylum within the EU and the transition to majority voting on certain issues. Opponents of the plan like...