Looking out for linguists (14th July, 2010)

The EU institutions have begun a major recruitment campaign for translators and interpreters into eight languages including English, in a bid to address serious shortages of language staff in Brussels.

The credit crunch and the European project (12/10/08)

Last week, the European Parliament formally adopted its own flag, anthem (Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’) and an official motto – ‘United in diversity’.

The Irish question (18/6/08)

The EU institutions are blocking their ears.

Uncharted territory (13/6/08)

53.4 per cent against, 46.6 in favour, the Lisbon Treaty has been roundly rejected by the people of Ireland.

The hour before midnight (10/6/08)

So this is it. In a few hours time, at midnight, the traditional media blackout of any referendum coverage will kick in, and a strange silence will descend where until now all has been noise and wrangling.

Democracy…a thought (2/5/08)

Isn’t it supposed to be us telling the government what to do?

Beware the doomsayers (30/4/08)

Once when I was living in France, I was knocked off my bike one morning by a large chauffeur-driven car.

The Lisbon Treaty for Dummies (23/4/08)

Confusing. Unintelligible. Impenetrable. This is the general reaction of anyone who has read or attempted to read the Lisbon Treaty, from politicians to pundits to ordinary people trying to find the facts.

Interview with Minister for European Affairs Dick Roche (28/2/08)

The government has been accused by former Green MEP Patricia McKenna of trying to avoid the principles of the McKenna judgement by delaying naming a date for the referendum, and in the meantime putting out information that is not neutral. Do you reject that allegation?

Well, with all due respect to Patricia,

Strasbourg Plenary Session (23/2/08)

Last week’s plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg was dominated, for the Irish MEPs at any rate, by a report supporting the Lisbon Treaty.