BNE Blog

EU and Japan edge closer to starting FTA talks – the benefits would be substantial

By Phillip Souta

By Eloise Nosworthy

Photograph: European Commission

The first Europeans – Portuguese blown off course – landed in Japan on 23 September, 1543.  Trade has developed since then, with occasional periods of Japan closing itself to the outside world for fear of losing its identity.  The last few months have seen European and Japanese officials negotiating about starting negotiations for a free trade deal.  This typically complicated process comes to a head tomorrow at the Japan-EU summit in Brussels. Read full article »

May 27th, 2011 | Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Pandering to fears on immigration is bad for business

By admin

By Eloise Nosworthy

One of the most tangible products of European cooperation, the Schengen Area, is under threat. Denmark has decided to re-instate border controls for people entering the country, amongst unchallenged claims that its 320,000 non-Western migrants cost the Danish tax-payer £1.8bn per year, and don’t contribute to the economy. France and Italy are leading a campaign to close their borders under special circumstances – in this case a large influx of undesired migrants which they would rather their neighbour(s) dealt with.

With the rise of anti-immigration parties across the EU, more traditionally mainstream parties seem to be running scared, and reaching for the dog-whistle to try and make up lost ground.  This strategy of anti-immigration-lite is a blind alley.  If mainstream parties really want to roll back the rise of the likes of the True Finns and the National Front in France, they have to get on the front foot and explain the benefits of migration to Europe’s citizens. Read full article »

May 20th, 2011 | Posted in Economy, European Politics, External Relations, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Bin Laden’s death and the Arab Spring should make opponents of Turkey’s EU membership think again

By admin

By Phillip Souta

The death of Osama bin Laden is a moment that throws all the world’s problems with violent extremism and the Arab world into a new light.

If the last ten years have been defined by conflict, and a thankfully now waning narrative of a clash of civilisations between Islam and the West, the next ten years could provide an opportunity to reshape the Middle East and isolate militant Islam with a rise of democracy and civil society across the region. Read full article »

May 3rd, 2011 | Posted in External Relations | No Comments »

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