Last week, we saw the nomination of the men and women who will head the European Union’s Executive arm – the European Commission – for the next five years under European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. This team will now face relevant committees in the European Parliament early in the New Year for questions before [...]
Entries Tagged as 'The EU'
Meet the European Commission’s New Leadership
A Conversation with Sir Christopher Meyer
Sir Christopher Meyer, a member of Fleishman-Hillard’s International Advisory Board and career veteran of the British diplomatic corps (he closed out his career in 2003 as Ambassador to the United States), was here in Washington today to share his views on emerging international trends. We’ve captured some of his thoughts in the following series of [...]
European Parliament Election Results
Fleishman-Hillard’s Brussels office has issued its own scorecard of the just-held European Parliament elections and their implications for business. The big take away:
Turnout (43%) was lower than 2004 (45%)
The European People’s Party (EPP), Centre-right Christian democrats, were the clear winners of the elections
The Centre-left Party of European Socialists (PES) suffered devastating losses for (especially in [...]
How Members of the European Union Parliament Use the Internet
The Internet is generally having a positive effect on the discourse between citizens and Congress, or at least that is what a large majority of congressional staff reporting from the U.S. believe: “79% percent believe the Internet has made it easier for citizens to become involved in public policy; 55% believe it has increased public [...]
The Waxman-Markey Climate Change Bill: How Will It Play Out?
The 600-page Waxman-Markey climate change bill (officially known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act) is truly a climate change wish list. Introduced in late March, it includes funding for renewable energy and clean coal technology; a renewable portfolio standard; provisions to increase home and office energy efficiency; measures to stimulate the smart grid and alternative-fuel vehicles development; [...]
Obama Abroad: An Assessment
Barack Obama’s just-completed overseas tour was much more of a communications program – a political campaign in miniature – than it was a policy-making enterprise. Sure, he hammered out some agreements at the G20 economic summit in London, and there were probably some discussions of addressing the world’s security concerns at the NATO meeting in [...]
Four Roadblocks To A National Cap-And-Trade System
In his February 24 address on the economy, President Obama laid down a bold request to Congress, saying “send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America. That’s what we need.”
In theory, he couldn’t be more correct. A cap-and-trade system could slow climate change, create a [...]
Edinburgh debates Obama vs. McCain
Last week, FH Edinburgh hosted a discussion and debate on the impending US Presidential elections in the heart of Edinburgh’s old town. The one hundred invited guests from the worlds of politics, business, the media and civic society were treated to contributions by our very own Bill Black and former UK Ambassador to [...]
Discussion on U.S. Presidential Campaign in Edinburgh
A discussion on the U.S. Presidential debate, hosted by the Fleishman Hillard Edinburgh office, was held last Wednesday evening in the stunning Signet Library in Parliament Square in Edinburgh. It was a lively affair due mostly to our own Sir Christopher Meyer, former British Ambassador to the United States. His witty observations and [...]
Edinburgh Castle
Local historian and FH Account Manager, Iain Brotchie took me on a mad tour of Edinburgh Castle. Click here for the history of the castle, but suffice it to say, Iain’s knowledge is encyclopedic, covering politics, history, architecture, culture and art appreciation. The time spent did not do justice to this amazing landmark, but, if [...]
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