Book Publication: Is Europe Facing a Democracy Crisis?
The European Union has a democracy problem. The polycrisis that has plagued the EU for years has led to a cacophony of voices calling for fundamental change to the integration project. Yet despite the shock of the Brexit referendum and the electoral upsets caused by nativist parties across the continent, few of the plans for EU reform include concrete proposals to address the perennial democratic deficit. Read
Europe in search of itself
The difference between Russia and the EU is that Russia is trying to reinvent itself whereas the EU has never invented itself. Since its inception, the EU has never had an identity. Read
Energy dialogue needs more pragmatism
Europe decided that there will be huge energy imports from Russia and that it will be dangerous, but never asked Russia what it thought on the subject. Read
A Miniature Replica of the Muslim World
Look, here is the Muslim community, they are well-educated professionals. Make them partners! Read
Beyond the EU: a European Commonwealth and a new world order
Interview with John Palmer, member of the governing board of the European Policy Centre in Brussels by Victor Makarov and Eldar Mamedov Read
EU accession as an encouragement
Delaying the accession for one year would not mhttp://b2bglobal.info/articles/newake sense from our point of view. Very hard work has been done and is still undergoing, and we need some kind of encouragement. The accession will be exactly that! Read
Two Faces of Referenda
What makes the referenda so unpredictable and so dangerous is that we have unanimity for the process of ratification. I would propose for the future to remove unanimity for the process of ratification. This means that we will need to find some kind of qualified majority so that the constitution can enter into force. Read
Latvia’s Experience Could Be Meaningful But…
Georgia is interested in the Baltic Sates’ experience with integration into EU and NATO. This experience could be meaningful but we miss real action. There are also other countries that are interested in sharing their experience with us. Read
Development Highway
The United Nations Development Programme Country Office in Latvia (UNDP) worked from 1992 to 2005 providing substantial support in the transition period and contribution to human development. In 2006 Latvia will change its mode of cooperation with the UNDP and the Country Office will close. Read
International Peace and Security: The Role of Small Countries in a Changing UN
Can small states be influential in the UN through a regional Nordic-Baltic framework and the EU? Diplomats and policy analysts from Latvia, Sweeden and Norway address this issue during panel discussion organized by UNDP Latvia.*. Read
“Do-tank”, not “think-tank”
Every week, if not every day somebody questions whether or not we should be working in a particular area. It happens for different reasons. One is, that an independent non-profit organization working on an issue without having kind of political affiliation is very threatening for the people who have a prominent role in those areas. Read