Austerity programmes agreed with the troika of international lenders (the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund) are in breach of the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, according to a German legal expert. Andreas Fischer-Lescano, a professor of European law and politics at the University of Bremen was tasked by the European Trade Union Confederation to look at the legality of so-called memorandums of understanding (MoU) signed between bailed-out countries and their lenders.

http://euobserver.com/social/122899

During the economic crisis we became more aware to a number of faults in the EU's structures and institutions. Europe is not yet an equal continent, but the inequalities do not stop just to the rich and industrialized "North" and the poor underdeveloped "South". The EU harbors a number of them that do not exist just among its members, but also its communities,generations,genders,ethnic minorities and of course the old and new members of the club.

http://eblanademocraticmove.blogspot.ie/2014/01/sorting-out-inequalities-among-european.html

For the past few years the world has been in thrall to all things Nordic (for which purpose we must of course add Iceland and Finland to the Viking nations of Denmark, Norway and Sweden). "The Sweet Danish Life: Copenhagen: Cool, Creative, Carefree," simpered National Geographic; "The Nordic Countries: The Next Supermodel", boomed the Economist; "Copenhagen really is wonderful for so many reasons," gushed the Guardian.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/27/scandinavian-miracle-brutal-truth-denmark-norway-sweden

Students at Glasgow University have launched a campaign to get Edward Snowden elected as rector. The whistleblower, whose revelations about mass surveillance by US and UK intelligence agencies have caused worldwide controversy, is one of four official candidates for the three-year post, currently held by the former Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/21/edward-snowden-glasgow-university-rector-vote

The European Court of Justice has in a surprise move thrown out a UK legal challenge to EU rules on short-selling. The ruling refers to legislation adopted in 2012, which gives the Paris-based European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) the power to ban short-selling as an emergency measure if it deems that there is a threat to the bloc's financial markets.

http://euobserver.com/news/122836

Die Regelung der Europäischen Union zum Verbot und zur Regulierung von Leerverkäufen, den hochspekulativen Finanzwetten auf fallende Aktienkurse, ist rechtens. Der EU-Rat durfte die Regeln mit einer nur qualifizierten Mehrheit statt einstimmig beschließen, wie der Europäische Gerichtshof (EuGH) in einem am Mittwoch verkündeten Urteil entschied. (Az. C-270/12)

http://www.faz.net/aktuell/finanzen/fonds-mehr/klage-grossbritanniens-abgewiesen-eu-darf-leerverkaeufe-verbieten-12763805.html

Die Europäische Union und Serbien haben offiziell Gespräche über einen EU-Beitritt des Balkanlandes begonnen. Der serbische Regierungschef Ivica Dacic hielt sich dafür am Dienstag in Brüssel auf. Der Balkanstaat hofft, bis 2020 dem Staatenbund beizutreten.

http://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/beitrittsgespraeche-serbien-will-bis-2020-zur-eu-gehoeren/9361988.html

Mit seiner Reaktion auf die aktuelle Korruptionsaffäre riskiert der türkische Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdogan einen Rückschlag in den Beziehungen zur EU. Den scheint er allerdings bewusst in Kauf zu nehmen.

http://www.dw.de/erdogans-desinteresse-an-der-eu/a-17374641

Nützen Zuwanderer aus Südosteuropa der deutschen Wirtschaft? Ja, sagt das arbeitgebernahe IW-Institut in einer Studie. 25 Prozent der ankommenden Rumänen und Bulgaren haben demnach einen akademischen Abschluss - mehr als der Durchschnitt der deutschen Bevölkerung.

http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/iw-studie-ein-viertel-der-rumaenen-und-bulgaren-sind-akademiker-a-944110.html

Roberto Maroni, presidente de Lombardía y considerado como número dos de la xenófoba Liga Norte, fue recibido ayer por Artur Mas en el Palau de la Generalitat con la máxima discreción, pero con todos los honores.

http://ccaa.elpais.com/ccaa/2014/01/17/catalunya/1389961441_361611.html