L'Europe est-elle de gauche ou de droite ? A défaut de choisir entre deux partis traditionnels usés par le pouvoir et la crise, plus d'un tiers des vingt-huit pays membres (dix très exactement) ont opté pour de « grandes coalitions ». Des gouvernements brassant à la fois les idées des sociaux-démocrates et des conservateurs ou des libéraux, à l'image de l'Allemagne d'Angela Merkel. Illustrant ce mouvement, le gouvernement de la République tchèque a convenu, lundi 6 janvier, d'un improbable concubinage entre sociaux-démocrates, centristes et populistes emmenés par le milliardaire Andrej Babis.

http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2014/01/08/en-europe-le-clivage-gauche-droite-s-estompe_4344495_3214.html

http://www.europaquotidiano.it/2014/01/08/il-jobs-act-di-blair/

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Tuesday (7 January) vowed to block any British changes to EU laws that would prevent migrant workers from having access to welfare benefits. "If anyone, whether it is premier Cameron or anyone else, will want to change the European treaty to make this possible, Poland will veto it, today, tomorrow and forever," Tusk told reporters in Warsaw.

http://euobserver.com/political/122649

On Wednesday the Antisocial Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill reaches its report stage (close to the end of the process) in the House of Lords. It is remarkable how little fuss has been made about it, and how little we know of what is about to hit us. The bill would permit injunctions against anyone of 10 or older who "has engaged or threatens to engage in conduct capable of causing nuisance or annoyance to any person". It would replace asbos with ipnas (injunctions to prevent nuisance and annoyance), which would not only forbid certain forms of behaviour, but also force the recipient to discharge positive obligations. In other words, they can impose a kind of community service order on people who have committed no crime, which could, the law proposes, remain in force for the rest of their lives.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/06/law-to-stop-eveyone-everything?CMP=fb_gu

Le ministre des Finances, George Osborne a été clair: des coupes budgétaires importantes seront bientôt nécessaires. Il parle de 25 milliards de livres! En cause, le déficit budgétaire. 2014 sera "l'année des dures vérités, l'année lors de laquelle la Grande-Bretagne fera face à un choix"...

http://www.lecho.be/actualite/economie_politique_europe/2014_annee_des_dures_verites_pour_la_Grande_Bretagne.9448558-3323.art?ckc=1

2013 was the year of achieving the big goal, the year of hope, but also the year of disappointment. During the past year we realised one of the biggest generational goals. Croatia has become the 28th EU member state. We still remember the pride and satisfaction we felt on July 1st. We enjoyed when others from the big union of the European peoples and states comprehended that we are a democratic, progressing and a European nation in all aspects. It was good to hear praises and congratulations not only by representatives of the EU nations, but also by neighbours of ours who are still not in the Union, but are on their way to become.

http://www.euinside.eu/en/blog/is-croatia-what-it-claimed-to-be-before-eu-accession

It was an audacious and cunning victory that put paid to French ambitions for a European superstate. Nearly two centuries later, British diplomats in Brussels are flaunting the Duke of Wellington’s triumph at the Battle of Waterloo, as David Cameron seeks to wrest back powers from the European Union. The offices of the UK Representation to the EU are exhibiting a series of works celebrating the life of the Iron Duke in the run-up to the 200th anniversary of the battle in June next year.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10550349/Britain-flaunts-triumph-of-Waterloo-in-heart-of-Euroland.html