Sources and authors
By Philippe Ricard
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European Council: Anti-austerity front grows in Europe
1 March 201229346 Le Monde Paris -
Debt crisis: Euro – what Brussels will do next
23 June 2011622 Le Monde Paris -
Institutions: What action, Lady Ashton?
28 January 20112612 Le Monde Paris -
Agriculture: EU puts GM crops on the menu
10 June 2010621 Le Monde Paris -
Institutions: Seek them here, seek them there...
28 January 20101 Le Monde Paris -
European Parliament: Where consensus is king
28 May 20091 Le Monde Paris
The European Union Council, which begins on Thursday, is scheduled to sign the new fiscal compact. But at the same time, a dozen countries, led by Italy, are contesting the austerity policies imposed by "Merkozy" and calling for an economic stimulus package. 
With the single currency at risk of collapse, the leaders of Europe’s 27 member states are set to meet for a European Council summit to finalise the details of a mechanism that is supposed to prevent a repeat of the Greek crisis. 
Catherine Ashton was cast as Europe’s international voice, the head diplomat of an EU full of world-wide ambitions. Unfortunately, she is not making her voice heard, is nearly invisible and has already lost the confidence of most of the member states. 
The European Commission intends to authorise more and more genetically modified crops (GMCs), leaving it up to member states to ban them as they see fit. That should satisfy biotech-friendly nations – while allowing those opposed to keep GMCs off their soil. 
Catherine Ashton off the radar, Herman Van Rompuy vanished from view, and José Manuel Barroso defending his prerogatives as European Commissioner : the new institutions established by the Lisbon Treaty, which were supposed to simplify the action of the European Union, are clearly undergoing some teething problems, says Le Monde. 
The European Parliament is distinctive for its very strong culture of compromise. In order to have pull with the Commission and Council, MEPs seek to make agreements before voting, and traditional political divisions are glossed over.