José Ignacio Torreblanca
A specialist in European affairs, José Ignacio Torreblanca is professor of Political Science at UNED, National University of Distance Learning (in Spain). He writes a blog of debate and analysis on Europe and regularly writes for El País. He is also director of the Spanish bureau of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
In the wake of a terrible year in 2011, the worst may be yet to come warns political analyst José Ignacio Torreblanca. The crisis could force EU member states to choose between Greece and Great Britain. And once again, everything will be decided in Germany. 
Mariano Rajoy's right-wing Popular Party is set to win the Spanish general election this 20 November and apply more austerity. But as long as Germany fails to assume its responsibilities at a European level, the new government will be powerless to solve the country's crisis. 
After the demonstrations in Greece and the Indignados in Spain, popular protest has spread across Europe and, with the Occupy Wall Street movement, crossed the Atlantic. Be it direct or representative, the very idea of democracy is under scrutiny, says José Ignacio Torreblanca. 
Contrary to the EU, wading through a sea of economic troubles, an increasingly confident Turkey goes to the polls on the 12 June. This emerging political and economic power, and not Europe, is fast becoming a model for the nascent democracies of the Middle East. 
While the Libyan crisis unfolds before gates of Europe, the High Representative for EU foreign policy is totally absent from the scene. "One wonders if the post still makes sense," writes analyst Jose Ignacio Torreblanca.
During major crises, every major power has a clearly defined diplomatic doctrine which it applies according to its interests. As revolution spreads across the Arab world, it’s the EU found its own, argues columnist José Ignacio Torreblanca. 
In view of the crackdown in Tunisia, the EU ought to apply the same policy of “smart sanctions” that had some sway on Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus back in 2006, urges political analyst José Ignacio Torreblanca. 
The six months it spent at the head of the European Union were something of an ordeal for the Spanish government, which had to contend with the economic crisis, the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty and a lack of strategic vision in the EU — circumstances that highlighted the downgrading of the rotating presidency. 
Will Catherine Ashton’s new plan for a “European External Action Service” suffice to propel the EU to the world power status to which it lays claim? Nothing is less certain, in view of the sheer size of the envisaged diplomatic colossus, the states’ reluctance to yield any of their prerogatives to it and the institutional wrangling over its powers. 
However painstakingly planned out in advance, every EU presidency ends up facing an unforeseen crisis that forces it to reshuffle its priorities and puts its crisis response capabilities to the test. Haiti is turning into the first test of the new EU foreign policy institutions’ ability to take coordinated action.
The main obstacle to a climate deal at the Copenhagen Conference was state sovereignty. The solution, argues political scientist José Ignacio Torreblanca, lies in exporting the EU’s know-how and institutional approach. 
The re-election of José Manuel Barroso represents an opportunity to “complete” Europe over the next five years and make it a real global player. According to political analyst José Ignacio Torreblanca, the president's focus should be on three major issues: internal cohesion, enlargement and the European Neighbour Policy. 
Since the beginning of the crisis, national governments have ignored and short-circuited recommendations emanating from Brussels on economic issues. The union and the single currency, however, have saved certain member states from bankruptcy. Europe would be in better shape, argues El País, if governments acted in a less unilateral manner.