Presseurop |

Geopolitics | Bucharest gets foothold in Caucasus

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 12:48:09 +0100

“Why Russia and Turkey fear Romania” headlines România liberă, setting out the energy and military strategy that Bucharest has worked out for the Caucasus. The newspaper notes that “Romania is the only European country to have signed a bilateral agreement with a country in the region,” Azerbaijan, which is specifically aimed at setting up a new Caucasian gas route that bypasses the three big powers around the Black Sea: Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. A senior Defence Ministry official quoted by the Bucharest daily said that Romania is taking part in the opening up of this strategic zone “located along the main axis of the 21st century, as defined by the military experts of the major powers: the Gulf of Aden – the Persian Gulf – Shanghai.” The ambitions of Bucharest worry Moscow and Ankara, who see in it the growing influence of the United States in the region.

(News in brief)

Georgia | EU monitors marking time (Le Monde, Paris)

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:43:31 +0100

European observers sent to monitor the peace plan between Moscow and Tbilisi after the 2008 blitzkrieg are wondering what purpose they serve there. In the absence of political headway, the situation is stymied and prospects for a long-term solution are slipping away. (Article)

Geopolitics | The new old order (The Independent, London)

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:08:52 +0100

With America increasingly disengaged from European affairs, and Russian influence tentative at most, the Independent wonders whether in this new age of alignments Europe might not be reverting to the order of old. (Article)

European Commission | The three next big things (El País, Madrid)

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:59:59 +0100

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. (Article)

Caucasus | Europe between a rock and a hard place (Presseurop, )

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:55:57 +0100

A year after the outbreak of war between Georgia and Russia, tensions are rising, with both countries accusing each other of ignoring the current truce. Having accepted a mission to oversee the cease-fire and respect of the peace agreement, the EU will find itself in a difficult position if the conflict resumes. (Article)