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    EU can help Pakistan's new PM tackle tough agenda  

    By Shada Islam As Pakistan’s next prime minister, Nawaz Sharif faces daunting domestic and foreign policy challenges. While attention is inevitably focused on Sharif’s relations with the United States, India and Afghanistan, the election of a new democratically elected government also opens up new avenues for stronger EU-Pakistan relations. The EU should move fast to forge stronger and more comprehensive ties with Islamabad, including the convening of a third EU-Pakistan summit to hammer out a new agenda for deeper long-term relations. Read more



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    Saving Europe's "Lost Generation"  

    15 May 2013 The main message of this Friends of Europe and Debating Europe European Policy Summit is that, in order to tackle the unacceptably high levels of youth employment in the EU, there needs to be a shift in the EU’s educational culture.

    “We are teaching the wrong things,” underlined Ruarí Quinn, Irish Minister for Education and Skills. “So far as education has a role to play in a world where skill sets are made obsolete in 5 years, it must be used to teach basic skill sets and promote flexible thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit.” Read more



  • UPCOMING EVENT

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    Sharing the "Chinese dream"

    		  

    28 May 2013 China’s President Xi Jinping has drawn worldwide attention by referring to his vision of rejuvenating the nation by pursuing the “Chinese dream”. It’s an attractive slogan - but what does it really mean? What are its key economic, political and social elements? Can it meet the concerns of China’s growing middle class and the aspirations of the youth? What are the implications of the dream for China's foreign and defence policies? Are there any real opportunities for Europe to share and help China realise the dream? How will it influence EU-China relations in the coming decade? Read more


    

RECENT EVENT
Gearing up for China's urban billion

23 April 2013 As urban development in China continues on an unprecedented scale, the possibilities for strong new policies under China's new leadership seem increasingly likely, stressed Tom Miller, Managing Editor at GK Dragonomics, at Friends of Europe’s Policy Spotlight entitled "Gearing up for China’s urban billion". Read more

OP-ED

A roadmap for strengthened EU-ASEAN ties

Relations between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are finally picking up much-needed momentum. Recent talks held in Ho Chi Minh City between EU and ASEAN senior officials appear to have made important headway in implementing a new agenda for cooperation, with both sides seeking ways to take the relationship to a higher and more strategic level. Read more



Video Corner

Make your voice heard!

Debating Europe is proud to announce the launch of Debating Europe Vote 2014, the largest ever exercise in EU e-democracy.

Debating Europe is an online discussion platform that lets citizens debate their ideas with experts and policy makers. Read more

News

Germany offers jobs to young Spanish jobless
German Labour Minister Ursula von der Leyen and her Spanish counterpart, Fatima Báñez Garcia, have signed an agreement which could provide jobs or apprenticeships in Germany to 5,000 Spaniards under the age of 25.
Greece, Portugal and tax evasion on EU agenda
A number of important decisions were taken at two meetings of finance ministers from the European Union on the 13th and 14th of May.
Africa's progress leaves many behind
The 2013 Africa Progress Report, released by the Africa Progress Panel at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town on May 10th, paints a mixed picture of  possible social and economic developments in Africa in the coming years.
All News

Guest Contributions

The Great Tax Awakening? Three reservations
By Mick Moore. Never has there been such extensive popular and political interest in tax reform. Never have so many governments declared that they intend to change the global tax system and ensure that transnational corporations pay their fair share.
Soft skills head list of qualifications for young job-seekers
Many would argue that the current generation feels jilted and left behind amidst the economic chaos engulfing Europe. At ThinkYoung, a non profit think-tank based in Brussels, we have researched the topic and believe that the “adolescent generation” is as mobile, enthusiastic and highly-skilled as it has ever been.
Fast education and business
By Péter "HP" Halácsy and Peter Arvai. For years, books were our primary source of learning. Libraries overflowed with page after page of valuable information and Europe was the centre of the educated world. With the Internet now connecting more than 2.5 billion people to an inestimable amount of knowledge, the world has outgrown the printed page and our continent risks being left behind. This and other similar topics will be discussed during our May 15 “Saving Europe’s ‘Lost Generation’” summit.
All Guest Contributions

Europe's World



A more modern, robust and flexible intellectual property framework would offer a faster route towards economic growth
by Birgitte Andersen Intellectual property is one of the cornerstones of today’s knowledge economy, but the legal regime which upholds it is becoming more and more outdated.

Europe’s energy cross-roads is dangerously close
by Fatih Birol Only greater efficiency will determine whether by 2020 energy will be a serious brake on the EU’s economic growth or an engine of recovery.

ALL articles

Op-eds

A roadmap for strengthened EU-ASEAN ties
By Shada Islam Relations between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are finally picking up much-needed momentum.
EU can help Pakistan’s new PM tackle tough agenda
By Shada Islam As Pakistan’s next prime minister, Nawaz Sharif faces daunting domestic and foreign policy challenges. While attention is inevitably focused on Sharif’s relations with the United States, India and Afghanistan, the election of a new democratically elected government also opens up new avenues for stronger EU-Pakistan relations.
All op-eds

Publications

Healthcare in times of austerity: Boosting cost-effective prevention
Disease prevention is far better than any cure and the cost savings are just the tonic EU budgets need in times of crisis. Influenza immunisation is a prime example, yet some European governments are regressing rather than progressing toward EU vaccination benchmarks, in an ill-advised reallocation of funds meant to counter the economic crisis.
Prioritising prevention: Case of seasonal influenza vaccination
By Shada Islam, Danuta Slusarska and Louise Smyth.Access to high-quality healthcare is hailed across Europe as its central defining feature. European healthcare is also viewed as among the best in the world. However, current challenges linked to Europe’s changing demographic situation as well as the continuing economic downturn have revealed the unsustainability and inefficiency of many aspects of the system.
After the crisis: Some thoughts on a global EU – or how to turn a crisis into regeneration
Good ideas sometimes spring out of crises. The European Union itself was ‘invented’ from a crisis, conceived in the rubble of the Second World War. It is less frequently recalled that the European integration project took shape at a time of great change and of redefinition of Europe’s global role.
All publications
Friends of Europe – Les amis de l'Europe is a leading think-tank that aims to stimulate thinking on key global and European political challenges. Our insightful and timely publications and animated debates provide access to sharp analysis and information. We promote the confrontation of ideas that is vital to policymaking and encourage wider involvement in Europe’s future.

Upcoming Events


Trustees speak out

Can Germany bail out all of Europe?
By John Bruton. There is a tendency, whenever a euro zone country gets in to difficulty, and needs help from its neighbours, to blame Germany for the severity of the terms imposed, and to say there is bullying involved.
Thoughts on the Cyprus deal
By Robert Cox. Quem deus vult perdere, dementat primus - whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.
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