Latest Guest Contributions

Greening Europe, Natural Resources, Guest Contribution
15/05/2012
Water is the lifeline of our planet
By Kallidaikurichi Easwaran Seetharam Water is the lifeline of our planet. Across various cultures, we share a common perspective with regard to water as a symbol of reconciliation, healing and regeneration. Water is not only essential for sustaining human life, but also important for public health, food and energy production and hence prosperity of our society.
Competitive Europe, Guest Contribution
30/04/2012
Eurozone crisis: A Portuguese perspective
By João Meneses The European sovereign debt crisis has made it almost impossible for some countries in the euro area to finance their government debt without the assistance of third parties. Portugal was saved from national bankruptcy by the triumvirate made up of the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Central Bank (ECB) with a €78 billion bailout, but in exchange had to commit to tough austerity measures and structural reforms.
Competitive Europe, Future of Europe, Guest Contribution
29/03/2012
The eurozone needs outside help to prepare for the worst
By Leif Pagrotsky We all know Eurozone leaders work hard to save the euro. Most of us hope they will succeed. But many of us fear the task may be too difficult and the political constraints too tight. The dominant view among independent observers appears to be that the probability of a failure has moved from unthinkable and out of question to unlikely but possible.
International Development, Greening Europe, Guest Contribution
06/03/2012
New Opportunities to Reinforce US-EU Cooperation on Climate Change and Development
By Kit Batten Through the US-EU Development Dialogue, we work jointly with our European allies to advance adaptation, mitigation and low-emissions development strategies. USAID is pleased to release to Friends of Europe a new Climate Change and Development Strategy for 2012-2016 that can only deepen this cooperation.
Competitive Europe, Future of Europe, Guest Contribution
24/02/2012
The eurozone’s unattractive options
By Dr Alexander Mirtchev “More socialism” didn’t work for the Soviet Union, so why would “more Europe” be any different? Alexander Mirtchev says we should pay less attention to nations heading for default and focus on producing clear, bespoke growth strategies for each member state.
Global Europe, Guest Contribution
07/02/2012
The role of Pakistan’s diaspora in strengthening civil society in Pakistan
By Saud Anwar Despite the many challenges that Pakistan faces, the country’s vibrant civil society gives hope for the future. Civil society organizations emerged in response to the void created by Pakistan’s historical lack of governance.
Global Europe, Guest Contribution
25/01/2012
Pakistan's economy: Greater expectations
By Saquib Shirazi, CEO of Atlas Honda Limited. The political landscape in Pakistan remains uncertain, the economic prospects appear challenging while civil society seems frustrated and the political leadership is pre-occupied with non-issues. Much of the needed reforms and improvement in governance remain a distant dream.
Global Europe, Guest Contribution
19/12/2011
ASEAN’s rise is helping the rest of Asia
by Arif Havas Oegroseno The rise of Asia, especially East Asia, is rarely seen as one of the results of the peace and stability created, nurtured and strengthened by ASEAN member states in Southeast Asia, a critical geo-strategic region with regional and global importance.
Greening Europe, Energy Revolution, Guest Contribution
15/12/2011
Interview with Kjetil Tungland, Managing Director of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
In a recent Op-Ed you wrote for the Greening Europe Forum, TAP stated that the EU’s Caspian strategy should be based on realistic assumptions regarding gas volumes available in the Caspian. Do you feel this is not the case now? Is the Nabucco project, supported by the Commission, unrealistic in its ambitions?
Global Europe, Guest Contribution
08/12/2011
A U.S.-EU development dialogue is more important than ever
By William Kennard Now is an auspicious moment to reflect upon the continued relevance of joint U.S. and EU actions to eradicate global poverty. On November 28, Presidents Obama, Van Rompuy and Barroso met at the White House for the U.S.-EU Summit, where they reaffirmed our shared obligations as the world’s primary donors of development assistance.
Competitive Europe, Future of Europe, Guest Contribution
28/10/2011
The eurozone crisis – a plan of action to reignite a lost faith
By Gianni Pittella Eurozone leaders have some crucial decisions to make – and quickly. Gianni Pittella explains why the protests of younger generations are more than justified and why answers to this desperate crisis should be sought in the original EU treaties.
Op-ed, Greening Europe, Energy Revolution, Guest Contribution
29/09/2011
Sorting fact from fiction on Caspian gas
By Kjetil Tungland Europe’s energy diversification challenge is more present than ever. As imported energy continues on an upward trend, the EU institutions are attempting to cater to the needs of an energy-hungry continent. Gas resources are no exception to this reality; currently 60% of EU’s gas supplies come from external sources.
International Development, Economic Growth and Trade, Food, Guest Contribution
23/06/2011
Agricultural trade and development
By Valentine Rugwabiza Agriculture plays an important role in the development of many WTO Members. While the share of agriculture exports in total world merchandise exports is low, approximately 9 per cent in 2009, developing countries account for about 35 per cent of this agriculture trade.
Competitive Europe, Guest Contribution
27/05/2011
We need a counter-narrative to creeping euro-scepticism
By Miguel Otero-Iglesias At a recent Friends of Europe roundtable on European economic governance William E. Kennard, the US Ambassador to the EU, pointed to the need for a counter-narrative against the rise in euro-scepticism across Europe.