RSS– Spain takes the lead in trying to adapt the EU to Cuba’s rapidly transforming role. In January, Spain took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Despite being deeply affected by the global financial crisis, Spain confidently proclaimed ambitious objectives for its term at t[...]
Archive for the ‘European Union’ Category
Netherlands Antilles’ Break Up Continues as Its Geopolitical Importance Mounts
- May 15 referendum in Curaçao crucial for future of the Antilles’ dismantling process - U.S. military and DEA presence in Curaçao and Aruba likely to grow - Caracas’ motivations include Chavez’s populism and business interests - Combating drug trafficking and changing tax-haven laws show im[...]
July 29th, 2008 - 2:10 pm § in Briefs, Ecuador, European Union, Front Page, Press Releases, Venezuela
WTO Talks Collapse: Was There Ever a Future for Bananas?
World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations collapsed today, July 29, after nine days of intense negotiations. Trade ministers from approximately 35 countries struggled to salvage the stalled seven-year-old Doha round. Optimistic signs and compromises surfaced as a result of last weekend’s suppose[...]
Biofuels and the Global Food Crisis – Who Is to Blame?
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- Following the UN world food summit, Brazil strongly backs its sugar-based ethanol strategy
- Brazil enters into new trade agreements with developing nations
- Rich nations reluctant to reduce domestic food subsidies
- Positive impacts of Brazilian ethanol
- Brazil[...]
EU’s Lifted Sanctions Could Be Turning Point For Cuba
On June 19, at a summit in Brussels, the European Union announced that it would lift its diplomatic sanctions against Cuba. The gesture was predominantly symbolic, as the restraints, which had been put in place in 2003, had been temporarily suspended since 2005. The decision came about largely due t[...]
July 1st, 2008 - 1:34 pm § in Argentina, Brazil, European Union, Front Page, Mercosur, Paraguay, Press Releases, Uruguay, Venezuela
The Politicization of MERCOSUR: With a Divided Past, Is There Hope for a United Future?
Today the leaders of Mercosur are convening in Tucumán, Argentina for their semi-annual conference and for the inauguration of Brazil’s Luis Inácio Lula da Silva as its pro-tempore president. San Miguel de Tucumán, the largest city in northwestern Argentina and the capital of the province of Tu[...]
EU Recognizes Significance of Reforms under Raúl Castro and Inefficiency of Sanctions: Will the US be as Clever?
On June 19, 2008, the European Union (EU) unanimously voted to lift its 2003 diplomatic sanctions against Cuba despite the hesitation from countries such as the Czech Republic and Sweden. The sanctions limited the ability of high-level government officials to visit Cuba and participate in its cultur[...]
The Greater Significance of the 2008 EU-LAC Conference
The fifth biennial summit between members of the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Countries was held in Lima, Peru on May 16-17, 2008. In spite of the regions’ active pursuit of tangible agreements that would address the problems of poverty and development, little progress wa[...]