European Union

By Barnaby Phillips in Europe on December 16th, 2011
Iceland's foreign minister has held talks with EU on accession [Reuters]

It has a governing coalition that is split by differences over the EU, and the Euro. It’s an island, with its own distinct history. And it has a cold, harsh climate. No, not the UK, but Iceland.

 

The country that went so spectacularly bust in 2008 is showing signs of life. In Iceland, the economy is growing, government debts are under control and unemployment is falling.

 

Not that everybody agrees there is a recovery. On the edge of Reykjavik, I watched hundreds of people queuing up in the snow for food hand-outs.

 

By Barnaby Phillips in Europe on July 21st, 2011
Reuters photo

There are no demonstrations on the streets of Belgrade for Goran Hadzic, the last suspect wanted by the UN Court in the Hague, who was finally captured this week.

There have been no outpourings of nationalist rage.  In part, this is because even the extremists find it hard to justify the appalling deeds of the Serbian militiamen who were, in theory, under Hadzic's command in eastern Croatia in the early 1990s.

Their savagery was notorious, their motives often blatantly mercenary.

Throughout the Balkan wars, the line between nationalist and criminal activity was frequently blurred, [and not just by Serbs] but it was perhaps especially hard to tell if the militiamen in the Slavonia region were more interested in fighting, or smuggling and profiteering.

In part, too, it is simply because the events of the early 1990s, Vukovar et al, now seem an awfully long time ago, and increasingly irrelevant, and not just to a younger generation of Serbs.

By Alan Fisher in Europe on June 15th, 2011
Photo by Reuters

Thousands went on strike. Thousands came to protest. This was the Greek people telling their government: enough!

 

When we arrived early in the morning, the atmosphere seemed calm, although there was an underlying air of menace as people approached us and told us to leave. The suggested destinations ranged from a nearby hotel to my native Scotland. Polite but insistent – it was clear some people did not want cameras there – a suggestion things were not going to pass off quietly.

By Barnaby Phillips in Europe on June 1st, 2011
[Reuters]

In war, Ratko Mladic was a feared general; despised and feared by his enemies and revered by his own men.

That is how he was preserved in our memory during all those years he was in hiding; a swaggering, confident, brutal man.

But the Ratko Mladic whom we eventually got a glimpse of this week was much changed.

Impoverished and in bad health, he is a pathetic, sunken figure.

The circle of powerful friends who had protected him had gradually melted away over the years, leaving him with little logistical support outside his immediate family. That is what made his arrest possible, both in practical and political terms.

By Kamahl Santamaria in Business on April 7th, 2011
Photo by EPA

I feel cheated. Big time. And by the leader of a Western European nation no less!

A few months ago, Jose Socrates, the prime minister of Portugal, was in Doha and made an appearance on Al Jazeera's business programme Counting the Cost, which is fronted by yours truly.

Obviously I wanted to talk about Portugal's precarious debt situation, and all the talk from markets and analysts that the country's visit to the EU and IMF for a financial bailout was a foregone conclusion.

There's a link to that specific programme and interview here.

Watch it, if you've got 10-15 minutes spare, and tell me if you think Mr Socrates was being genuine when he told me "we don't need any kind of help but confidence". And when he assured me that a financial bailout wouldn't be necessary.

Because two weeks ago he was forced out as prime minister.

By Al Jazeera Staff in Asia on March 15th, 2011

Follow the latest events around the Pacific Rim after an 9.0-magnitude earthquake off Japan's coast triggered a devastating tsunami.

Blog: Mar11-12 - Mar13 - Mar14 - Mar15

(All times are local in Japan GMT+9)

By Alan Fisher in Europe on March 11th, 2011
Picture from AFP

There is an old joke told by an American comedian poking fun at  British police because they don’t carry guns.  ‘So he’s chasing the suspect and he shouts ‘Stop……or I’ll shout stop again’.

 

It brings a smile – but it also sums up the European Union’s position to Libya at the moment, which is no laughing matter.

 

All 27 leaders of the EU countries ca

By Al Jazeera Staff in Africa on March 9th, 2011
Rebel fighters move toward the front lines outside Ras Lanuf [GALLO/GETTY]

 

As the uprising in Libya continues, we update you with the latest developments from our correspondents, news agencies and citizens across the globe. Al Jazeera is not responsible for content derived from external sites.

By Al Jazeera Staff in Africa on February 22nd, 2011
Protesters chant anti-government slogans in Tobruk [Reuters]

As the uprising in Libya enters its tenth day, we keep you updated on the developing situation from our headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

By Al Jazeera Staff in Africa on February 22nd, 2011
Alleged mercenaries deployed by Gaddafi in Tripoli, the Libyan capital.

As the uprising in Libya enters its ninth day, we keep you updated on the developing situation from our headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

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