Democracy related content 

Political leaders seem to be structurally condemned to short-termism. Is democratic time too slow to respond to crises, and too short to plan for the long term?

Hungary is more committed than ever to democracy, the rule of law and Euro-Atlantic integration. Twenty years after a ‘managed' transition to democracy left significant...

Democracy needs time. The markets do not. In your editorial “Eurozone has not done enough to stave off disaster” (15-20 December 2011), you wrote that “the eurozone...

Ireland's prime minister hopes to avoid a popular vote on inter-governmental treaty. Ireland will hold a referendum on the proposed inter-governmental treaty on

Responding to the challenges of democratisation in our neighbourhood. I read with interest your piece on the European Endowment for Democracy entitled “Democracy plans in...

The crisis initially seemed an opportunity to reduce Greece's democratic deficit. It has instead increased it. Democracy is usually the first casualty of severe economic...

Tighter security at the European Parliament is having a negative effect. We read with interest your article about the new security measures that prevent lobbyists from...

€1.2bn to encourage transition to democracy, but increased EU support will be conditional. The European Union has pledged to support democratic reform in its...

Vote in parliament paves way for ambitious trade deal to take effect in July. South Korea's parliament yesterday (4 May) ratified a free-trade agreement with the European...

The prospect of EU membership could help north African states make the move to democracy. Momentous change demands bold action. The wave of uprisings across north Africa...

The EU must use the means at its disposal to encourage a positive attitude to the changes on Europe's southern border. Watching the tumult in the Middle East, it is easy for...

The experience of 1989 has some happy lessons for the Middle East – and some worrying parallels. The message from the superpower was clear. You are our allies. We...

Exploring how far the mythology of kings lives on in today's politics. When Louis XVI was guillotined in 1793, the French did more than

The Swiss initiative to expel foreign criminals partly reflects the changing character of Switzerland's political system. Three white sheep kick a black sheep out of...

Switzerland's relationship with the EU gets ever more complicated. The Swiss have a complicated relationship with the European Union and appear determined to make it more...

What real solidarity with Africa would involve. The EU-Africa relationship is indeed in need of a rethink (“In search of peace and prosperity”, 16-22 September). Both...

China is a mirror that reflects Europe's weaknesses and strengths – and the ‘Scandinavian model' is one of those strengths. “The Northern Lights” was the title of a...

Conference needed to approve Lisbon changes, but decision could cause problems in the UK. EU governments are next month expected to agree a change to the Lisbon treaty to...

Teething troubles for the citizens' initiative. The citizens' initiative, an innovation of the European Union's Lisbon treaty, is taking shape – much to the alarm of...

The disenfranchisement of British expatriates is a disgrace. I read with interest Romano Subiotto's article in European Voice (“The muzzled British diaspora in the EU”,...