Sir, Regarding ‘Italy isolated as ten countries unite on patents‘: Today, most technical and commercial communications are in English, while an inventor’s mother tongue is their most precise communication tool. Why not combine the two (the inventor’s usual language + English) in a two-column layout where paragraphs in one language are aligned next to the [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘IMF votes to shift more power to developing countries‘: Article 138§2 of the TFEU prescribes that “the Council may adopt appropriate measures for ensuring a unified representation (of the EU) in international financial institutions”. The recent reshuffle of seats and voting rights within the IMF was a unique occasion to trigger that clause [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Romania fumes at Franco-German Schengen blockade‘: The Jesuit Refugee Service is seriously concerned about the recent announcement by the Greek Minister of Citizens’ Protection that the Greek government is considering building a fence along the 12.5km section of Greece’s land border with Turkey, and about the weak reaction from the European Commission. We [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Chinese Nobel boycott divides EU’s ‘inner circle’‘: The Nobel Peace Committee must act now. The Nobel Peace Prize as a means to inspire peaceful coexistence is fading. The Nobel Peace Committee must eventually recollect and act according to the clear, explicit and unambiguous last-will and testament of Alfred Nobel, to reward: “…the person [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Single market delays draw fire in forum‘: A lot of internal market problems, especially the lack of economic transparency, were never acted upon after Maastricht Treaty came into force under Jacques Delors’ presidency of the European Commission. Following the publication of Mario Monti’s recent report, which reviews the single market, it may be [...]

Sir, Concernant ‘L’UE et l’Irlande se mettent d’accord sur le fonds de sauvetage‘: Certes l’Union a les moyens de sauver de la banqueroute ce mauvais élève de la classe européenne. Car les difficultés irlandaises ne sont pas seulement dues à ses banques, mais bien à la politique économique et fiscale de son gouvernement. Voila un [...]

Sir, Concernant ‘L’Acte sur le marché unique attire les foudres du forum public‘: L’article d’EurActiv.com paru suite au débat public organisé par Confrontations Europe ce jeudi 18 novembre est inacceptable. Alors que tous les participants ont souligné la formidable opportunité qu’ouvre cet Acte pour le marché unique, le titre laisse penser que nous sommes opposés [...]

Sir, Now the EU is awake at last, it should deal with debt workouts for EU and developing countries. With the Greek financial crisis rocking the foundations of European Monetary Union, the EU has finally realised it needs to agree on debt mechanisms. With regard to the Council’s conclusions on a ‘permanent crisis mechanism’, EU [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Parliament backs 20-week maternity leave‘: Europe’s leaders must use Thursday’s EU summit to fight against the introduction of new laws on maternity leave, voted on by MEPs last week, that will increase maternity leave from the current EU minimum of 14 weeks to 20 weeks, all of which will be on compulsory full [...]

Sir, Regarding ‘Treaty change debate divides EU foreign ministers‘: In its present state the Lisbon Treaty explicits forbids any form of financial solidarity between eurozone member states. This ‘original sin’ must be erased to guarantee the survival of the euro. The treaty must therefore be revised. Such revisions are consubstantial with the evolving nature of [...]