23rd December 2010
<![CDATA[ The end of the year is always a time for reflection. What did we do over the last year? What could we have done better? What will we try to achieve in the year ahead? 2010 has been another busy year for Bolivian-British relations. We have had a number of visits in both directions, […]
19th December 2010
I have spent the last week in cold, wet, snowy London and hope I am not going to be stuck here for too much longer by flight cancellations due to the snow. This is as a result of the huge, current level of interest in Hungary and how it is going to manage its EU […]
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29th November 2010
Last week the National School of Government came to Budapest for an extremely useful training session for a group of Embassy staff on what to expect under the Hungarian EU Presidency. They covered for example the EU decision making process; the challenges we will face; how the rotating Presidency fits into the new EU architecture; […]
24th November 2010
This week we have been focusing on Climate Change again. The subject has gone quieter since the Copenhagen Summit, around this time last year. But the problem is as big – and getting bigger. And the issue is about to be addressed again at the Cancun meeting and will feature prominently on the agendas of […]
24th November 2010
Although preparations for the Hungarian EU Presidency are now gathering pace, ordinary life does not stop. And we know how accidents, natural disasters or international events can throw out the best laid plans. When I saw the moving reports of the Hungarian red sludge accident on 4 October, I was shocked by the acute hardship […]
17th November 2010
Taking on the rotating EU Presidency for the first time is a huge challenge (even with the reduced Presidency role following the Lisbon Treaty). And it’s a massive learning opportunity too. Thankfully there are many friends standing by to help out at this difficult time and the UK is one of the foremost. On previous […]
12th November 2010 London, UK
On Thursday 11 November I introduced the EU Bill to the House of Commons. Find out more about the Bill by watching my video blog below. You can also find detailed information about the EU Bill, and see a text of the Bill itself on the FCO website.
12th November 2010
When the current Hungarian government came to power, they made clear that creating more jobs and growth would be their key priority. That fits neatly with the EU’s own priorities – when Hungary takes over the Presidency in January, it can be in the driving seat on this vital issue. National and EU goals will […]
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9th November 2010
Following the Lisbon Treaty, and the establishment of a permanent Presidency for the European Union, the role of the rotating Presidency that passes from one Member State to another every 6 months is evolving. And it is not entirely clear where it will end up during the Hungarian Presidency in the first 6 months of […]
5th November 2010
We knew that there would be huge interest from the UK in Hungary in the run-up to their EU Presidency in the first half of next year. And so it is proving. The focus started, I suppose, with the highly successful visit of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in […]