29th October 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Having worked and lived in various countries, but in particular during several years spent in Pakistan (where I also worked on development issues in Afghanistan), I am strongly convinced of the critical importance for us all of international development work. And specifically the need to implement the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDG). In recent months, […]
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23rd October 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law underpin the EU – these are core values shared by member states. And it is no surprise therefore that human rights are a critical element in the EU’s foreign relations, exchanges with other countries, development policy and work in international institutions […]
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22nd October 2010
London, UK
The UK supports Turkey’s accession to the EU. Ahead of my visit to the annual Bosphorus conference to support Turkey’s accession I spoke to Turkish news agency Anatolia. See the interview on video:
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19th October 2010
London, UK
I spent several days travelling last week. My first destination was Kyiv, capital city of Ukraine, and following my engagements there, I travelled to Warsaw, capital of Poland. Watch my latest video blog to find out more about the UK’s relationship with both Ukraine and Poland.
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12th October 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
As far as transatlantic competitions go, last week was a great one for Europe and the UK. On Monday, Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland sunk a crucial birdie at the 16th hole of Wales’ Celtic Manor course, which ultimately clinched The Ryder Cup for Europe. To crown it all, the winning European Team was captained […]
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24th September 2010
London, UK
I decided to use video alone for this week’s blog. View the film to find out about my trip to Sweden on the 7th June. Updated to say, here’s a link to ‘Getting Europe back to work’, the speech I delivered whilst in Stockholm
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22nd September 2010
This post was published when the author was in a previous role
Whisky is the UK’s top agriculture export – £3.2bn-worth of whisky flowed out of the UK in 2008, accounting for just under a quarter of the UK’s agriculture exports (see Agriculture in the UK 2009). And the US was the top export market, sipping £421m worth of the stuff in 2009, a whopping 13% increase […]
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4th June 2010
London, UK
I spent 24 hours in Brussels earlier this week for a packed schedule of meetings. As a city, Brussels has a somewhat unfair reputation for being rather dull and grey. I know from previous visits that there are some charming aspects to the place. Sadly on this occasion I saw little more than the inside […]
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28th May 2010
London, UK
It was almost two weeks ago that the Prime Minister asked me to join the new coalition Government as Minister for Europe at the Foreign Office. Within two hours I was in my new office meeting my staff and planning briefings. I last worked in the FCO 20 years ago, when I was political adviser […]
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19th April 2010
Islamabad, Pakistan
Many Pakistanis have never heard of the European Union. Still fewer know what it is. But when Prime Minister Gilani met 16 of the European Union’s Ambassadors in Peshawar recently, it was natural for him to do so. The European Union is Pakistan’s largest trading partner (two-way trade was worth €7.5 billion in 2008, approximately […]
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