This morning may have felt like any other autumn morning for may of us, what is so special about this 1^st December?   Well, today the Lisbon Treaty enters into force.   This means better governance within the EU.  This also means our President von Rompuy and the High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs officially take office today.

Many have been somewhat sceptical about the nominations of these two people, saying that this was a compromise decision, possibly not the best decision.   Time will prove whether they are really effective in their office.  What is sure is that the two need to work hard to gain precious ground the EU has lost over the past years.  Both have to ensure, within their different areas of responsibility, that the G2 prospect of the US and China does not materialise and that Europe truly is amongst the key world players.

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Online shopping has become somewhat a normality for a number of internet users. We do it for various reasons, cheaper services, products unavailable locally, auctioning, greener shopping and the like. The Maltese in fact rank amongst the highest in Europe for purchasing online products from other countries, coming second only to Luxemburg. Europeans in general are more sceptical in cross border purchases, amounting to an average of 7% across Europe as compared to our 24%. The Dutch on the other hand do a lot of online shopping for products in their own country with 65% of such transactions amongst the population. Online domestic purchases in Malta on the other hand is pretty low with 4%, second only to Bulgaria.

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This week President Klaus has finally signed the Lisbon Treaty. It is official; it is now endorsed by all member states. The hard work starts now for the implementation of the Treaty to take full effect. The Swedish Presidency has in fact said that the Treaty will come into effect as from 1^st December.

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On Friday just over half the population, 58%, of Ireland went to the polls for a second time to vote in the referendum about the Lisbon Treaty. With a sweeping majority, 67%, the Yes vote has won. Polls had indicated that the result would be a Yes but in the last week the No camp was catching up threateningly. The economic crisis has probably been the main instigator for the Irish to vote Yes, since they fear isolation and would rather be part of the EU.

Just over a week ago this referendum was seen as the last hurdle to the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. However during the run-up week to the referendum President Klaus from the Czech Republic, always a sceptic of the Lisbon Treaty, once again surprised Europe. Seventeen Czech senators filed a second complaint against the Lisbon Treaty with the Constitutional Court in Prague, putting on hold its ratification.

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Last July Jose Manuel Barroso was made to sweat by the Parliament who requested him to propose his programme to the European Parliament this month before being endorsed for a second term.

Despite being the only candidate for the Commission Presidency, Barroso this week has to face the European Parliament Political Groups for support.  Barroso has last week outlined his 41-page proposal to the media. This is a stark contrast to the two pager he proposed to the Council so as to have the Head of States approval for renewal.

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With the advent of the Irish Referendum for the Lisbon Treaty, word is already going round on who shall be the President of the Council.  We are taking for granted that the Irish will vote yes, intimidated by this economic crisis (well this would be one of the benefits emanating from the crisis).  Lets face it we cannot get a No this time round, but lets make sure we secure this Yes.
So who shall be the President of the Council, contemplated by the Lisbon Treaty?   Definitely Tony Blair is not the guy many would like to have.  When the treaty was being negotiated word had already gone round that the man is interested in this post. Officially nothing was ever said but recently this cropped up in the UK press and immediately sent shivers across Europe.  Prior to having his nomination there is already a website against him becoming President, www.stopblair.eu.  So why are so many against him? Well for starts his strong ties with the Bush administration makes many un-at-ease; he has not actively promoted European integration, on the contrary he has kept his country out of two major European structures, Schengen and the Euro; and he has taken his country into a war against Iraq violating international law on the pretext of fabricated evidence.  Hence many say the first President of the Council, cannot be someone with such a track record.

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