Europe
EU leaders struggle to keep united front as NATO ministers meet to discuss Georgia crisis
The Guardian reports that NATO foreign ministers will meet today to discuss responses to Russia's intervention in Georgia, with the US pressing its European allies to deliver initial sanctions against Russia by deciding to suspend the six-year-old NATO-Russia council. It is noted that Russia has been seeking a session of the council since the conflict erupted 10 days ago, but Americans have blocked it. It is widely reported that EU member states remain split on what response to take, with France, Germany and Italy arguing that tougher criticism of the Kremlin could be counterproductive and could end the withdrawal of Russian forces from Georgia. The UK, Poland and the Baltic states are pushing for a response which would include "severe consequences" for Russia.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband writes in the Times that "I favour hard-headed engagement that leverages the benefits that the Kremlin needs from the international system - economically and politically - into a force for responsible behaviour from Russia." French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has warned against issuing "ultimatums" against Russia, and Germany has called for a meeting of Georgia and its neighbours modelled after the EU's Neighborhood Policy.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph notes that an American defence official has said that, despite Sunday's pledge to start withdrawing troops from Georgia, Russia is actually sending more troops to South Ossetia and another pro-Russian enclave in Abkhazia.
Telegraph Independent Independent2 The Sun WSJ Times Miliband Times EUobserver EUbusiness Guardian EurActiv
EU price controls increase phone bills
Vodaphone has announced that it will increase the price of other phone calls to make back revenue it has lost because of EU price controls.
Doug Bandow: Europe, not America, should lead in Georgia
In American magazine National Interest, Doug Bandow looks at the Georgia crisis, arguing that "America is again more seriously engaged in a global crisis in which Europe should be taking the lead." He quotes Open Europe dismissing the notion that the Lisbon Treaty would make Europe a more serious player internationally, and says "Open Europe points out that EU members collectively spend but 1.6 percent of their GDP on the military and have been steadily cutting expenditures since the 1990s: 'Why will the short war in Georgia change this long trend when the other wars--which EU members are actually fighting in--have not?'"
Singleton: Why does EU development aid go to Russia?
On his Telegraph blog, Alex Singleton questions why the EU, which channels one third of Britain's overseas aid, continues to provide Russia with development funds, considering its recent behaviour and wealth. Singleton mentions an Open Europe report calling for control over development aid to be returned to member states.
Alex Singleton's blog Open Europe Report
Schwammenthal: Europe's approach to foreign affairs "negligent"
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Daniel Schwammenthal argues that it is "negligent" for the EU to place its faith in the UN's ability to solve international problems. He argues that Russia, a veto wielding member of the UN Security Council, has recently shown that its aims and values do not coincide with Europe's, possibly making UN action in certain crises impossible.
Swiss national banker declares Swiss economy to be more globalised than European economies
The Chairman of the Swiss National Bank, Jean-Pierre Roth, notes the solid economic growth of 3.1 per cent last year in his country, declaring that resilience is largely because Switzerland "is more globalised than the European economies, so we still benefit a lot from the dynamics of Asia".
French Ministers are preparing plans to fend off recession in the eurozone, which they will present at an EU Council of Ministers in September.
The Ukrainian President believes that the Ukrainian Prime Minister is using the escalating stand-off with Russia to take over the Presidency, and has accused her of "high treason" in failing to speak out against the Kremlin.
Declan Ganley accused of 'dodging' Lisbon debate
The Irish Times reports that the Irish campaign group Libertas has rejected a claim that its founder Declan Ganley has "chickened out" of a debate on the Lisbon Treaty next weekend at the Humbert Summer School in Ballina, Co Mayo. Libertas said that Ganley will be in the US, and the Humbert Summer School refused their offers of replacement speakers. The School accused Libertas of "shielding" Mr. Ganley from public engagement with EU experts, despite the fact that he has recently engaged in debates with figures such as former EU Commissioner Peter Sutherland; Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan; French President Nicolas Sarkozy; Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny; Labour ME, Proinsias de Rossa; and Minister of State for European Affairs, Dick Roche.
The UN mission in Kosovo is transferring assets over to EU police forces and administration this week. Serbia and Russia oppose the move as it appears to endorse Kosovo's independence, which they claim is illegal.
UK
Change of leader would not help Labour beat Cameron
An ICM poll for the Guardian shows that voters would overwhelmingly prefer David Cameron as Prime Minister, even if Labour replaced Gordon Brown with David Miliband. Cameron beats both Miliband and Brown by 21 points. The poll also shows that Labour is on 29%, the Conservatives are on 44% and the Lib Dems are on 19%.
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