Section I: General core values

Although there are some major differences between the various Member States it is, nevertheless, possible to identify a number of basic or core values that should be applicable to all EU governments.The following list of six (partly overlapping) core values is intended to serve as an impetus for a more detailed formulation of these values:

Media bias is an important part of our lives, and recognizing it helps people deal with it and prevent it from influencing their decisions to too great of a degree. It is important to examine cases where bias occurs so people can develop an understanding of how it can manifest itself. One especially pertinent case to the discussion of media bias is elections. During elections people must vote based on their knowledge of candidates, and much of this knowledge comes from the mass media. The knowledge that voters' gain of candidates can be skewed by media bias; but, this bias can manifest itse

The Irish Lobby Register differs in many key ways to the EU Transparency Register. Several of these differences emanate from the mandatory nature of the Irish register. For example, its basis in legislation makes it illegal for lobbyists who fall under its remit not to register, and makes it possible to sanction those who fail to do so. The wide-ranging investigative powers under the act – including the ability to request documents and search premises – are also novel features. This strict approach differs from the EU system.

Today, the U.S. spends less than 2 percent of its GDP on infrastructure, less than at any point in the last twenty years. Meanwhile, Europe spends close to twice the U.S. rate, and China spends close to four times the U.S. rate.  The World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report now ranks the U.S. overall infrastructure at 12th in the world – down from 7th place just a decade ago.

General Coverage

Monitoring for general coverage should result in a document providing accurate information focused on

• the content (positions, political bias or options context)
• the process (steps, deadlines) and
• the actors (institutions, decision-makers, stakeholders)

Tools

Heads of state and government

Current

• Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary 

Former

• Edgar Savisaar, Estonian politician, Member of Parliament, former Mayor of  Tallinn, former Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, former Minister of the Interior, former acting Prime Minister, and leader of the Estonian Centre Party.

National ministers and secretaries

Author : Lee Drutman, a Senior Fellow at New America and the author of  The Business of America is Lobbying: How Corporations Became Poloticized and Politics Became More Corporate.

Original Text has been edited.

Traditional political coalition building and victories are not sufficient to bring about immediate results in the European context. Even a political force with a clear cut majority in the EP cannot be certain of delivering completely on its manifesto commitments, due to the inter-institutional dimension of the EU. Even a winning force, with a significant majority in the EP, would further need to convince: the policy-makers within the different institutions; the Commission; and the majority of Member States in the Council.

Figures are in billion U.S.$

1. China: 343
2. Germany: 74
3. Japan: 67
4. Canada: 35
5. Mexico: 54
6. Saudi Arabia: 28
7. Ireland: 26
8. Italy: 25
9. South Korea: 25
10. India: 23
11. Malaysia: 17
12. France: 16
13. Thailand: 15
14. Taiwan: 14
15. Switzerland: 9