On Europe and Globalisation

Later today Fianna Fail will host a discussion on globalisation and the Lisbon Treaty which should be interesting in itself. Farming issues will no doubt be front and centre as the WTO deadline has been extended and the effect of EU on that area up in the air. Beyond that there are issues of jobs, world commodity prices, competition and global finance. The EU has had to deal in one way or another with all these in the past year which puts its record and future power  under the microscope. Interestingly then a few pieces from todays Financial Times are worth reading;

An interesting profile of my own home town as a bellweather to future EU votes - if that is the case it will be about jobs, jobs, jobs. More relevant to the question of globalisation though, is the op-ed by UBS adviser George Magnus on the issue of inflation. Linked as it is to raw materials, he suggests we really should rethink a free trade farm policy and implement one which accepts high prices and shortages are the future. An interesting view of some institutional thinking and not quite chiming with Mandelson. Or simply vote yes for Nirvana.