Europe Archive

Last week, Iceland formally applied to join the European Union. Forty-eight hours later, the 27 EU member states welcomed Reykjavik’s overtures and instructed the European Commission in Brussels to begin a preliminary examination. Such prompt reaction — the Brussels equivalent of the speed of light — has caused dismay among other applicants who are engaged in lengthy talks for membership. In the past, Icelanders have not been enthusiastic about joining the European Union, largely because it would mean opening its fishing areas to other fleets — and fishing is the island’s main industry. So this sudden application has seemed to […]

The Spanish government has accused the Basque terrorist group ETA of responsibility for back-to-back bombings last week that killed two people and injured more than 50 others. The bloody attacks came as ETA — short for Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, or Basque Fatherland and Freedom — marked the 50th anniversary of its founding. Analysts say ETA, which has been considerably weakened in recent years by aggressive counterterrorist police sweeps in Spain and France, hopes the bombings will not only boost sinking morale among its followers, but also force the Spanish government back to the negotiating table. The latest attack, which killed […]