Final items

09.10.2003 / 00:00 CET

George Vassiliou, the former president of Cyprus, was on form at last week's New Europe conference in the Belgian capital.
Asked what major changes would follow from next year's EU enlargement, he raised a few laughs by replying: “Well, I'll have to go to 25 dinners instead of 15.”

Congratulations to Stanley Crossick who has been made an Officer of the National Order of Merit by French President Jacques Chirac for his “devotion, throughout a brilliant career, to the European cause”.
Crossick, aged 68, is director and founding chairman of the Brussels-based think-tank, The European Policy Centre.

Johan Norberg, the Swedish ‘anti-anti-globalization' campaigner, was in town last week to promote his book In Defence of Freedom.
But it seems not everyone was amused by the long-haired young Johan's unabashed criticism of the European Union. He told a panel, including Commission trade official Mauro Pettricione, that he blamed the EU for the failure of the WTO talks, and called for the CAP to be scrapped.
Norberg confided: “Later, two members of the audience approached me, saying it was a bit brave to criticize the EU in front of a Commission official.”
Cue a rant from Norberg on his website: “At last I understand it all! You cannot criticize the EU, at least not as long as someone with power is listening.”
Speak as you find, Johan...

European Parliament President Pat Cox must have chalked up an impressive number of air miles since he took office.
But the Irishman excelled even himself last week by visiting no less than seven countries in nine days.
For the record they were Croatia, Serbia-Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Bosnia, Italy (for the IGC summit) and, this Monday (6 October) in Cork, Ireland – where he delivered a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce.

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