So the election to the European Parliament was yesterday and I think the biggest news was that the swedish pirates-party got c. 7% of the votes and now have a mandate. It's a bit sad to hear the leaders of the two biggest parties talking about this election as a "repetition" for the election to the national parliament next year instead of treating this as a serious election. Even the reporters on TV are saying people think of this as some kind of joke, it is not. An increasing number of laws are founded on decisions made by the EU, the election yesterday (in some countries earlier) is possibly even more important that the national elections.

Another important thing to remember is that when fewer people vote the small extreme parties have a greater chance to enter the parliament. I for one don't want a European Union ruled by xeno- and other-phobic people, we just have to look back 70 years to see how well that went. Our grandparents fought and died so that we could live in a free Europe without wars and xenophobia, it is up to us to keep the EU that way.

The debate that was here in Sweden when IPRED (International Property Rights Enforcement Directive) was going to be implemented earlier this year made it seem as if it was the Swedish government that had made it up, very few media-sources made clear that IPRED came from the EU and that it should have been implemented in April 2006. Yes I think that property rights and integrity on the net are important issues but that debate was far too late to be able to change anything.

For all of you who did not vote yesterday think about it the next time the EU comes up with a directive that needs to be implemented in the member countries and that you don't like. The election is the chance for the european people to influence the EU, take that chance.

I have finished the first year at University and I only have to retake one exam (European Union law) before the fall term begins in August, luckily it's one of the shorter courses only 4 point which equals 4 weeks so I have plenty of time to prepare. Tomorrow I'm leaving for Poland with my family which means I'll have no access to internet for about five weeks but I can live with that.
We're also going to Prague for a couple of days, I'm really excited about that I have never been in Prague but I heard it's beautiful. Anyway I'm back in Sweden in the late July/early August and hopefully I will update this page more frequently during next term, at least I try.
I hope you all will have a wonderful summer, I know I will.