According to Lowry, it is up to the Brussels Bubble to build bridges outwards if we want to create a European online public space, but specialists blogging intelligently about specific subjects are still notable by their absence.
In a way, I think, bridges have already been built, although it is less clear if the builders can be described as (part of) the Brussels Bubble. EurActiv has created the blog platform Blogactiv, which is open for new bloggers on EU affairs. Citizen bloggers have launched Bloggingportal.eu, which already aggregates the posts of 630 blogs related to EU affairs (Euroblogs).

The debate continues chez Lowry, focusing on the role of Bloggingportal, resources and funding. Grahn has some thoughts (and questions) on that too:

Corporations and associations may open their eyes to the opportunities in terms of advocacy goals. Some citizen Eurobloggers may steer from EU institutional coverage towards policy and issue expertise. The growth of the Euroblogosphere leads to more issues being covered, but something still seems to be missing for a major breakthrough.
Expert knowledge and blogging require hard work. Is it a question of motivation and rewards? What are the missing links?

An unknown applicant has requested access to the legal opinion of the EU Council regarding the recast of the EU regulation on access to documents (Regulation 1049/2001)*. His/her request was refused and so he/she filed a confirmatory application (a kind of appeal) which was rejected again on a higher level.
For us, this rejection is so obviously against the 2008 “Turco” judgement (regarding access to documents concerning legal advice) of the ECJ that four countries – Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands – have publicly objected against the negative reply, some referencing the judgement.

More background and legal analysis are provided on the blog.

Described variously as a non event, the dog that didn’t bark and a flop, the UK’s first net election shocked all but the wise and sober in failing to refashion the landscape of British electoral politics.

The Hansard Society organizes a seminar on the supposed-to-be-Internet election, exploring what has changed in the last nine years. The panel will take place next Thursady, July 29th, and will feature strategists, former candidates and researcher.