In front | PRESS REVIEW Just made it (Image: ©Antonis SHEN / Flickr)

EU press react: Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's new president

Five years after he was deposed by the Orange Revolution, the opposition leader won Ukraine’s presidential elections on 7 February, narrowly edging out prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in a runoff vote. The Swiss, Czech, Polish and Portuguese press bemoan the rise to power of a politician who is widely regarded as pro-Russian, but believes that Ukraine has now finally proven that it is truly democratic

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by eurotopics - Berlin

PRESS REVIEW Agenda 2020: 'France and Germany love each other'

Agenda 2020: 'France and Germany love each other'

At a meeting of the Franco-German minister council in Paris, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel passed the 'Agenda 2020', which comprises 80 joint projects aimed at bringing the two nations closer together once more. A desirable goal, French, German and Czech commentators say, while also noting that the agenda could offer more

by eurotopics - Berlin

interview Marc Guerrero: Catalan MEP on Spain, unemployment and van Rompuy

Marc Guerrero: Catalan MEP on Spain, unemployment and van Rompuy

Youth unemployment has become one of the biggest challenges facing the EU. In Spain the figure has reached 43% amongst those aged 15-26. We discuss this problem and the new era that Europe faces with the youngest ever leader of the European liberal democrats (ELDR)

by Purificación Lucena - Paris

Gallery | Barroso II

Image : 26 faces: so, who's your favourite new EU commissioner?

26 faces: so, who's your favourite new EU commissioner?

overview ‘University mafia’ cut corners in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany and France

‘University mafia’ cut corners in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Germany and France

On 1 February, a new rector was allegedly appointed to the Alexander Dubcek university of Trencin in western Slovakia, after a spate of corruption scandals forced his predecessor to resign. Fake diplomas are nothing new, but these events multiplied across Europe in 2009, with Miss Worlds and prominent politicians standing accused: how can such a reality be explained?

by Michal Dimitrov , Sebastien Vannier - Berlin

Analysis Paris, Krakow: the crop of Europe's pretty urban green

Paris, Krakow: the crop of Europe's pretty urban green

The tallest building in the world, the 828 metre (2716 ft) high Burj Khalifa skyscraper, was unveiled in Dubai at the beginning of January. Nowadays the question is more of building outwards rather than upwards, with four buzzwords - happiness, ecology,  smartness and economy - via two city models

by aniela - Paris

PRESS REVIEW EU-US: 'If this was Formula One, Europe would still be working on its motor'

EU-US: 'If this was Formula One, Europe would still be working on its motor'

US president Barack Obama will not be attending the EU-USA summit planned for May. The official explanation given is that he wishes to devote himself to domestic problems. The German, Belgian and Czech press, however, suspects that he doesn't want to waste time in Europe, which still hasn't found a collective voice

by eurotopics - Berlin

investigation From Calais to Rosarno: Europe's 'immigrant jungles'

From Calais to Rosarno: Europe's 'immigrant jungles'

Patras, Athens, Bari, Seville ... a tour of Europe's recent troubled hotspots ends in southern Italy, where 7.2% of the population are illegal immigrants  - the EU average is 6.2%

by Anna Franca Didonna - Bari - 1 Comment

Analysis More highs, fewer lies in Prague - the new Amsterdam?

More highs, fewer lies in Prague - the new Amsterdam?

15 grams of marijuana, five grams of hashish or even 1.5 grams of heroin. Thanks to a new law that came into effect on 1 January 2010, Czechs can stock up on drugs without fear of prosecution. The Czech Republic now has the most liberal drug laws in the whole of Europe, though its preventive measures still leave something to be desired

by n- ost - Usti nad Labem/ Prag

interview Flare network, mapping Europe's mafia connections

Flare network, mapping Europe's mafia connections

Founded at the European parliament in June 2008, the anti-organised crime network want to rejig European laws and describe how EU money regenerates mafia-seized property. Interview with communications officer Roxana Smil

by Giacomo Rosso - Turin - 3 Comment

Brunch with…

(Image: ©Jim Rakete/ annett-louisan.de)

Annett Louisan: 'I don’t need to go the fake platinum blonde bombshell route anymore'

The breathy German chanson singer hasn’t only changed hair colour over the years - she seems to have done a bit of growing up as well. We catch the 31-year-old entertaining the Franco-German relations ambassador and performing live in Paris for the first time

by Katharina Kloss

culture event guide

(©Corinne Bailey Rae official facebook page)

Music in February: The Rumour Said Fire, Corinne Bailey Rae and Jaga Jazzist

A new British neo-soul album, an old favourite from Denmark's Simon and Garfunkel and five top tracks spanning London via Brooklyn and Oslo - a selection of Europe's music tips of the month

by Thomas Gam Nielsen , Nabeelah Shabbir , endi

Tower of babel

(Illustration: ©Henning Studte)

Italy's mamma's boys

If you're Italian, have been sleeping in the same bed for over the last 20 years and aren't running the risk of moving out of your childhood bedroom, chances are you've been diagnosed 'bamboccione'

by Roberto Lapia

EU week

Just made it (Image: ©Antonis SHEN / Flickr)

EU press react: Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's new president

Five years after he was deposed by the Orange Revolution, the opposition leader won Ukraine's presidential elections on 7 February, narrowly edging out prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in a runoff vote. The Swiss, Czech, Polish and Portuguese press bemoan the rise to power of a politician who is widely regarded as pro-Russian, but believes that Ukraine has now finally proven that it is truly democratic

by eurotopics

Yum Niam

(Image: ©You Secret Admiral/ Flickr)

Once upon a pizza

On 4 February, the EU paid homage to Neapolitan pizza by designating its trademark status. Yet when we eat a margherita, does it mean we're also paying homage to the three colours of the Italian flag? Behind this round piece of bread and staple in European diets lies the story of kings, queens and Italy

by Carla

Best of

best of cafebabel

cafebabel.com has been covering Europe's tracks for seven years now - a selection of our best articles

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The countdown is on: Apple is soon to unveil its newest beast, a multimedia tablet somewhere between the iphone and the mac which will encourage our technology addictions. How much time do you honestly spend scotched to your computer screens?