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
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
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)
Gallery | Barroso II
‘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?
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
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
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%
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
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
Brunch with…
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
culture event guide
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
Tower of babel
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'
EU week
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
Yum Niam
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
Best of
cafebabel.com has been covering Europe's tracks for seven years now - a selection of our best articles
Unpaid, enthusiastic, EU interns speak out
sport
Fiat factory in the family: post-industrial Italy
Sofia's directors and playwrights vs budgets
Lithuania’s gay skeleton in the closet
Claudia Cardinale
Architecture blogs in Romania, Spain and England
Europe's anarchists vs the economic crisis
Craig David: 26-year-old making music
romania
