Greece’s crisis, a modern myth
At first sight, it all looks business as usual - Athenian terraces are packed by day and its lounge bars are heaving by night. But the European media should get itself to Athens. The devil is in the detail: you only see that when you’re forced to get off the metro mid-way through a journey because of a spontaneous strike, or when you see the anarchist graffiti all over the walls of the district of Exarchia. When five cafebabel.com journalists headed to the Greek capital on an editorial mission in early July, they discovered that the blown-up version of the crisis is as mythical as the Trojan war. Read our perception of the symptoms of the crisis, which are also its remedies: Greek-German tensions, a generation of well-qualified but underpaid graduates in images, as well as the development of the country’s solar energy sector and the successful integration of an Albanian community. Final special edition of the ‘Eucrisis on the ground’ features across European cities
France's 'war on criminality' aside, focus on Parisian Roma in 'social insertion villages'
Four years after their creation in Europe, 'social integration villages' are being presented as a 'Roma paradise'. European associations for minority protection expose some of the difficulties facing the most discriminated community in the EU. Meanwhile, the French government has since planned to dissolve 300 Roma settlements, whilst the UK is seeing its biggest Romany gypsy site, Dale Farm in Essex, bulldozed
Gallery | Youth in Athens
Highest European HIV rate Ukraine: threat of Lavra clinic closure
1.6% of Ukraine's population are infected with HIV, though people ignore or remain silent about the problem. In Kiev one of the most important treatment centres for Aids patients is to be closed - in order to make place for a luxury hotel. The decision gave rise to protests and demonstrations across the country
Internet platform Wikileaks divides EU media
On 25 July, the Sweden-based organisation co-operated with three major media sources to publish secret reports about the war in Afghanistan. The Austrian, British, Swiss and Estonian press disagree on this new transparency
Mentality problems? Shutting down clubs in Paris
A meeting of politicians and concert organisers in France should impede the nightlife of the capital city from dying - the debate's missed the crux of the problem
Fired public radio satirists - 'Berlusconisation France'?
Censor one person and someone else will speak for them. That’s what happened on 1 July in front of La Maison de la Radio in Paris, where disappointed listeners and exasperated France Inter workers protested against the sacking of morning show comedians Stéphane Guillon and Didier Porte. Flashback
Venice, the Moses project and fake funerals
It is slowly sinking, its residents are leaving. The world's media are claiming that Venice’s end is nigh. American environmental information website Mother Nature Network even includes Venice on its '10 places to visit before they vanish' list. But the reality is more complicated
No, Kosovo's 2008 independence wasn't illegal
Over two years since the 'world's smallest country' declared independence from Serbia, the international court of justice in The Hague pronounced the action 'legitimate' on 22 July. The Swiss, Slovenian, Swedish, Czech and Spanish press – the latter is one of five EU states not to recognise Kosovo - on other separatist movements and Serbia in the EU
Bucharest falls from on low
Romania's drastic means to secure IMF and EU loans has incensed its people: 'why do we pay the government's debts?' The May 2010 protests – the 'largest in 20 years' – revived the revolutionary memory, but the threat of salaries chopped by 25% barely provoked civil unrest on a Grecian or French scale. Whilst relaxed anti-corruption laws protect politicians and their copii de bani gati - the 'young rich kids' who are the stars of society - a thriving blog scene works out its own ideas on its own terms. And whilst 'green' and 'touristy' don't define Bucharest, ideas and passion do exist in the 'petit Paris' of the east. cafebabel.com journalists attempt to redefine the culture of the street. Penultimate in a monthly cities series, 'EUcrisis on the ground'
Brunch with…
Swiss singer Sophie Hunger: former jazz 'fascist'
It's promo promo promo in Paris for the folk singer-songwriter, who's finishing up a tour of Europe via Glastonbury to shows in the Czech Republic and Austria. The mellow 27-year-old from Zurich is on the French festival circuit to continue the escape from the 'sad' studio
culture event guide
Film dubbing is not only stupid and evil
It's also wrong and economically counterproductive, says a UK-based, Italian member of the gang behind the latest blog on cafebabel.com, from the European youth cinema network Nisi Masa
Tower of babel
Not going on holiday? You're on 'staycation'
It seems an eternity, but the financial crisis is only just celebrating its second birthday. The US has spawned a side effect phenomenon, a neat little neologism called the 'staycation'. The term contradicts the notion of going away on 'vacation'. People can't afford holidays and are 'staying' home. Is it clear enough?
EU week
Romania and Bulgaria not fighting corruption, EU complains
Fighting corruption? Romania and Bulgaria should do more to fight it, bemoans the EU. A progress report on 20 July singled out the Romanian judiciary and legal system. Romanian bloggers and Bulgarian dailies reply, whilst the Austrian and German press have their bit to say too
Yum Niam
Freeganism in Poland: 'horror' of taking food from bins
Freeganism, a way of life for a small percentage of the world’s population, is above all an extremely anti-consumerist attitude calling for restraint. It openly expresses opposition to corporations that only want to enrich themselves because today the sale of goods in their pure form is disappearing
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