cafebabel.com

Activist Ahmed el-Senussi: Libyan prince and human rights hero

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 15:34:01 -0000

Currently a member of Libya's national transitional council, the prince was in solitary confinement during his imprisonment and did not speak to a single person for nine years. We meet in Strasbourg where the former prisoner of conscience was one of five Arabs to win the Sakharov freedom of thought prize for 2011

'Green' weddings – a Strasbourg myth?

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:09:43 -0000

It's meant to be the best day of your life, but this is hardly the case for the environment - just take into account the mountains of waste produced. However, the American trend of 'green weddings', where importance is placed on organic and ecological products from clothes through to food and hairdos, has now reached Europe. Strasbourg-based Caroline Lindenlaub, an ethical wedding dress designer, is a pioneer of the movement

MEPs are ‘carbon dioxide skunks’ going from parliament to parliament

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:23:29 -0000

The battle of how bad the European parliament in Strasbourg’s carbon footprint led to a furious statistics war. But one thing is for sure: the members of European parliament who travel between their seats in Brussels and Strasbourg every month are not helping the environment

Sherlock in Strasbourg: dial G for green crime

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:00:00 -0000

If ever there were to be the perfect ecological crime, it would be in Strasbourg. The city appears to be a little eco-paradise, and were I Sherlock Holmes himself I’d have to retrace my footsteps and leave…or so I think

Eco-architecture in Strasbourg: all hands on the deck

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 11:09:35 -0000

Reduce, recycle and reuse. The eastern French city sails through the 3Rs of the recycling laws. Hundreds of flowers dot balconies across the city, keeping guard over it night and day as well as over its new urban architecture sensibilities. Eco-sustainability and a collective conscience come together to define this emerging city

Port du Rhin: Strasbourg’s problem suburb (which is also on the border)

('Molmash',) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:30:00 -0000

The suburb of Strasbourg which is part of the Franco-German border is famous for having staged anti-Nato protests in 2009. It's all the more reason for its politicians and town planners to realise the urban planning policy set in place to improve living conditions for its population. Mission accomplished?

US style fails in EU: Barroso meek 'state of union' speech

('eurotopics',) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:31:09 -0000

The EU commission president made his 'comeback' speech to the EU parliament on 7 September - but the German, Czech and Slovenian press have much to lament. Press review

Europarl TV: 'technology is more fast-paced than the institutions'

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:15:00 -0000

In September 2008, the TV channel started streaming parliamentary sessions and news features on MEPs and their speeches on the European parliament’s webpage. The challenge is to give the institutions a human face - press service chief Jean-Yves Loog tells us how

Europe's 'unword' of 2009

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:45:55 -0000

European bloggers describe their Berlin walls

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:20:11 -0000

Monday is 9 November, the day when the Berlin wall was brought down. To reflect on this iconic modern historical event for the eurogeneration, citizen journalists from five cafebabel.com local teams - Sofia, Budapest, Turin, Strasbourg and Istanbul - simultaneously blogged one day about the walls they see in their cities

French band ‘Zakarya’ play Klezmer in Saint Petersburg

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0000

Think you need a clarinet and melancholy yiddish tunes to play Jewish folk music? Then you’ve yet to hear the French quartet. As their Russian concert winds down, accordionist Yves Weyh discusses the audience's strength of imagination, ‘imaginary’ film scores and avant-garde Klezmer

Islam in Strasbourg: role model for the rest of EU?

('Alexandra Baxter',) — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:00:00 -0000

With more than 20 mosques, 30 catholic churches, 13 protestant churches, 9 synagogues and 10 Buddhist temples, many believe that the creation of an islamic theology department would solve the problem of integration. Such an establishment is not permitted in secular France; but with a local statute and the system of 'recognised faiths', it can be in Strasbourg

Spotlight on fighting prostitution in Strasbourg

('Francesca Reinhardt',) — Tue, 26 May 2009 12:00:00 -0000

In the last year, the picturesque city of Strasbourg has become known as the red light district of Alsace, a veritable European capital of prostitution. Is Strasbourg really a big brothel, where locals and EU officials indulge their peccadilloes?

Why the fridge would you do an internship at the European parliament?

('Sarah Gray',) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:45:00 -0000

Do you want to see the heart of Europe on a day-to-day basis? There’s no better way to do it than by becoming an intern at the European parliament in Brussels, with its maze of corridors, hemicycle and canteen. Well . . . if you can negotiate a decent salary and hours!

Images: European parliament, Strasbourg

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0000

By foot, tram, bicycle, boat or car, parliament buildings are easily accessible … just like the rest of Europe?

What the fridge is the European parliament?

('Neil Saddington',) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:45:00 -0000

Every five years, MEPs are elected democratically across Europe. A look behind the scenes of this legislative power. Plus, a video

MEPs visit brothels, according to vice-chairwoman of liberals

('eugenie stephenson',) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0000

Silvana Koch-Mehrin, the vice-chairwoman of the liberal party in the European parliament,
accuses Euro MPs of going to Strasbourg as though they are on ‘holiday’, adding that ‘they don’t work but go and see prostitutes’

Video: German MEP puts European parliament to Britpop strains

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0000

Alexander Alvaro, 33, pokes fun at the lack of security in the European parliament building in Strasbourg, in a video posted on Youtube on 24 September. Part of the roof caved in on 7 August

EU parliament back in Strasbourg from October

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:47:49 -0000

Part of the roof of the parliament building, which caved in on 7 August whilst activities were out of session, gave wake to criticism of where parliament should really be

Strasbourg moves to Brussels temporarily

('Kate Stansfield',) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 10:36:05 -0000

Those in favour of the European parliament remaining in Brussels will be happy in September. The latest weekly news from Brussels

Music: Portishead, Hooverphonic and the Lo Fat Orchestra

('Sandra Wickert',) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Where do these bands get their names from? We sweep the UK, Belgium, Switzerland and France for our monthly music pick this April

British, Italian and German architects give Europe a face

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Openness, transparency, efficiency: which buildings need a democracy? We span the European parliament, palace, court of human rights and Central Bank

Europe dominates election agenda in Strasbourg

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The municipal elections in Alsace are neither local nor national. The debate is entirely European as both candidates outline their vision for a town propelled as capital of the old continent

European School in Strasbourg

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The first European school in the Alsatian capital opens in September 2008. Concerns arise that it will undermine the international sections of existing schools and how it will relate to the EU

The language of the republic is French

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Alsace and Moselle’s bilingualism has just weathered a political storm. From now on, electoral documents will have to be written only in French. Yet, the German language has opened a window of opportunity in Europe. Debate

A European senate in Strasbourg?

('Sarah Gray',) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Controversy surrounding the European parliament’s use of two seats (Brussels and Strasbourg) has given new life to the debate on federalism. There are good reasons for the parliament to remain permanently in Brussels, and plenty of other options for the capital of Alsace

Strasbourg is bikes

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

With the inauguration of the TGV to Strasbourg, the city is staking its claim for modernity and the environment. The bicycle rules in this city that wants to overtake Fribourg as model of sustainable growth

Remember, the Council of Europe is not part of the EU

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0000

The Strasbourg-based organisation defends human rights in Europe and needs to combat its dwindling visibility

Dan Jorgensen (32): 'I'm lucky to be a politician so early on in my life'

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

MEP of the Socialist party in parliament, the 32-year-old is part of the young generation of elected candidates on a European scale. On the benches of the French National Assembly in Strasbourg, 4% have not yet reached the age of 35

Immigration: the plight of Poles in France

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Poland has been an official EU country since 1 May 2004. While Poles have the right to move freely around France, things get a lot more complicated when it comes to getting a job

Italy: Fuck You Day

('Andrew Burgess',) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 00:00:00 -0000

On 14 October the entirely new centre-left Italian Democrat Party (PD) chooses its new leader. An action far from a disappointment for voters

EU Parliament: attempt to block the advance of new treaty

('Sophie Paterson',) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

On 11 July, approval was predicted for the motion backing the European Parliament to host the intergovernmental conference on 23 July

Far right Bulgarian is youngest MEP

('Ed Saunders',) — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The recent accession of Bulgaria and Romania was the pill that the ultra nationalists in the European Parliament took, doubling their superpower forces

Join the Le Pen and Mussolini club

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Representing a mere 2.5% of the EU chamber, the new far-right group in parliament is receiving the political cold shoulder

The two-seat parliament farce must end

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 12:00:00 -0000

One million citizens petition Brussels to become the seat of EU parliament

Happy 5th birthday, cafebabel.com!

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 02:37:00 -0000

On 1st February 2001, the first 100% European media was born.