cafebabel.com

German, Swiss, Polish and local media on Romania prime minister resignation

('euro topics',) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:08:29 -0000

Emil Boc resigned on 6 February due to massive protests against his centre-right government's austerity programme. Hours later president Traian Băsescu named the independent former head of the foreign intelligence service, Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu, as his successor. Romania needs an independent technocrat, but he will have his work cut out for him dealing with the intrigues of the opposition, commentators write

Why would a Spanish 'European volunteer' go to Romania?

('Rach',) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:30:00 -0000

2011 was the year of the European volunteer, but it doesn't mean we can't still talk about the role. Has its visibility increased since the economic crisis, due to the lack of opportunities or out of pure altruism? One young Iberian speaks out

'Our School' documentary: segregated Roma schools despite EU funds

('Linda Krajcso',) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:40:25 -0000

When directors and producers Mona Nicoară and Miruna Coca-Cozma followed three Roma children in a small Romanian village for four years, their film initially about a success story of integration became one about the realities of ethnic segregation. Interview

Romania's stray dogs, souvenirs of a communist past

('ReeAix',) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:48:03 -0000

On 26 July, the European court of human rights criticised Romania’s inability to deal with the stray dogs roaming its streets. Legislation introduced by parliament to allow the euthanasia of the stray dogs has however provoked controversy. How have the strays, known as ‘maïdanezi’, become mired in political debate?

Hunting that coffee taste between Romania, Slovakia and German-Austrian border

('hkeet',) — Wed, 25 May 2011 11:11:51 -0000

In Romania, coffee has a special value to citizens since it was in short supply during the communist era. Therefore finding products like German coffee brand 'Jacobs Krönung’ or Nescafé in the shops is still a treat for many. Too bad that they don’t like the taste of the coffee

Poland, Lithuania, Romania: inside Europe's Guantanamo Bays

('Ems_8674',) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 16:00:00 -0000

A white horse struggles to drag itself along after abandoning the exhausted body of Vincent Gallo through the snow. The animal is soiled with human blood. Such is the breathtaking epilogue of Essential Killing, the latest feature length film from Jerzy Skolimowski, where the American actor portrays a Taliban deported to a secret CIA base hidden in a forest in Mazovie, Poland. In the screenplay by the Polish writer, the prisoner still has the possibility to escape. Terrorist suspects who land in total secrecy in the airport of Szymany in Poland do not have such luck. An investigation ensues.

Psychology of Europe's youth: generation ‘no subject’

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:08:11 -0000

Today's young generations in Europe seem traumatised by emptiness – the lack of perspectives and opportunities, goals, aspirations. No better comparison than the metaphor of an email without a title, says one young volunteer youth organisation counsellor and psychology graduate

Where did all the Romanian doctors and French med students go?

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:50:53 -0000

Mobility within the European Union also applies to the medical sphere, resulting in a freedom which leads to problems as well as advantages. Celia Laherre on the failings of medicine without borders

Communism perspectives: 'discontinuous history of art in eastern Europe'

('Oliver',) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 14:00:00 -0000

3 October marked twenty years after the fall of the communist regime. One exhibition in Paris this summer asked the central question: is there any value in the question of 'east-west’ opposition today?

'Magic Lives Here': Bulgarians disagree with pan-European tourism advert

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:07:32 -0000

One sleepy morning the oriental sounds coming from an advert on a European news channel jolted us awake. The 30-second spot promotes Bulgaria abroad. Or does it, with its beach volleyball and flying skiers amidst sunrises and sunsets? Four natives react

Vienna, Berlin, Budapest and Paris: blogging city rivers

('cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:35:39 -0000

Europe's city rivers are both the place to be in terms of a good old rave - take the A38 ship on the Danube to Bar 25 on the Spree - and also for a spot of nudity or artificial beach time in the summer. Blog snippets from four cafebabel.com local team bloggers, who pay tribute to their watery city icons

'Branding Romania' scandal: next step, brand Roma?

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:30:00 -0000

Romania's brand, funded by EU money, was finally launched at the Romanian pavilion at the Shanghai world expo on 29 July – though the 'Explore the Carpathian garden' campaign hasn't (yet) gone down a treat

Romania and Bulgaria not fighting corruption, EU complains

('eurotopics',) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:11:03 -0000

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

'Copii de bani gata', rich Romanian club

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:15:03 -0000

They're treated with similar disdain and contempt everywhere, but nowhere with such hatred as in Romania. The Romanian nouveau riche are nicknamed 'born with money' or 'kids with rich parents'. Where's the problem?

'Come to Romania': quest to brand Bucharest

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 18:15:32 -0000

Forging a skate culture, redesigning lei banknotes and offering a story to tourists, aside from the palace of parliament hotspot, the result of dictator Ceaucescu's tearing down a third of the city in communist times. These are just some of the ideas to boost the image and GDP of a crisis-riddled country

Protests in Bucharest: Romanians, 'not like Greeks'

('Kremi',) — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:30:37 -0000

On 25 June, 600 protestors tried to storm the presidential palace to stop massive cuts in public wages and pensions, severe austerity measures due to the financial crisis. I witnessed the first protest in May, where many stayed home. Students, professors and journalists in Bucharest speak

Bloggers in Romania, hailed by President Terminator

('Caroline Prosser',) — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Between fierce entrepreneurs, A-listers, history re-writers and new media journalists, bloggers are thriving in Romania. It's hailed by the president, but not well liked by other media stalwarts. The country, one of three ‘partially free’ medias in the EU (alongside Bulgaria and Italy), ranks a poor 50th on the European press freedom index

Felix Vogel, youngest curator of a European biennale

('Caroline Prosser',) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:01:35 -0000

The German was picked three years ago when he was just 20 - in Venice, the youngest curator was 46! With a team averaging an age of 24, the Bucharest Biennale between 21 May and 25 July 2010 gives youth the chance to show what they can do

Hungarian minorities in Slovakia: small arrangements between enemies

('Jude Lister',) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:30:00 -0000

One week after a law proposing Hungarian nationality to ethnic Hungarians abroad, prime minister Viktor Orbán announced a new era of 'national unity' during his prime ministerial inauguration on 29 May. Hungary is choosing the route of hostile nationalism, much to the delight of Slovak populists

British authors in Paris on writing and Romania

('danaradler',) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:00:08 -0000

Vivienne Vermes is working on an autobiographical piece, whilst Denise Larking Coste is about to publish a novella in French; both Brits are members of a writers group from called 'Babel'. We discuss life in Paris, writing and Romania

Music in January: Blur, Arsov and Loredana Groza

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:19:06 -0000

Electro tickles through folk Slovenian covers to Romanian local heroines, whilst the mighty Britpop band are featured in a new documentary in the UK, premiered last night: your music tips of the month

Mihai Mircea Butcovan: 'the majority of Italians ignore everything which Romania does for the EU'

('Michelle Williams',) — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:45:00 -0000

The Italy-based writer and poet, 40, looks at the Romania he left behind twenty years after the revolution ended the communist regime. Interview

Where are the Italians at the Romanian shopping centre in Rome?

('Annika Thornton',) — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:30:00 -0000

The first Romanian-owned shopping centre, La Strada, has opened in Tiburtina, a district of Rome. Visitors are few and far between, and the Italians are even scarcer. Feature

Migrants keep coming to Seville, Spain and the rest of Europe

('Thomas Gam Nielsen',) — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:00:04 -0000

But their rights as workers and humans are at stake, while the status of illegal or legal are being sorted out

No to eastern European rescue package

('euro topics',) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:24:10 -0000

The EU countries want to better co-ordinate their national bank rescue plans and economic stimulus programmes. At an informal summit meeting in Brussels on 1 March, protective measures for individual industries and an aid package for eastern Europe were rejected. Reactions from Denmark, Portugal, Romania and the Czech Republic

In Buzescu, Roma architecture is surreal real estate

('Annie Rutherford',) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:00:00 -0000

We clatter by train through Romania to the small village where the former nomadic Roma are building palaces they design themselves in the middle of Wallachia – with neither consent nor plans. Feature

Romania turns to a coalition government

('Chetan Khushal',) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Romania’s socialists are currently making the most progress with proposals against the crisis, on the day when the party of European socialists presents its election manifesto in Madrid

Hitch-hiking to Romania

('Matthew Pagett',) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0000

A French association offers the chance to explore a country through hitch-hiking. Each summer it offers its members a new destination, usually European, sometimes beyond the Schengen zone. Road-trip

Romania: EU dreams, but prostitution and poverty reality

('Media Consulta',) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:15:32 -0000

EU membership is slowly making a difference, but for many new citizens of the EU the chasm between aspiration and reality remains wide

Meeting a Romanian careworker in Salerno, Italy

('Mary Maistrello',) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:43:14 -0000

In Italy, between 300 - 700, 000 immigrants work as home helps and care assistants for the elderly and the sick. Often, they are female black market employees. Nicole's story

Catch Romanian films at the Transilvania International Film Festival

('Florin Lipan',) — Fri, 30 May 2008 04:37:27 -0000

The 7th edition of the largest and most prominent international film competition in Romania takes place in the city of Cluj-Napoca between 30 May and 8 June

Greece, Portugal and Romania: save your species!

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Is Europe acting fast enough to halt irreversible biodiversity loss?

Romania: welcoming NATO

('Luciana Grosu',) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

One international summit, 26 countries, thousands of different voices - one of the youngest EU members welcomed NATO officials and the international media to Bucharest from 2-4 April 2008

Macedonia in images: names, Tito and David Morales

('Nikos Chrisikakis',) — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

After a Greek veto on its joining NATO during the annual summit in Bucharest on 2 - 4 April, the country could still be on track to start EU membership talks by the end of 2008 if it meets the relevant criteria. View from the lens

Architecture blogs in Romania, Spain and England

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Most blogs devoted to architecture cover the whole of Europe through their importance, often even the whole world, by not limiting themselves to the presentation of this set of themes exclusively within the author’s country of origin

Europe’s eastern bloc palaces

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 04:30:00 -0000

Berlin, Bucharest, Vilnius and Warsaw - four examples of what to do with those eastern state building dinosaurs

Photos: Europe sprays ideas

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

From Madrid to Bucharest, Europe's streets of art are bursting with creativity and new talents

Nicolae Comanescu: painting with dust in Bucharest

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:33:00 -0000

In the truest sense of the words, the Romanian artist, 39, produces art from the dusty rubble of his home city

California Dreamin’: more cinema from Romania

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Joining the current wave of Romanian films in European cinema, Cristian Nemescu, who lost his life in a tragic road accident in 2006 aged 26, offers us a vision of a country which he wanted to and will change

Lost an email written two years ago? Don’t worry - the EU's kept it for you

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 02:06:00 -0000

GMOs, operator-controlled e-mail, training against terrorism, inoperative Romania: four bites of the latest EU news

Animal protection: Romania the black sheep

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:16:00 -0000

Roberto Bennati, vice-president of the Italian anti-vivisection league, on a new European legislation

From China and the Middle East with love in Bucharest

('Luciana Grosu',) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Shopping around the city’s northern Europa complex, where two migrant businessmen from the Romanian capital’s integrated communities discuss leaping and boundng with the EU's eight-month old member state

Living behind the cirque du soleil

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Some 4,000 people live in poor conditions in shanty towns on the outskirts of Paris. But an integration programme plans to lift 30 Roma families out of misery

György Dragomán: 'one can really see how a dictatorship functions through the eyes of a child'

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The Transylvania-born Hungarian author, 34, uses an unconventional narrator to express the horrors of a totalitarian system

Brown, Sarkozy and gang - sceptic fantastics

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Is Europe increasingly Eurosceptic as with the arrival of a new generation of new leaders?

EU elections shelved in Romania

Fri, 18 May 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Bulgaria is holding European parliamentary elections on 20 May, but Romania is delaying their own after PM Triceanu suspended his president. An internal referendum is due on 19 May

Bulgaria and Romania are Laurel and Hardy

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0000

The longtime neighbours and latest EU members know precious little about each other

Impending independence?

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Independent from or autonomous within Serbia? Negotiations on Kosovo’s future status wound up in March

Bucharest: dictator's throne to democracy

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Ceauescu erected the Romanian parliament in the second largest building in the world

Eastern ski resorts take centre piste

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Longer hours of daylight, groomed slopes, cheap fares and a chance to explore über-foreign cuisine and culture. More and more are taking to Slovenian, Bulgarian, Czech and Bosnian slopes