cafebabel.com

Odd ode to Eric Cantona

('Andrew Burgess',) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:21:04 -0000

The Olympic Marseille football club is beginning to form a reputation as the starting block for 'wannabe presidents'. Following in the footsteps of George Weah and his candidacy for the presidency in Liberia, it’s now the turn of Eric Cantona to make his ambitions for high office known, writes one French blogger, 'ASL'

China, world economy dragon mummy to Europe

('Agata Jaskot',) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:00:00 -0000

China has not become as helpful and friendly to the EU as some European presidents might have wished, but its investors, literary figures and linguistic opportunities are a source of dynamism. Here's a brief chart of its positive and negative growth effects, and how that impacts or influences Europeans

Ireland’s ‘accidental emigrants’

('Gary Finnegan',) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:34:33 -0000

While thousands of young people are fleeing Ireland as the depression deepens, others who planned to return are stranded overseas. One writer tells of how the doors 'closed behind him' after moving to Brussels and Beijing

Pesetas, liras, franks and drachmas: euro is living on borrowed time

('Marta Nathansohn',) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:00:00 -0000

Multiple defaults, a return to the lira, pesetas and francs, the break-up of the monetary union and Europe comes crashing down. Sounds like an endless chain of unreal events? Perhaps not: the end of the common currency is no longer a taboo for European press and economists

Europe's new 'Germanophobia': Who's afraid of big bad Germany?

('JamesBliss',) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:27:42 -0000

Tones of anger against German chancellor Angela Merkel's lack of action over the eurocrisis and a 'Germanophied' Europe, are getting louder and more intense

Economic growth: the Warsaw I know

('Sebastian Baciu',) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:34:56 -0000

The Polish capital’s transformation can no longer be overlooked as Poland's economy continues to grow. One German student boards the time machine

Belgian, Polish, Spanish and German media on last EU summit of 2011

('euro topics',) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:40:36 -0000

At the EU summit that kicks off on 8 December in Brussels a number of countries are unwilling to go along with proposals by Germany and France to amend the EU treaties as a means of controlling the debt crisis. The German government refuses to make concessions. Disunited Europe must succeed even though it seems doomed to run aground, the press write

Tearjerker tips for Europe in crisis

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:01:07 -0000

Read ‘em and weep: ‘tearjerker’ is a noun which translates practically perfectly into other European languages. It is used mostly to describe a film, book, play or song which moves us to tears. The entertainment industry gets an excessively sentimental Europe down, but these pearls could also abate our crisis-ridden depression

Italian economist Eugenio Benetazzo: 'act now or wait for social unrest'

('Amy Hargreaves',) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:00:00 -0000

In 2006 the Italian economist and independent trader forecasted the collapse of the global economy with his prophetic book Duri e Puri (‘Hard Core’). The financial guru gives us his bleak forecast for Europe

Oh joy Rajoy – conservatives take power in Spain after 8 years

('euro topics',) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 13:30:00 -0000

On 21 November early elections in Spain saw the people’s party take power from the socialists in an absolute majority to be led by Mariano Rajoy. It is Europe’s fifth government to fall because of the eurozone crisis. The French, Spanish, Italian, Austrian and local press say: ‘reforms, reforms, reforms’

Spain, country in a (property) bubble

('ckb',) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:38:45 -0000

Dearest European neighbours: I am sorry to inform you that the crisis in Spain does not have anything to do with the crisis in your countries. Our case is not simply rooted in 'structural problems', as it were, but literally in cement

Catarina Botelho on crisis, arts and just everyday life in Portugal

('Emmanuel Haddad',) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:05:05 -0000

The visual artist and photographer from Lisbon focuses on the relationship between close friends, family and objects, as well as doing the odd stint working abroad. We talk about the arts in Portugal, culture during a crisis and staying forever amateur

Papademos and Monti, Super Mario Bros vs markets

('euro topics',) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:45:06 -0000

Lucas and Mario, the new independent prime ministers for Greece and Italy, have been delivered in advance for christmas in what has been a historic November for crisis-riddled Europe. The Swiss, Dutch, French, Spanish and local press blow a wind of caution concerning having technocrats in power

Meeting Mario Monti, interim Italian prime minister

('Tobias Sauer',) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:45:42 -0000

On 13 November the independent candidate, known as the president of Italian university Bocconi, officially succeeded Silvio Berlusconi in the middle of a deep debt crisis. Ave Mario, cries French newspaper Le Monde. Super Mario, scream spoof websites. We meet at a press conference in Berlin

Eurozone summit: perspectives on economic crisis

('Brussels Blogger',) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:05:03 -0000

We have heard these words so often that they have lost all meaning: global crisis, market failure, bank recapitalisation. Tonight once again, European governments will be searching for a way to minimise the crisis. Yet even if grounded in good faith, these decisions could simply stimulate current problems and protests

'Pie chart' becomes 'camembert' chart in French class

('ZoeBBee',) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:12:49 -0000

The current economic climate is enough to give you indigestion, but I rue our European economics experts having the idea of using charts resembling food. It gives students like myself grumbling tummies everytime we attend economics class

Frappé, cult official beverage of Greek economic crisis

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:00:00 -0000

Having an obligatory iced coffee in the Greek capital is a heady mix of the crisis, anarchic events and corruption at all levels with the wisest and healthiest farniente (pleasant idleness). Only those much-condemned across Europe could own such a flavoursome melange

Riots: Britain's boring thugs and Europe's burning thread

('Metsa Rahimi',) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:23:02 -0000

Don't synonymise the London rioters with the protesting Greeks or Syrians; it is just plain offensive. Yes, Londoners mobilised for four days, but it can't compare to the months of social, political and economic agitation across Europe and the Arab world

Poland elections: another one bites the Tusk

('euro topics',) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:20:16 -0000

Donald Tusk’s pro-European civic platform (PO) party won 39% of the vote in parliamentary elections on 9 October. It's the first time a ruling party has been returned to power since the fall of communism in Poland. The Spanish, Hungarian, Czech and local press react

German, Dutch and Finnish reactions on Greece insolvency

('euro topics',) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:30:13 -0000

After the discussion about allowing Greece to go bankrupt was reignited in Germany, share prices and the the euro exchange rate dropped on 12 September. While some commentators see the discussion as sheer populism that could have catastrophic repercussions, others say insolvency and a euro exit for Greece are well worth considering

French perspectives on London riots: 'so 2005'

('hkeet',) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:20:55 -0000

Rioters were brought before the courts, police failings were discussed. What were the causes of the unprecedented violence that the UK witnessed in August? The authorities, driven by traditional populism and reactionary politics, refused to analyse them in-depth in the moment. Perspective from across the channel

Ai Weiwei, or Europe's role in Chinese justice system

('Andrew Burgess',) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:04:24 -0000

Two months after his release, an article penned by the Chinese dissident has once again raised questions about the democratic future of China. Published in Newsweek, Ai Weiwei’s piece provokes us to rethink Sino-European diplomatic relations

The attican landfill war: a load of trash?

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:00:00 -0000

Busy saving Greek myths, Europe has closed her eyes to another crisis, an ecological disaster now fifteen years old. Athens has more rubbish than places to put it. The towns Keratea and Grammatiko have been chosen to host new landfill sites – a decision which has driven the people of Keratea, a town of 14,000 to the east of Athens, onto the streets in protest, where they will stay until they have chased away the state

'Debtocracy' director Aris Chatzistefanou: 'Greece should exit eurozone'

('Nicola Accardo',) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:00:00 -0000

His documentary was seen by one million people in the first month. Many Greeks have learned that debt is ‘illegal’ and they don't have to pay for it. After leaving the conservative broadcaster Skai, the Greek television presenter has become a mentor for the movement of Syntagma Square. It’s where he dreams of a ‘magic night’: when the prime minister flies away on a helicopter as the state declares its bankruptcy

Artists, freaks, revolutionaries: what remains of protests in Greece

('hkeet',) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:28:44 -0000

'We are not anti-system, the system is anti-us'. This is just one of many slogans that are prominently displayed on the banners around Syntagma Square in the heart of Athens. The word ochi, meaning ‘no’, can be seen everywhere here: no to the government, no to the financial and political system, no to the betrayal of democracy

Modern crisis: more Greeks turn to suicide

('Ursa',) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 10:00:00 -0000

Many Greeks are opposed to the austerity package which will introduce heavy spending cuts and reforms. As they see no way out of the economic difficulties, an increasing number of people are taking their own lives. The Athens health ministry recently reported a 40 percent rise in suicide rates

Try finding an Arab revolution in Albania

('ZoeBBee',) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:00:00 -0000

Late afternoon, outside the headquarters of Tirana’s central electoral commission. A rather burly group of Albanian socialist party militants await the announcement of the results of the local elections of 8 May. A sizeable police cordon ranged in front of them protects the building where, for the umpteenth time, ballot papers are being counted and recounted. Things seem to have reached an impasse

Go on, say it. It’s the Spanish spring

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:00:00 -0000

There’s renewed fighting in Yemen, 1, 000 people have died in Syria and Nato is campaigning against Libya. In a peaceful echo of the Arab people’s battle for democracy, Europe has caught the ‘real democracy’ bug, starting in the streets of Spain on 15 May

Iberian, Italian and German press on: No Zapatero for Spain 2012 election

('euro topics',) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:58:39 -0000

On 2 April José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, prime minister of Spain and the leader of the Spanish socialist workers' party, announced that he will not run for re-election next year. Zapatero leaves with dignity, but his policies were dashed on the rocks of the economic crisis, Europe's press writes

France's Karima Delli on MEP salary increases

('Andrew Burgess',) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 10:45:00 -0000

On 3 March MEPs voted to increase their monthly allowances by a further 1, 500 euros. It comes just one year after voting to a first increase by the same amount: an extra 27 million euros over two years, at a time when citizens all over Europe tighten their belts. We speak to the French MEP for the greens

Beyond Gaudi: exposing the gateway to Barcelona

('Helen Dray',) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:00:00 -0000

It was the birthplace of the most vibrantly colourful movement in architecture, it is home to the spires of the unfinished Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell. This is the public face of the Catalan capital, the one which is promoted by the city council and which acts as a magnet for tourists and residents. But which city are they talking about? We travel around the concrete tower blocks and the suburbs, meeting the people of the other Barcelona

Spain local elections in May 2011: indignant movement starts

('Melanie',) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 10:49:55 -0000

On 22 May the Spaniards go to the polls to choose the future politicians of their autonomous communities and town halls. It's a key moment before general elections in 2012, but the government's management of the crisis and the recent passing of the Sinde piracy law has roused rebels and protestors, who are locking down over the internet. Perspective

Spanish, Belgian media on Portuguese prime minister resignation

('euro topics',) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:15:00 -0000

José Sócrates handed in his resignation on 23 March after the austerity measures proposed by his minority government were rejected by parliament. The interest rates for Portuguese government bonds then rose to record highs while the euro dropped on currency markets. The eurozone can only avoid new perils when everyone understands that the times of plenty are over, writes the press

Dutch, British, Spanish and Swiss reactions on Irish elections

('euro topics',) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:20:30 -0000

The conservative party fine gael won Irish parliamentary elections on 25 February and will form a coalition with the labour party. The outgoing fianna fáil (FF) lost over two-thirds of its mandate. Future prime minister Enda Kenny wants to renegotiate the EU bailout package and see the country facing profound change; the 31st Dáil meets on 9 March

Caviar: the most expensive food in the world

('Helen Swain',) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 12:44:47 -0000

When Louis XV spat those viscous fish eggs which Peter the Great had offered him back into the face of the Russian Tsar, the French king did not know that he was turning down a delicacy which was soon to become the most expensive and coveted food in the world. Plus, recipe

Franco-German 'competitiveness pact' spanner in Europe's works

('Carol Howard',) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:43:29 -0000

The revival of the German-French axis after the numerous discords of recent years should be greeted with pleasure. Yet in the Merkel-Sarkozy era there is not much left of what was once the ‘driving force for European integration’. A Franco-German ‘competitiveness pact’ suggests a lost sense of solidarity and a deep distrust of EU institutions

Portuguese student on Portugal ignoring politics

('victor escandell',) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:00:00 -0000

The president of Portugal, the conservative Aníbal Cavaco, has been re-elected in the first round with 52.9% of the votes and the lowest turnout in the history of the Portuguese democracy. A Portuguese student breaks down the general pessimism and the lack of power in his country, next candidate, according to certain media, for a financial bail-out

Li Kequiang's in Europe, and Europe knows it

('eurotopics',) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:15:00 -0000

The Chinese vice-premier is in Europe. He has signed billion-dollar business agreements and promised to purchase the government bonds of ailing EU countries like Portugal. Does this cheque book politics conceal the dictatorship's true motives? The Iberian and Austro-German press have raised the alert

Get your summit hats on: Lisbon gets translantic

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 07:30:00 -0000

The Nato summit in Lisbon between 19 and 20 November marks ‘one of the most important summits in history', according to the BBC. cafebabel.com Brussels snagged an interview with US ambassador to the EU William E. Kennard

Ireland: cheddar scones for a cheese crisis

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 13:00:00 -0000

The more we see the PIIGS as under-developed countries, the more the EU ends up sending them humanitarian aid rather than sustainable investments. The proof is in the pudding in Ireland, where the EU has invested 750, 000 euros of cheese to fight the crisis from 15 November. A Frenchman reacts

Fashion crisis: buying second hand clothes in Brussels

('Peter Robbins',) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:22:38 -0000

In November, French designer Lanvin releases its new collection for Swedish budget brand H&M – but the haute couture forces beyond once claimed they’d never go mass-market. The people of Brussels' flea markets advise on how citizens are dipping into alternative clothes-buying forums

Jerome Kerviel: Europe’s poorest man

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:15:00 -0000

Will the 33-year-old really pay back 4.9 billion euros - that's 170, 000 years of his former salary. Is Societe Generale going to reduce the gigantic sum for this black sheep? Or will his future children be slaves to the banks and have to keep paying off their unhappy inheritance for generations to come?

Young graduates: 'generation lost' describe ideal and worst jobs

('Silvia Alexe',) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:29:44 -0000

People dream about their ideal job whilst working in the furthest removed ones. Four young Europeans from Paris and Athens via Brussels and Vienna speak

Join the family business in Crete

('Monica Mircescu',) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:44:00 -0000

According to a study conducted by Philomila Tsoukala, a lecturer at Georgetown University, 75% of Greek companies are family-owned, and even then, youths start earning a living between the ages of 30-35. What's going on?

Puerto Guesing in Munich: close it all down

('Marta Nathansohn',) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:00:00 -0000

The economic crisis brought about the shutting down of many firms, companies and chain stores. The former department store Hertie in Munich took example from the Tacheles squat in Berlin and transformed itself into a cultural centre: Puerto Giesin has revolutionised the bourgeoisie image of the Bavarian capital

Optimistic ideas for a low-cost August

('Franglesa',) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 10:36:34 -0000

If your work or your wallet are forcing you to stay at home…congratulations! Seriously, congratulations. Let's be positive - you have spared yourself from traffic jams, excess baggage, queues for beach bars and air traffic controllers

Greece crisis: profiling rich, scot-free yacht-owners

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:45:00 -0000

The economic flavour of the Greek crisis tastes different for those on top - the shipowners, the yachting association bosses - than the diet prescribed for the masses. In Athens though, the latter rage against the state rather than the privileged classes. Lucky richies

Athens in video: German cliches on the Greeks

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:15:00 -0000

A Berlin-based Italian video journalist heads to the Greek capital to film social reality under the stranglehold of the crisis. A series of opinions range from Germano-Greek tensions to the weakness of the Greek state, as well as ideas for future solutions. Watch the ten-minute video in two parts (in English with French subtitles)

Not going on holiday? You're on 'staycation'

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:00:00 -0000

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?

Crisis viewed by Albanians in Athens

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:22:59 -0000

Is crisis old news for members of the largest, best-integrated minority in the Greek capital? Some feel the Greeks are experiencing the same woes that they went through six years ago