cafebabel.com

Nikola Djukic: 'Bosnia may have to wait until 2022 for EU membership'

('Tetyana Kostyuk',) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:00:00 -0000

Croatia’s citizens overwhelmingly voted to join the European union on 21 January. Meanwhile, its neighbour Bosnia-Herzegovina has not yet gained candidate status. We talk to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s ambassador in Hungary about what Croatian membership would mean and why Bosnia is different

French, Spanish, Czech and British youth on euroscepticism

Thu, 06 May 2010 00:12:36 -0000

Unpaid interns, taxes, recycling, the parliament in Strasbourg...you name it, our contributors from across the cafebabel.com network have something to say about what irks them most about Europe. 9 May marks sixty years since the Schuman declaration was signed, when it was agreed that France, Germany and others would work together as a federation

Jean-Christophe Bas: 'the erasmus generation doesn’t know how lucky it is'

('Helen Swain',) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0000

Finally, on 9 November 1989, there was peace. Young Europeans born after this historic day did experience the war. But what does the construction of Europe mean to them? In his book L’Europe à la carte, Jean-Christophe Bas calls upon the spoiled children of the eurogeneration’s in order to create a less self-centred Europe.

Young, Roma and European: 'my children's lives will be better than mine'

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:06:53 -0000

While the problems of Europe’s biggest minority seem endless, the EU aims to offer some hope despite ‘much talk and little action.’ Testimonies from Roma Europeans, European Roma

Albania: polit-tourism between coves and concrete beach bunkers

('Andrew Christie',) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:00:00 -0000

At the confluence of the Adriatic and Ionean Seas lies Albania, Europe’s last undiscovered paradise is now looking to tourism to stimulate its economy and is hoping for a better image in the west after having joined Nato and put in an EU bid. 20 years after the fall of the dictatorship, Albania is developing into a hidden gem for independent travellers

Giovanni di Lorenzo: 'the values which inspired the creation of the EU are pathetic today'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:30:23 -0000

We speak to an Italian born in Sweden, raised in Rome, who moved to Hannover aged eleven, speaking little German. Today he is the director of German weekly Die Zeit, co-editor of Der Tagesspiegel, author of a bestseller and a TV presenter. We meet in Berlin to discuss the crisis of a marriage of 27 countries on the eve of the European elections between 4 – 7 June 2009: the passion is dead and not enough economic gains to hold it together

Anders Fogh Rasmussen: why the financial crisis has made Danes more pro-euro

('Matthew Pagett',) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0000

The Danish prime minister was the star of the annual European Liberals Congress in Stockholm between 30 - 31 October. They met to prepare their strategy in view of the June 2009 European elections. Exclusive interview

Run-up to Swedish EU presidency: Turkey-EU blame game

('Anna Patton',) — Thu, 28 May 2009 17:01:12 -0000

Sweden, one of the most pro-Turkey member states, takes over the EU presidency in July 2009. But this may not be enough to kick-start negotiations for Turkey to enter the EU, which began in October 2005. Is there a common interest? Analysis

What communism means to three central and eastern European women

('Kate Robinson',) — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:00:00 -0000

Twenty years since the fall of the Berlin wall, what does communism mean to Cecilia, 22, from Bulgaria, Katharina, 20, from Slovakia and Anna, 28, from the Czech Republic?

Iceland elections: next stop, Brussels?

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:26:23 -0000

On 26 January 2009, Iceland’s conservative-led government collapsed, the latest victim of the international financial crisis that has capsized the tiny island-state. Current percentages of the possible winning coalition are 31% for the socialists and 24% for the green-leftists

Elections, elections: buy a vote for 50 euros in Bulgaria

('Dave Keating',) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:22:20 -0000

That's how much a vote can be worth in some areas of Bulgaria. Shortly after the country’s entry into the EU, in the 2007 national election, the problem was so prevalent in local elections that Brussels became alarmed

Twenty years on: why Berlin is not Germany

('Agnes Emri',) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:44:38 -0000

The city buzzes with cultural events to commemorate the reunification of Berlin and the European continent. But how do the protagonists of the change view each other - whether they are born after 1990, are pre-1990 migrants or modern-day visitors?

Kids with weapons in Istanbul's Kurdish district

('Michelle Williams',) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0000

It is the refusal of the government in Ankara to make the inhabitants get on with each other which ends up in their refusal to integrate in Balat, the Kurdish-Armenian district of Istanbul

Something's stirring between Turkey and the EU

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:39:22 -0000

With the chimes of the new year, it looks like there is progress on the EU membership talks for Turkey. Has the time come to get things moving? Latest titbit news from Brussels

Turkey-EU: Cyprus, Sweden and elections in 2009

('Michelle Williams',) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:19:35 -0000

Between 19 - 20 January, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan is in Brussels. 2009 could (once again) become a decisive year for relations between Turkey and the EU. Since the opening of negotiations began in 2005 only ten chapters have been opened

Mustafà Nano: ‘Albanians are hungry for real news'

('Fiona Herdman Smith',) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:04:44 -0000

The 48 year-old Albanian journalist and Gazeta-Shqip columnist from Tirana is critical of his country’s political class and subservient media, and says that it won’t join the EU within the next fifteen years

Elie Barnavi: 'Europe has lost her sex appeal and her men are weak’

('Kate Martin',) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:15:00 -0000

The Romanian-born 62-year-old historian and Israeli citizen on feeling European, why Europe is frigid and why the British are among the biggest supporters of Turkish membership

Turkish cultural season in France viewed from Lyon

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:30:00 -0000

The cultural and political relationship between France and Turkey is ambivalent. Events such as France’s recognition of Armenian genocide and Sarkozy’s opposition to Ankara’s entry into the EU make 2009 a pivotal year

Snow Europe and the 27 dwarves

('Sarah Pybus',) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0000

From 5 to 27. From 1951 to 2007 - a step by step bedtime story of how the European Union has grown. No wicked witches involved

Sarajevo: ethnocracy wins the October elections

('Sarah Gray',) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:28:14 -0000

Results won’t be known until 4 November, after 54.48% of the population voted a month earlier. The country’s tripartite presidency will be shared by Nebojša Radmanović, Haris Silajdžić and Željko Komšić

Serbia farmers markets in the new Brussels system

('Media Consulta',) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:42:35 -0000

Rather than freezing to death in the markets, farmers from Serbia will sell the greater part of their produce in supermarkets, and homemade cheese, kajmak, ajvar, tursija, bacon, honey and slatko will be wrapped up in appealing packages labelled ‘when we join the EU’

Exclusive: Barroso on the Lisbon treaty, Croatia and Brussels

('Adriano Farano',) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:27:54 -0000

In response to questions from the cafebabel.com network from Berlin to Istanbul, the president of the European commission on the Irish ‘no’ vote, future EU candidates and why ‘Europe is not Brussels’

Serbia in the EU: at what cost?

('jonathan mellor',) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:00:00 -0000

On 30 July captured war criminal Radovan Karadzic was extradited to the Hague. It’s just one sign of Serbia’s desire to be in the European Union, in the hope of better times to come for its wounded pride

Irish ‘no’: not a no to EU candidate Croatia

('Sergej Zupanic',) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:00:00 -0000

The historical vote against the Lisbon treaty after a referendum on 13 June puts a halt to further expansion in the European Union. But we will be meeting the EU’s 28th member in 2010

Happy fourth birthday to central and eastern Europe

('c\xc3\xa9dric AUDINOT',) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

It has been four years since the European Union opened its door wide open and welcomed ten member states. It's not been a 100% success story for every member though

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

Serb elections: blackmail Europe

('Alison Matthews',) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Serb incumbent Boris Tadic needs every vote he can get in the second round of presidential elections on 3 February. PM Kostunica supports his pro-European coalition partner - but on his own terms only

Jeta Xharra: ‘Kosovo's status is not a solution to everything’

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Playwright, journalist and Kosovo's answer to Jeremy Paxman - the ‘pushy, irritating’ TV presenter as she describes herself, 29, exposes local politicians in a society she vouches is 'fed-up'

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

The satellite country

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Switzerland cultivates the myth of a paradisiacal country that neutrality will protect from all the worlds torments

Jorge Sampaio: ‘Europe has dropped a beat'

('Daniel G. Ross',) — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0000

Jorge Sampaio, former President of Portugal, on the European dream, a constitution revival and feeling Portugese

Branislav Djordjevic: 'We don’t know what Europe wants from us Serbs'

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0000

On January 21 2007, Serbia sees its first general elections since the new democratic constitution was approved in October last year. The big parties are favourites to win in a country that seems unsure of where it’s going

European Ombudsman: 'Without ensuring political alliances, one cannot be elected'

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0000

Nikiforos Diamandouros has been Ombudsman since 2003. As Pöttering becomes president of the European parliament on January 16, the Greek mediator explains how it all works behind the scenes

The Queen’s servants

('Francesca Reinhardt',) — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 12:00:00 -0000

Since EU enlargement, more and more young Poles are trying their luck in Great Britain. They work as labourers, wait tables, and hope for a better career

Montenegro goes on sale

Fri, 25 Aug 2006 12:00:00 -0000

For years the unspoiled beauty of Montenegro used to be the best kept secret in Europe. Now the sights of old Venetian squares, spectacular mountains, bays, sandy beaches are once more a favourite destination for globe-trotters around the world

Why Europe should dare to be dull

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:00:00 -0000

Over a year after the French and Dutch referenda said no to the constitution, commentators continue to talk about a ‘crisis.’ Yet the European project is alive and well. Andrew Moravcsik tells us why

“Crises help the EU move forward”

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 10:40:00 -0000

One of Poland’s best known personalities is the politician, writer and journalist Tadeusz Mazowiecki. In an interview with cafebabel.com, he considers the effect of Polish accession and how Europe can move forward.

Poland on the way up

('vicki bryan',) — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 02:00:00 -0000

In old Europe, people are fearing an influx of cheap Polish labour and the relocation of businesses to Poland. But are these fears justified? We take a look at the facts.

Could Kosovo join the EU?

Fri, 27 Jan 2006 12:00:00 -0000

While the Balkan province is mourning the death of president Ibrahim Rugova, the issue of its independence from Belgrade is still on the UN negotiating table