cafebabel.com

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

Brussels: Spanish expat on depression taboo

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:47:07 -0000

Brussels is home to over 25, 000 employees of the European institutions, some of whom are reputed to suffer from stress and drink addictions. One employee confirms the myth

The hills are alive with the sound of Viviane Reding

('Annie Rutherford',) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:00:00 -0000

The EU commissioner for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship ‘comes from the heart of Europe,’ insists former EC president Jacques Delors, as he introduces her to French students at Paris’ political institute Sciences Po. Meanwhile, Reding goes all out to be less bureaucratic than she is

Double discrimination: roma women in central and eastern Europe

('ZoeBBee',) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:30:00 -0000

Romania has recently announced plans to evict roma from the northern town of Baia Mare, in a move which could leave hundreds homeless. The move emphasises the continued urgency of the theme ‘roma women in central and eastern Europe’, discussed during the European women's lobby’s conference in Budapest on 7 April this year. The lobby aims to bring the double discrimination that roma women endure to the attention of European decision-makers. Interview with Brigitte Triems, the lobby's president

Madagascar, Haiti, Congo: what European development days show

('Laura',) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 12:10:00 -0000

Where do the millions of euros that are sent from European homes to the four corners of the earth through development programs actually go? The ‘It’s our money; it’s their future’ project sees several young Europeans, accompanied by a Belgian film crew, travelling to five countries to observe the work of NGOs in order to find out

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

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

EU expats: foreign fashion of cross-border mobile phone calls

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Pinch, punch, first of the month - though you'll now be feeling the pinch less. From 1 July, Europeans across the old continent will be saving four cents when they make or receive calls in the 27 member states. Travellers and businessmen aside, we expats have long since shunned using our mobiles

Spain vs EU: gender violence clash

('Elaine Jordan',) — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:52:50 -0000

The proposals are for a monitoring system and a single helpline number under the Spanish presidency of the EU. But discussions on a European protection order remain up in the air because of responsibilities across institutions

Perspective: what has the EU done for LGBT rights?

('AMR',) — Mon, 17 May 2010 12:45:00 -0000

The international day against homophobia and transphobia is celebrated on 17 May in over fifty countries around the world, and as the Baltic Pride parade in Lithuania on 8 May showed, people are taking action in even the most homophobic places

Catherine Ashton, Ashford or Ashley?

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Never mind that she went to earthquake-stricken Haiti six weeks late, or that she missed a ministerial conference, or that she's not David Miliband, or that she can't speak French. Let's begin with the fact that some struggle to remember even the name of the first ever EU foreign policy chief. Maybe it's the title 'baroness' which throws everyone

In the red

Wed, 05 May 2010 13:22:00 -0000

In the economic crisis, why do Italians say they are 'in the green' when Brits are 'in the red?' Tour of European expressions for all those broke joes out there

'Conciliabules': French women fight for European poverty via theatre

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:00:00 -0000

Marginalisation, precarity - in any case, women are 'poorer' than men. But the ladies from this French troupe use art, not negativity, in their official response to Europe's designated 'year of poverty and social exclusion'

Europe makes 2010 its year for fighting poverty and social exclusion

('Alison Frank',) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 06:15:00 -0000

When the 'Lisbon strategy' was launched in March 2000, EU member state leaders said that they wanted to take decisive steps towards eliminating poverty. Ten years later, during the worst economic crisis since 1929, the EU has named 2010 its year for fighting poverty and social exclusion. It’s about time, too

Julien Frisch: quick chat about blogging in Europe

('James Friscia',) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:00:00 -0000

Believe in the European concept? Fantasise about a more transparent bureaucracy in Brussels? The answer is to blog. Well, this German does. The Berlin-based editor of bloggingportal.eu, a European blog portal, predicts what online European news will bring us in the coming years

Italian, French and Bulgarian press vs genetically modified potato

('euro topics',) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:45:00 -0000

On 3 March the European commission gave the green light for the 'Amflora', used for the production of industrial starch. This was the first time since 1998 that it has approved a GMO for cultivation. Some commentators say Brussels has bowed to the pressure of agriculture companies; others claim this paves the way for a better future

Daniel Cohn-Bendit lets rip on new EU 'commission of hypocrites'

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:00:00 -0000

'Just before St Valentines Day we tell Mr Barroso 'Je t’aime moi non plus'' - the French-German co-president of the pan-European greens was more than slightly sceptical about the approved commission on 9 February. See the video (in French)

Babelblogs on music: Charlie Winston wins 'European border breaker award'

('Dave Keating',) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:07:00 -0000

... but what are these awards? A press release alerted me to the existence of an award show put on by the European commission for European music acts that 'cross borders'. Interesting idea, but the way it is structured is kind of silly

Internet: 'the great anarchist event' no longer ours to 'control'

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:10:44 -0000

When Irish telecommunications company Eircom blocked customer access to the Pirate Bay in September, you could almost hear a faint, sardonic chuckle erupt from internet users all over the world. As Britain and France impose their own legislation to cut off internet access for filesharing offenders, the EU parliament and commission hold talks to formalise their positions on 4 November

Portuguese Barroso: this is your man for Europe, again!

('euro topics',) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:17:12 -0000

On 16 September, the European parliament voted José Manuel Barroso in for a second term as European commission president, with 382 votes for, 219 against and 117 abstentions. Barroso promised to advocate social policies, but the Portuguese, Belgian, French and Polish press was sceptical

Barroso is his own enemy

('Helen Swain',) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:17:06 -0000

Barroso is hoping for a second five-year mandate as president of the European council, but the members of the European parliament want the Portuguese conservative to present a schedule before they give him their support

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen wants Jose Manuel Durao Barroso out

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:28:12 -0000

On 5 June the French daily Le Monde will publish a tribune written by the leader of the party of European socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. It marks the first time that the Dane dares the incumbent EU commission president to not get a second mandate. Weekly newsbite

Green Monica Frassoni: 'Barroso out, woman in'

('Lydia Bigos',) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:56:43 -0000

The leader of the European green party is tired of the current head of the European commission: the time has come for a woman to take charge

Why would you not do Erasmus?

('Hayley Wood',) — Tue, 05 May 2009 16:00:00 -0000

In France, around 4000 Erasmus bursaries found no takers in 2008. But why say no to an experience abroad? Efficiency, money, elitism…here an assortment of experiences shed some light on the situation surrounding the student exchange programme in Europe

Jose Manuel Durão Barroso: ‘We don’t need another EU commission candidate'

('eugenie stephenson',) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:32:12 -0000

The conservative and incumbent will be running to renew his mandate for another five years as the head of the executive branch of the EU. ‘We are building a supranational democracy’ with a double legitimisation system ‘in which consensus is the most important,’ he says in Warsaw

Daniel Cohn-Bendit: 'converting back to ecological ways is the only way to save jobs'

('Andrew Burgess',) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:15:00 -0000

The electoral campaign of the green party has been launched. Inspired by their Green New Deal, they want to transform industrial, housing and agricultural worlds in the short and the long term. For the French-German MEP, this will not be pleasurable

Barroso, commission president again? Smells fishy in Europe

('rhiannon_nicolson',) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:01:59 -0000

Secrecy and suspicion shroud the elections for the next president of the European commission and the distribution of power between the European parties. It seems as though Hans Gert Pöttering wants to accelerate the process to enforce the Portuguese conservative’s re-election

Battle of the liberals at the European Union

('Darren Thompson',) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:45:00 -0000

It seems that national aid to the automotive industry isn’t satisfying everyone. Liberal factions at the EU are getting involved in a verbal war, whilst eastern countries are condemning protectionism. Latest tibit of fishy news from Brussels

Zita Gurmai: 'Women in Europe work around 54 more days than men'

('Erin Woycik',) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:15:00 -0000

The socialist, 43, demands feminism from European leaders. While she renews her candidacy for the European parliament, she dreams of seeing Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, the socialist president, as president of the European commission, after Jose Manuel Durao Barroso's term is up

Will he or won't he: Poul Nyrup Rasmussen to head European commission?

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:45:00 -0000

The former Danish prime minister has committed the socialists to winning the June 2009 European elections. His strategy is based on the idea of a new social Europe. His objective: to ensure the welfare state retains its place in globalisatio. Interview

Ten EU member states sanctioned to save the environment

('Paulina Dominik',) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:30:00 -0000

The plenary session of the European parliament on 4 February regarding climate change will not get off on the right foot. A couple of days before it, the EU was obliged to sanction ten of its 27 members for not having fulfilled the community legislation concerning the quality of the air. Latest titbit of news from Brussels

Mobile European citizens are rejected by community law

('Marie Pepper',) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:15:00 -0000

Is Europe too inaccessible and not legally adapted to individual needs?

Morale at half mast as the EU enters recession

('Michelle Williams',) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:00:00 -0000

Consumers or businesses? They both have the same problems. The terrible unemployment figures do not help morale. Latest titbit news from Brussels

Martin Schulz on 'vague' Barroso: 'one day he is left-wing, the next liberal'

('Kate Stansfield',) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 12:30:00 -0000

The German leader of the socialist group in the European parliament outlines their strategy in the run-up to the European elections in June 2009. How does he plan to win the elections? Interview

Ireland, Barroso and 'one commissioner per country': EU democracy pays the price

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:00:00 -0000

Ireland's stubborness is paying off as they succeed in their European goals. On 11 December the conservative president of the European commission ceded to Irish demands of 'one commissioner per country'. The Lisbon treaty originally plans to slim the executive body down. Latest news from Brussels

Lisbon treaty says: European institutions

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Plans are afoot to stabilise the European council, thereby ensuring the continuity of its work and providing greater visibility of European power. But who will take charge?

£950 million to Erasmus Mundus

('Hilary Arrowsmith',) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:45:00 -0000

At the end of October the European Commission launched the study-in-europe.org website. The Study in Europe portal ‘promotes the attractiveness of European higher education to students from other parts of the world’ to non- EU citizens.

EU bans Chinese milk and serves toxic coffee

('Ole Skambraks',) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:54:06 -0000

After banning milk and dairy-products in September, the EU decided to extend restrictions on food imports from the Middle Kingdom on 3 December. High levels of the toxic chemical melamine were also found in Chinese eggs and soya products

What the fridge is the European commission?

('Araceli Turmo',) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:15:52 -0000

At the heart of the EU, the recurrent scapegoat of national leaders suffers from the general ignorance surrounding it

What the fridge is a monopoly?

('Hayley Worsley-Carter',) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:44:40 -0000

Each year, the European commission review over a thousand business mergers - and not all of them play by the rules

José Manuel Barroso on the financial crisis: 'national borders mean little'

('Jos\xc3\xa9 Manuel Dur\xc3\xa3o Barroso',) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:29:15 -0000

Pulling together; the official word from the president of the European commission, which hit Europe's national dailys on 2 October

Lisbon strategy: how does Europe fit into today’s world?

('Gemma Turner',) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:39:00 -0000

Europe’s privileged geopolitical situation is under threat. In the context of globalisation, climate and demographic change and the high cost of energy and food, Europe has to rethink its strategies

Videogames: banning 'Manhunt 2'

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The Lisbon treaty continues its parliamentary pilgrimage across EU member states, organ donations, protecting minors from video games and food aid – it’s the latest news from Brussels

Åland - å land neither Finnish nor Swedish

('Angela Steen',) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The 26, 000 islanders of this archipelago neighbouring Finland have the power to shape the future of Europe

I’ll phone you from the Irish clouds

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The latest Greek commissioner tells you to mind your business, the EU in Kosovo and don't worry about internet downloads – it’s the latest news from Brussels

Videos: Barroso and Mamère are ecologically challenged

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:41:00 -0000

Two of Europe’s politicians talk ‘global solutions, global problems’ but sometime forget to put their words into action

No love for lobbyists?

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0000

In the upcoming weeks, conservative MEP Alexander Stubb is due to propose a new legislation to control the some 15, 000 lobbyists in Brussels

Emilio Caruso: 'I am a European worker'

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The historical memory of the European commission is pleasantly transformed in the hands of an Italian, 64, who has seen so much and met so many, including Aldo Moro and Jacques Delors

1000 and more: Europe's young designers

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 -0000

Magazines in auction rooms, high consumption in the art market - trend review