cafebabel.com

CIA in Greenland: story about a polar whodunit

('Ja\xc5\xa1a Pipan',) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:45:59 -0000

What’s aboard the CIA aeroplanes that have been illegally flying over Greenland since 2001? That is what the Greenland government wants the Danish authorities to tell them. They, however, seem oddly reluctant to answer

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

Director Tomasz Baginski: ‘We Polish often lack the ability to distance ourselves from issues’

('Angela Kubik',) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 12:31:42 -0000

His mini-film depicted Poland’s six-month presidency of the EU as a passionate dance and cost around 130, 000 euros to make. Poland’s most famous animation producer is a 2002 Oscar nominee in the short animated film category; so why so much criticism?

To mark six-month presidency of EU, Poland releases 3D ‘dance with stars’ video

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:42:46 -0000

1 July marks the beginning of Poland’s rotating six-month presidency of the council of the European union. Foreign affairs minister Radoslaw Sikorsi commissioned an advert directed by 2003 Oscar nominee and 2006 BAFTA winner Tomasz Baginski – but do Poles like it?

Laszlo Tengelyi: the problem of being a philosopher in Hungary

('Emilie Prattico',) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:22:08 -0000

On 8 January Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban launched an investigation into the use of grant money awarded to five philosophers. Questions to a Hungarian-born philosopher who spearheaded an international petition, 'Protect the Philosophers!' from Germany, where he is based

Hungary's new media law no surprise for Europe

('Koen Colpaert - Brussels',) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 19:14:43 -0000

The 'media act' was passed on 21 December in Hungary and was implemented on 1 January 2011. It's not such a derogation in Europe, because the context of this law is nothing more than just another sign of an alarming trend in Europe

From 1 January Hungary media under control

('euro topics',) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 11:52:31 -0000

On 20 December Hungary's right-wing conservative government passed a restrictive media law; a new authority will control public television and radio broadcasters, as well as private media. The German, Italian and local press say this attack on press freedom augurs poorly for Hungary's six-month presidency of the council of the European Union. Press review

Pro-European Polish president: order no. Komorowski

('eurotopics',) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:40:31 -0000

The Polish people didn't vote emotionally on 4 July. Bronisław Komorowski won Poland's presidential elections with 52.6% of the vote across 95% of constituencies. His challenger Jarosław Kaczyński, twin brother of the late president Lech, trailed at 47.4%. The German, Italian and Polish press hail the politically mature result

Spain's EU presidency: Numantian resistance?

('James Friscia',) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:33:21 -0000

The Numantians burnt their own city down when they lost a thirteen-month Roman siege. There are references to Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's similar resistence with the current Spanish presidency of the European Union, which ends on 1 July. The term has limped along with more grief than glory, despite propaganda efforts in Brussels. Opinion

Herman Van Rompuy: One Hundred Days

('Andrew Burgess',) — Mon, 31 May 2010 15:45:00 -0000

It’s been 100 days that Herman Van Rompuy has embodied the European Union, which is currently stuck between a slow economic recovery and the stormy negotiations over the financial aid for struggling Greece. Before an audience of members of the Belgian European movement, the country’s former prime minister recalls his daily duties in a role that is very much ‘work in progress’

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

Pierre Schellekens: ‘EU is partnership of member states, not rule of the strongest'

('Guy Dammann',) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:23:04 -0000

At 2 metres 09, the 37-year-old cuts an imposing figure. Politically active whilst a student in Gothenburg in the early nineties, he was appointed head of the Swedish EU delegation in February. At home in his apartment in the leafy, quiet area around Stockolm's Odengatan, he talks Sweden’s presidency of the EU, which runs from July to December

Jerzy Buzek: first eastern European to lead in EU

('euro topics',) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:17:54 -0000

The 736-strong new EU parliament has elected former Polish prime minister Jerzy Buzek as its new president by a large majority at its constituent assembly. Snippets from the media reaction in Luxembourg, Poland, Spain, France and Finland

Iran's colourful presidentials: Facebook, fights and first wives

('Metsa Rahimi',) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:00:37 -0000

A week earlier, the EU campaigned to mobilise voters for the European parliamentary elections. Opposition candidates know that a similar effort may be their only chance of beating the incumbent in the Iranian presidentials. Iran's campaign officially rounds up as former PM, military chief and mullah go up against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on 12 June. Overview

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

Lithuania gets first female president

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:05:07 -0000

It's been a member state of the EU since 2004 and has just elected Dalia Grybauskaite, 53, to run the country - latest newsbite from Vilnius

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

David Cerny: 'president Klaus is a d**k'

('Hanna Sankowska',) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0000

We met the politically engaged sculptor, 40, in 2007. Labelled by many as 'the scandal maker', he is back in 2009 to pinpoint the Czech presidency of the EU with his installation of national stereotypes at the European parliament, alleged to be a hoax

Photos: Cuba as Castro retires at 81

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Post-election images from the provincial tourist town of Viñales in the west, to the semi-tropical cacao plantations of Baracoa in the east. The Cuban leader will not run again as president at the National Assembly on 24 February

Apple gets fair on UK music downloads

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Portuguese no to reform treaty referendum, the pan-EU music marketplace and Sarkozy’s press conference

Portugal: small country, big expectations

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0000

From 1 July, Portugal assume the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union, taking over a job well done from Germany

A tale of two presidencies: no firm promises

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 12:00:00 -0000

The constitution, energy security, detangling bureaucracy: Germany dampened expectations as they took over the EU presidency on January 1

EU Presidency: the Finns bow out

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 12:00:00 -0000

It’s not only the final European council of 2006 that is taking place between 14 - 15 December. It also marks the swan song of the Finnish presidency, which will be heard by EU leaders in Brussels