cafebabel.com

London to Berlin via Amsterdam: hyper-local citizen journalism grows

('l.hogan',) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:05:30 -0000

‘Hyper-local blogging’ concerns new blogs or online magazines characterised by their dedication to a particular area or locality. They may be a hub for local restaurant reviews, digital archives for local history or grow into daily, regional online magazines. Editors, contributors and readers explain their popularity

Seville’s photovoltaic energy, as invented by Archimedes

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:00:00 -0000

In March 2011 wind energy production surpassed that of nuclear energy production, marking a first in the history of renewable energy in Spain. Yet the underlying paradox is that wind has supplied 16% of the electricity produced in 2010 in the sunniest country in Europe - but the sun is responsible for a mere 2.7%...

Sise delle Monache: no toplessness nor religion behind Abruzzo's domed cakes

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:30:00 -0000

Yes, you've just sunk your teeth into 'nun's tits' - albeit made of sponge and cream. The name behind this regional Italian speciality hovers between mountain peaks and nun's habits

EU press agree on Sarkozy's unpopularity

('euro topics',) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 13:50:21 -0000

French president Nicolas Sarkozy has shuffled his cabinet after the weak showing of the governing UMP in the French regional elections. The Spanish, Dutch and Belgian press cite Sarkozy's lack of orientation and his high-handed leadership style

Meet the Erasmus elite: bright stars in a global recession?

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:16:02 -0000

What do a loud-mouthed English ladette, a svelte Ukrainian vamp, a dashing Polish casanova and a bagpipe-playing Frenchman all have in common? Bar-stool jokes aside, they're all members of YRN - the association of European regions' youth network. About 150 people meet annually to discuss how to use Europe to hoist them out of the economic doldrums. cafebabel.com caught up with them in Paris this December

EU women: Polish, Danish, Irish and Portuguese residents of Paris’ La Garenne speak

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:00:00 -0000

Its residents often describe it as a village, but the Parisian suburb of La Garenne-Colombes is just two kilometres awar from La Defense, the financial hub in the northwest of the French capital. Five ‘Garennoise’ Europeans describe how they feel about being EU citizens

Luxembourg, the only genuinely multilingual country in Europe?

Tue, 05 May 2009 17:00:00 -0000

There’s a lot of talk about Luxembourg in Europe at the moment because of the country’s commitment to ‘bank confidentiality’. But while the financiers may be keeping their lips sealed, the Luxembourgers are speaking a whole host of languages

EU structural and cohesion funds: lots of dosh for equality

('Sarah Pybus',) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:36:30 -0000

Intended to reduce the economic and social differences between member states, the invested monies constitute the EU’s second largest item of expenditure. Plus videos

Batman, goats and internet in Cavas do Monte, Portugal

('Martyn Hawkins',) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The living conditions in the north Portuguese mountaintops of S. Pedro do Sul have hardly changed in hundreds of years. Bit by bit, however, the uniting, modernising world is moving in, and the children are moving out

Europe dominates election agenda in Strasbourg

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

The municipal elections in Alsace are neither local nor national. The debate is entirely European as both candidates outline their vision for a town propelled as capital of the old continent

Kosovo elections: waiting for a prime minister

('Flora Loshi',) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 12:00:00 -0000

'With our victory today begins the new century.' Pro-independence opposition leader Hashim Thaçi won 17 November elections, but you won't find details in Kosovar newspapers yet - the people await a final result on 3 December

Jean Quatremer: a nation has been born - Flanders

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0000

The crisis between the Flemish and francophone Belgians continues. After 172 days without a government and big provocations by the Flemish political class, has Belgium come to a point of no return?

Let’s all go for a drive

('Rebecca Caulfield',) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:00:00 -0000

60% of Europeans choose the summertime to escape from their daily routine and go on holiday. Of those, 55% take their car according to Eurostat

Fishing ban increases drug-trafficking

('Jo Ashworth',) — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 03:46:00 -0000

Despite the new EU’s new fishing agreement with Morocco, fishermen in Andalusia fear for their future

Marius Ivaskevicius: no straight answers

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 12:35:00 -0000

33 year-old Marius Ivaskevicius is a poet, playwright and director who explores the complexity and melancholy of the Slavic soul. His works are at once tender and humourous

Bosnia: elections in a divided country

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 05:17:00 -0000

A new parliament has been elected in Bosnia, but the conflict between Croats, Muslims and Serbs is far from over

With estranged eyes

Mon, 21 Aug 2006 02:00:00 -0000

Midzyzdroje, Polish-German border, summer 2006

The times are a chang(el)ing

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 02:00:00 -0000

For centuries, stories of changelings have circulated in Europe. What could explain the similarity of these tales of human babies being snatched, and being replaced by changelings – elven babies with unquenchable appetites?