cafebabel.com

Economy lesson from young Europeans: move to China and start saving now

('Agata Jaskot',) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:45:00 -0000

EU officials are brainstorming the programme of Denmark's six-month presidency of the EU, as young, ambitious Europeans give us their financial lessons from the 'crisis year' 2011

Catherine Hakim: women, use your erotic capital

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:02:09 -0000

Across the British media over the last few weeks, London-based sociologist Catherine Hakim argues that erotic capital is missing from the economic, cultural and social capital that we all command. The basic principle is simple: take care of your appearance! Beautiful people earn 13% more than their averagely attractive colleagues. However, this is just the beginning

Stalking Obama in Detroit: getting all 1930s French socialist on us?

('Helene Bienvenu',) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 19:04:27 -0000

French photojournalist Helene Bienvenu and filmmaker Nora Mandray recently moved to Detroit from Budapest and Los Angeles to write and direct a documentary. On the way, president Barack Obama visited Michigan’s largest city on the first Monday in September, which is a version of Europe’s 1st May bank holiday

Job hunting in Brussels: serenity of the hopeless

('gem',) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:40:49 -0000

Anna is a German university student who has just turned twenty and is looking for a job in the European capital. She ould like to remain anonymous – but her story is representative of an entire generation of young Europeans

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

Changing job? Everyone can do it

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:40:48 -0000

What do Carla Bruni, Angela Merkel, Sean Connery or J.K. Rowling have in common with Marta, Jesus, Joanne, Jose Ramon and Miriam...

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

No job? There’s always God, says Pope to youth

('Ems_8674',) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:15:00 -0000

It’s not a good time to be the pope. From 16-19 September the pontiff will be visiting Britain, on his first trip to the country since John Paul II’s six-day tour in 1982. And the British don’t want it

Emilie Turunen on unpaid interns: ‘we risk losing our generation’

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:34:42 -0000

In her soon-to-be-adopted youth unemployment rapport, the 26-year-old Dane has surely rewritten the tune of an infernal chorus. At 26, who better than the youngest member of the current European parliament to discuss a disenchanted population?

Staycation: welcoming 'typical tourist' guiris in Mediterranean Spain

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:59:43 -0000

A calm, peaceful town is suddenly heaving with people. The streets are full of walking parasols, hammocks and beach mats, the tourists are practically naked, there are cars everywhere and the summer hit (Shakira, anyone?) sounds day and night. Summer's here - so are the foreigners

Racism and discrimination for Brussels migrant workers

('Monica Mircescu',) — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 11:00:00 -0000

In the region of Brussels-Capital, discrimination in recruitment practices is a daily reality. At a time of economic stagnation, ethnic diversity is no longer a priority for businesses, which in turn makes integration in Belgium harder still

Melancholy in Berlin: views of three foreign writer residents

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:43:59 -0000

Very loosely, a 19-year-old Klaus Mann saw 1920s Berlin as 'seductive, gray, scabby, peeling, yet vibrant vitality, nervous, shimmering, phosphorescent, animated, full of tensions and promises.' Italian, Croatian and French writers Gianluca Falanga, Maksim Cristan and Maia Mazaurette give us their noughties take

Irish artists in Berlin, a city 'always and never in crisis'

('M\xc3\xa9abh Mc Mahon',) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:45:00 -0000

Whilst Irish artists like Paul Diamond and You're Only Massive become better known in Berlin, stages in Irish bars remain empty. With less people investing in upcoming Irish talent, the young generation will continue to migrate to artistic-friendly places like Berlin to follow their musical dream

To be or to be in Berlin: poor but (creatively) rich

('Camelia Ivanova',) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:22:59 -0000

Money and the crisis are not on the agenda for Berliners who can focus on different things, such as art. 'Being poor is not cool, but OK,' is the word on the street. It all looks very promising for someone from Bulgaria, the EU's officially poorest country, where a lack of money, unlike cheap glamour, can never be a virtue

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

Job Cohen: is this who The Netherlands needs as leader?

('Christian Derlagen',) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:00:00 -0000

The moderate and highly popular Amsterdam mayor has revived the labour party, leading in polls before the 9 June elections. Will he be the wonder doctor for Dutch citizens´ worried minds and restore the country´s image in the world? Portrait of a future statesman

University-educated flee and woo Lithuania: emigration and erasmus

('Krisztian Gal',) — Wed, 19 May 2010 10:07:53 -0000

An increasing number of students are asking professor Žilvinas Martinaitis at the University of Vilnius to let them take their exams at the end of May. This would allow them to go abroad - most popularly, to the UK, Ireland or Scandinavia - to work, and return with some extra money in October, a month after the official term start. Lithuanian and eramus students, professors and politicians explain the phenomenon

Nick Clegg for European British prime minister?

("naomi o'leary",) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:13:10 -0000

Since 1918 the prime minister of Britain has been either labour or conservative. Red or blue. The 6 May elections were set to be no different. The two-party system seemed safe. Murdoch's papers screamed blue. Until Mr. Nick Clegg, leader of the liberal democrats, entered. The final televised leaders' debate in the UK takes place on 29 April

Minimum European income to fight poverty?

('James Friscia',) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:35:47 -0000

Given persistent shortcomings of minimum wage policies, legislators and organisations instead debate the merits of ‘minimum income’ to combat poverty in Europe. But it remains to be seen whether the EU parliament will force continent-wide reforms

Europe’s graduates: lecture halls to poverty lines

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 11:00:00 -0000

At best, many graduates find themselves facing a marathon of internships, and at worst a life under the poverty line. Unemployment in times of crisis brings social consequences too. The EU is reacting to prove that a degree is for life, and not just for christmas

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

Anything but lethargic: multi-faceted life of a German in Lisbon

('Annie Rutherford',) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:00:00 -0000

Paris: living cheaply in an expensive city

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:00:00 -0000

The crisis is an opportunity of redeeming a more democratic economy, capable not only of satisfying the individual, but especially the community. Young people in Paris are finding solutions based on reciprocity and co-operation

Polish migrants post-crisis in Ireland: is there no place like home?

('Angela Steen',) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:47:11 -0000

EU enlargement in 2004 meant that the Poles made the most indelible imprint on Irish society - and surprise, they're happy in their new home, despite the fact that both countries have experienced polar fortunes in the recent recession

Brussels: young, gifted and going nowhere fast

('Nicola Potter',) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:00:00 -0000

They’re over-qualified, multilingual and come from every corner of the European Union. They moved to the Belgian capital to find an internship or job. A short report from the heart of this bustling microcosm

The Italian malaise: 'a country for old folks, run by old folks'

('k8transl8',) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:21:59 -0000

The 27 stories in Italian journalist Sergio Nava's 'Brain Drain' (2009) share one common thread: every single interviewee decided to leave Italy. In the book-cum-blog, the 34-year-old tries to find the origins of an injustice now afflicting young Italians, and speaks of the angst of a generation who have felt forced to export their talent abroad - and successfully at that. Interview

What crisis? Scouring for entrepreneurs in Bulgaria

('Hanna Sankowska',) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:19:13 -0000

Bulgaria’s GDP growth slowed, but nowhere close to the levels noted west of Sofia. The new coalition government has inherited nearly empty treasury coffers from the previous 'corrupt' administration. In the European Year of Innovation 2009, funding for start-ups was cut. Yet stories of determination prevail. Part three in a five part 'EU crisis on the ground' city series

Slash your bonus wrists: what bankers want for christmas

('Lindsey Evans',) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Quite a remarkable christmas list found its way into my hands recently in France. 'Basically, Father Christmas, I just don’t know what more I can do to get decent payment for my hard work and the hard work of my brothers and sisters. That’s why I’m counting on you to change things.' At first glance, who would you assume these people were? Unemployed young people hit by the recession? Generation precarity? Underpaid interns?

Flexicurity is Scandinavian example for European model

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:11:50 -0000

After its official entry into European institutions, the once obscure term is today more clearly defined. The challenge will be the adaptation of this tried and tested Scandinavian model to other member states

Blue Card, Green Card: Czech Republic shows its true colours

('Andrew Christie',) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Since 1 February 2009, the EU’s first Green Card came into existence in the Czech Republic. This has pre-empted the European Union’s plans for a Blue Card

No skilled labour in Austria? In Hungary, Csorna hangs in there

('Media Consulta',) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:53:32 -0000

A Vienna-based company was looking for skilled workers. Since it failed to find any in Austria, it moved to a small town in Hungary. Here, locals are hoping to find new prosperity

Young Europeans would like to be Scandinavian

('Astrid vW',) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:15:00 -0000

How is the step into the job market experienced in Europe? Sociologist Cécile van de Velde has studied and compared this link between university and employment in Spain, France, the UK and Denmark. Interview

Six-minute romances: speed dating in Paris

('Kinia Adamczyk',) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:03:23 -0000

In the capital of fashion and romance, there’s a chic way to relax after a hard day’s work and to party for every wallet. And there’s no better time for an (early) night on the town than Thursday, when Parisians head straight to one of the many trendy bars which offer so-called ‘afterwork’ evenings

From the UK to Bulgaria: bad safety in the European workplace

('Helen Swain',) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:07:03 -0000

The EU sorely lacks directives for security and danger prevention at work. The principle norms are the 1989 Security Directive, which imposes rules to prevent the risk of accidents in the workplace, and the Seveso Directive (and its updates), which implements monitoring and strict rules for the most dangerous industrial sites. Overview

In crunch time, spare a thought for your poor boss

('Aatish Pattni',) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:20:31 -0000

There's a neglected group in Europe that is looking for sympathy; the crisis-ridden bosses. Privileged? Overpaid and spoilt? “The hell we are”, they say. The current financial crisis has caught them unawares too.

18, 648 ‘legal’, industrial deaths in Europe

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:00:00 -0000

'Produce, consume, die’: the soundtrack for European industrial casualties is provided by eighties Italian punk group CCPP. For the third consecutive year, accidents and serious injuries are up by one quarter and a fifth respectively. Overview spanning Poland and Italy via the UK and India

Spain's damaged and wasteful economy, where people work little

('Helen Swain',) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:30:00 -0000

The time has come for a self-indulgent Spain to face up to a critical self-evaluation and structural reforms

Jacques Barrot on immigration: ‘member states are compelled to solidarity’

('Matthew Pagett',) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:21:27 -0000

Stopping in Paris for a citizen hearing on 2 October, the vice president of the European commission, and head of the ‘Justice, Freedom and Security’ directorate general, on the controversial path of the EU's immigration policies. Interview

Ireland: doors wide open for foreign labour

('Mojca Finc',) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:34:01 -0000

More than 19, 000 people in Ireland lost their jobs in June 2008. If the downfall continues, more than a quarter of a million could be on the dole by Christmas. Lookback to how foreigners experienced employment growth in 2006

Ireland stamps its Eurosceptic foot

('Stella Willborn',) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:01:24 -0000

A low turnout, but a seismic result that raises more questions than it answers about Europe’s future direction. This and much, much more in our weekly round up from Brussels.

Suicide and stress in the workplace

('John Smith',) — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:45:00 -0000

Enslaved into the rhythm of work, are employees mere instruments of their jobs? Stress clogs up the cogs of any enterprise. What are the causes of this troubling phenomenon?

Overworked, underpaid in a French call centre

('Martyn Hawkins',) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Too many young Europeans are forced to work in bad conditions to finance their studies in France. Why a young Italian quit

Exploiting unpaid interns: rites of passage?

('c\xc3\xa9dric AUDINOT',) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Associations like Generation Precarity or Fairwork expose an exploited flexible labour force with intermittent incomes and no job security

Hungry Senegalese fishermen

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Amidst a global food crisis and scarcer fish, the fishermen 'victims' of EU commercial agreements set off in their pirogues for the shores of Europe

Au pair Alices in washing up land

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0000

It’s an enticing experience which draws many young people abroad – but the catch lies hidden behind closed doors

EU frames Kosovo's independence

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0000

Unemployment, professional opportunities and the Lisbon treaty: the latest news from Brussels, where all eyes are on the world's newest state

Yannick Haenel: 'Berlin symbolically incarnates all the horror of the preceding century'

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 02:10:00 -0000

In his award-winning novel 'Circle', the professor from Rennes and 'Ulysses of the 21st century', 40, takes the reader on a European road-trip from Paris to Berlin

Economic crisis looms over election preparations in Spain

('Daniel G. Ross',) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0000

Spain is suffering from the after-effects of a decade of impressive economic growth. The threat of economic downturn will play an important role in the upcoming elections on 9 March

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

Internet mad e-stonia

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:18:00 -0000

A toy airport, a medieval city centre with little wood houses and a maritime city which is completely internet savvy