press review
Croatia EU vote: Swiss, Italian, Slovenian, Czech media react
A clear majority of Croatians voted in favour of EU accession in a referendum on 22 January. However, if they want to join the EU it's above all for economic reasons, European commentators write and prophesy that the EU's eastern enlargement is over for the time being
press review, balkans, brussels, candidate countries, euweek, croatia, european union
Slovenian, British, Spanish and German media on UK’s EU veto
British prime minister David Cameron defended his EU veto in the British house of commons on 12 December, while French president Nicolas Sarkozy lamented that he was ‘splitting Europe in two’. Britain is simply more eurosceptic, replies the rest of Europe, who stress the advantages that the British can offer Europe
press review, david cameron, economy, euweek, eurozone, united kingdom, european union
Swiss, Spanish, German and Czech media on role-swapping Putin and Medvedev
The Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin announced his candidacy for the presidential elections in March. The current Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev would take his job in parliamentary elections on 4 December... get it? This swap would cement Russia's reputation as an authoritarian state and bring the country to a political standstill, cry the EU media
press review, dmitry medvedev, russian federation, euweek, elections, politics, vladimir putin
Referendum: 57% of Italians signal giant 'Vaffanculo' to nuclear power
An overwhelming majority of Italians voted in a referendum against reintroducing nuclear energy, and at the same time stopped two more government projects. Still smarting from scandals and corruption accusations, prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is the clear loser, write the German, Italian, Swiss and Spanish press, even though the opposition hardly stands to benefit
press review, italy, european democracy, nuclear energy, referendum, silvio berlusconi, society
UN resolution Libya: Spanish, Polish, Belgian and German media react
France and the UK can strike; the UN security council implements a no-fly zone over Libya as of 17 March. Europeans agree that intervention is the right decision although it took its time to make a decision. Others warn of the unpredictable consequences. Press review
press review, united nations, war, libya, arab spring, muammar al-gaddafi, revolution
Spain ‘aggressively secular’ according to Pope
On his two-day trip to Spain Benedict XVI drew parallels to the situation in the 1930s. Spanish, Belgian and Dutch commentators are divided on his comments - vilifying or justified? Press review
press review, religion, vatican, spain, society, pope benedict xvi
81 billion pounds later: Brits avoid bankruptcy
The British government announced a barrage of drastic austerity measures on 20 October: major cuts in social welfare and almost half a million jobs in the public sector axed. British, Finnish, Danish and Dutch commentators find these public sector cuts, the biggest since world war two, harsh, unfair and extremely dangerous for the economy
press review, money, churchill, great-britain, unemployment, second world war , citizens
Berlin launch: Anti-islam book by German bank exec Thilo Sarrazin
The former politician launched his book 'Deutschland schafft sich ab' ('Germany abolishes itself' on 30 August in Berlin. Criticism of Germany's immigration policy is legitimate, writes the Italian, German and Austrian press, but don't attack muslims. Translated European press review selection
press review, germany, thilo sarrazin, immigration, euweek, integration, integration
Berlusconi's Italy: elections soon?
Italian junior justice minister Giacomo Caliendo, a suspect in a criminal inquiry, narrowly avoided an opposition motion in the lower house of the Italian parliament calling for him to be sacked. Had it gone through, the government could have fallen. The political pressure is rising, though the Irish, Slovenian and Italian press say new elections are unlikely
press review, italy, eurotopics, european press, euweek, european media, silvio berlusconi
Spanish smacker: Netherlands beaten to world cup 2010
They were in the final three times, they lost three times - the Netherlands conceded the Fifa championship to La Roja, who won their first ever title on 11 July. The Spanish, Dutch, Czech and Swedish press urges politicians to learn from the harmonious play of the Spanish team: 'at least in football, Europe is on top'
press review, football, world cup, netherlands, sport, spain, southern africa
Europe feels Turkey is moving away from the west
When Turkey harshly criticised Israel for its military assault on a flotilla carrying international aid in the Mediterranean, the European press accused them of double standards. The Lithuanian, Italian and Spanish media fear that the country is turning away from Europe and the west
press review, gaza strip, eurotopics, europe, diplomacy, turkey, european union
Dutch, Slovenians, Swiss on Cameron-Clegg: new UK leaders
On 12 May, conservative and liberal democrat heads David and Nick officially stood outside No. 10 Downing Street to present themselves as the leaders of the coalition in Great Britain. Clegg has said we need to get used to a 'new kind of government', which will not be moving closer to Europe. The EU press reacts
press review, newspaper, liberal democrats, conservatives, nick clegg, david cameron, gordon brown
EU press criticise air travel regulations as ash cloud lingers
Since 15 April, Europe's airports have been forced to stay closed after a cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland has obscured EU airspace. The flight ban that many of us are experiencing shows just how dependent the economy is on air traffic - but Europe can co-operate much better too. The Italian, Swedish, Dutch and Austrian press react
press review, common foreign and security policy, eurotopics, european press, iceland, economy, european union
Swing right, sweet Hungarian election chariot: first round election results
The right-wing conservative alliance of young democrats or 'Fidesz' scooped Hungary's parliamentary elections on 11 April (52.7%). The socialists in power scored a measly 19.3%. Right-wing extremist Jobbik party entered parliament for the first time (16.7%). The Hungarian, Slovakian, Austrian and Italian media on whether the victory is the start of a new era or a rude awakening
press review, fidesz, eurotopics, european press, hungary, budapest, right wing extremism
UK election: EU press on the one month for 'posh boy' Cameron to battle Brown
On 6 April the British prime minister Gordon Brown announced parliamentary elections on 6 May, opening the race for the House of Commons. The Spanish, Italian, Irish and Austrian press expect the country's enormous budget deficit to dominate the discussion; the credibility of the established parties is also at stake, they say
press review, economical crisis, eurotopics, london, david cameron, gordon brown, england
Fathoming the power of right-wing populist Geert Wilders in Europe
If the freedom party leader is successful in the June parliamentary elections, Dutch politics will be destabilised and Europe will be forced to deal seriously with the man once nicknamed 'Mozart', write the Dutch, Swiss, Spanish and Slovakian press
press review, netherlands, amsterdam, eurotopics, geert wilders, euweek, right wing extremism
PIIGS unwelcome in the EU parlour: war of words rocks Eurozone
Despite Silvio Berlusconi’s dreams, the next member of the Eurozone is unlikely to be Israel; even Croatia or Turkey have taken a back seat. The current pan-EU squabble is over who should have been admitted to the eurozone in the first place
press review, economic growth, economical crisis, tower of babel, germany, unemployment, languages
Europe apprehensive about Athens
Ahead of the 11 February summit meeting on Greece in Brussels, several EU members are apparently willing to provide aid to the crisis-riden state. The German, Bulgarian, Belgian and Czech press fear a devaluation of the euro and say any measures to help the country should be attached to strict requirements
press review, currency, greece, euro, euweek, eurozone, monetary union
Agenda 2020: 'France and Germany love each other'
At a meeting of the Franco-German minister council in Paris, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel passed the 'Agenda 2020', which comprises 80 joint projects aimed at bringing the two nations closer together once more. A desirable goal, French, German and Czech commentators say, while also noting that the agenda could offer more
press review, angela merkel, paris, euweek, nicolas sarkozy, politics
It's late 2009, and Europeans are getting into a tizzle about religion
The Swiss have banned new minarets, the European court of human rights has banned Italy from having crucifixes in every classroom. A Swedish school has rejected veils, a Dutch polytechnic shuns Christmas trees and a study claims religion stems from insecurity. The Dutch, Swedish, UK, Hungarian and Bulgarian press react
press review, religion, christmas, europe, religion and democracy, euweek, european media
