Economy
Odd ode to Eric Cantona
The Olympic Marseille football club is beginning to form a reputation as the starting block for 'wannabe presidents'. Following in the footsteps of George Weah and his candidacy for the presidency in Liberia, it’s now the turn of Eric Cantona to make his ambitions for high office known, writes one French blogger, 'ASL'
economy, football, money, economical crisis, housing, france, 'indignant citizens' movement
China, world economy dragon mummy to Europe
China has not become as helpful and friendly to the EU as some European presidents might have wished, but its investors, literary figures and linguistic opportunities are a source of dynamism. Here's a brief chart of its positive and negative growth effects, and how that impacts or influences Europeans
Ireland’s ‘accidental emigrants’
While thousands of young people are fleeing Ireland as the depression deepens, others who planned to return are stranded overseas. One writer tells of how the doors 'closed behind him' after moving to Brussels and Beijing
economy, financiële crisis, economical crisis, belgium, expatriates, china, ireland
Economy lesson from young Europeans: move to China and start saving now
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
Why would a Spanish 'European volunteer' go to Romania?
2011 was the year of the European volunteer, but it doesn't mean we can't still talk about the role. Has its visibility increased since the economic crisis, due to the lack of opportunities or out of pure altruism? One young Iberian speaks out
economy, youth, european voluntary service , volunteers, romania, spain, society
Pesetas, liras, franks and drachmas: euro is living on borrowed time
Multiple defaults, a return to the lira, pesetas and francs, the break-up of the monetary union and Europe comes crashing down. Sounds like an endless chain of unreal events? Perhaps not: the end of the common currency is no longer a taboo for European press and economists
economy, italy, economical crisis, germany, euro, best of cafebabel.com, euweek
Multiculturalism in Italy: emigration and exodus
Not only are Italy's privileged leaving their country as fast as immigrants are arriving in Italy, but when they do move abroad their perception of their own national identity naturally changes. A new open-minded multi-cultural sensibility contrasts with the mindset of their parent's generation, but will they stay attached to their homeland?
economy, italy, university, immigration, education system, multiculturalism, society
Economic growth: the Warsaw I know
The Polish capital’s transformation can no longer be overlooked as Poland's economy continues to grow. One German student boards the time machine
economy, economic growth, economical crisis, poland, architecture, warsaw, society
From elections to christmas, same old campaign in Spain
Spain’s recent congress and senate elections on 20 November bombarded our tired eyes and weary spirits. Now we are hit with another inevitable bomb shell: christmas. We face another equally exhausting and worrying campaign
economy, money, bank, angela merkel, democracy, europe, crise
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
economy, eurozone, david cameron, euweek, united kingdom, european union, monetary union
Is Poland Europe’s El Dorado?
In less than two decades the current holder of the EU council presidency has gone from being communist to the sixth biggest economic power in the EU. Poland was also the only country to not suffer from the recession. Experts say this is the country’s golden era; a Polish expat and student share their views
economy, economic growth, euro, europe, poland, best of cafebabel.com, crise
Belgian, Polish, Spanish and German media on last EU summit of 2011
At the EU summit that kicks off on 8 December in Brussels a number of countries are unwilling to go along with proposals by Germany and France to amend the EU treaties as a means of controlling the debt crisis. The German government refuses to make concessions. Disunited Europe must succeed even though it seems doomed to run aground, the press write
economy, money, economic growth, economical crisis, european summit, angela merkel, euro
Italian economist Eugenio Benetazzo: 'act now or wait for social unrest'
In 2006 the Italian economist and independent trader forecasted the collapse of the global economy with his prophetic book Duri e Puri (‘Hard Core’). The financial guru gives us his bleak forecast for Europe
Do the Merkel, Monti and Sarkozy dance
On 24 November German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy agreed on plans to amend the EU treaties to impose budget discipline on the 17 eurozone countries. Italian prime minister Mario Monti also supports the initiative
economy, angela merkel, euro, europe, eurozone, euweek, european central bank
Papademos and Monti, Super Mario Bros vs markets
Lucas and Mario, the new independent prime ministers for Greece and Italy, have been delivered in advance for christmas in what has been a historic November for crisis-riddled Europe. The Swiss, Dutch, French, Spanish and local press blow a wind of caution concerning having technocrats in power
economy, italy, economical crisis, greece, euweek, financial crisis, mario monti
Dear granddad, for Christmas I'd like a Eurasian union
In October Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin proposed a 'Eurasian union' of former soviet nations that could be a major global player competing for influence with the US, the EU and Asia, creating instant headlines about the threat of Russian expansionism. Is Putin mastering geopolitics? Where are the limits of his modernisation strategy?
economy, empire, youth, belarus, tajikistan, uzbekistan, kazakhstan
Greek referendum, ghastly mistake? Britain, Portugal, Germany, France and Latvia react
Despite massive criticism and shares dropping worldwide, Greek prime minister Giorgos Papandreou is going ahead with the planned referendum. His cabinet voted for a referendum on austerity measures on 1 November. Some commentators dismiss the move as irresponsible; others praise the democractic act
economy, greece, euro, eurozone, european democracy, currency, euweek
Eurozone summit: perspectives on economic crisis
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
economy, economic growth, economical crisis, angela merkel, belgium, european institutions, european democracy
Football: a poor man's sport? Not for Qatar
The Qataris now own football club Paris Saint-Germain and have spared no expense in their attempt to turn the team into a crown jewel. But of whose crown: Sarkozy's kingdom or the Qatari emirate? What prompted these billionaire sheikhs to invest in Europe?
economy, money, world cup, economic growth, sport, paris, qatar
