Romania
German, Swiss, Polish and local media on Romania prime minister resignation
Emil Boc resigned on 6 February due to massive protests against his centre-right government's austerity programme. Hours later president Traian Băsescu named the independent former head of the foreign intelligence service, Mihai Răzvan Ungureanu, as his successor. Romania needs an independent technocrat, but he will have his work cut out for him dealing with the intrigues of the opposition, commentators write
romania, technocrate, greece, poland, reform, euweek, traian basescu
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
romania, european voluntary service , youth, volunteers, economy, spain, society
'Our School' documentary: segregated Roma schools despite EU funds
When directors and producers Mona Nicoară and Miruna Coca-Cozma followed three Roma children in a small Romanian village for four years, their film initially about a success story of integration became one about the realities of ethnic segregation. Interview
romania, minority, documentary, gypsy, children, emir kusturica, integration
Romania's stray dogs, souvenirs of a communist past
On 26 July, the European court of human rights criticised Romania’s inability to deal with the stray dogs roaming its streets. Legislation introduced by parliament to allow the euthanasia of the stray dogs has however provoked controversy. How have the strays, known as ‘maïdanezi’, become mired in political debate?
romania, bucarest, protest, euthanasia, animals, human rights, society
Hunting that coffee taste between Romania, Slovakia and German-Austrian border
In Romania, coffee has a special value to citizens since it was in short supply during the communist era. Therefore finding products like German coffee brand 'Jacobs Krönung’ or Nescafé in the shops is still a treat for many. Too bad that they don’t like the taste of the coffee
Poland, Lithuania, Romania: inside Europe's Guantanamo Bays
A white horse struggles to drag itself along after abandoning the exhausted body of Vincent Gallo through the snow. The animal is soiled with human blood. Such is the breathtaking epilogue of Essential Killing, the latest feature length film from Jerzy Skolimowski, where the American actor portrays a Taliban deported to a secret CIA base hidden in a forest in Mazovie, Poland. In the screenplay by the Polish writer, the prisoner still has the possibility to escape. Terrorist suspects who land in total secrecy in the airport of Szymany in Poland do not have such luck. An investigation ensues.
romania, cia flights, abuses, poland, lech kaczynski, lithuania, guantánamo
Psychology of Europe's youth: generation ‘no subject’
Today's young generations in Europe seem traumatised by emptiness – the lack of perspectives and opportunities, goals, aspirations. No better comparison than the metaphor of an email without a title, says one young volunteer youth organisation counsellor and psychology graduate
romania, psychology, youth, eurogeneration, generation precarity, society, eighties generation
Where did all the Romanian doctors and French med students go?
Mobility within the European Union also applies to the medical sphere, resulting in a freedom which leads to problems as well as advantages. Celia Laherre on the failings of medicine without borders
Communism perspectives: 'discontinuous history of art in eastern Europe'
3 October marked twenty years after the fall of the communist regime. One exhibition in Paris this summer asked the central question: is there any value in the question of 'east-west’ opposition today?
romania, paris, communism, poland, exposition, albania, culture
'Magic Lives Here': Bulgarians disagree with pan-European tourism advert
One sleepy morning the oriental sounds coming from an advert on a European news channel jolted us awake. The 30-second spot promotes Bulgaria abroad. Or does it, with its beach volleyball and flying skiers amidst sunrises and sunsets? Four natives react
romania, advertising, tourism, bulgaria, youth, sofia, european union
Vienna, Berlin, Budapest and Paris: blogging city rivers
Europe's city rivers are both the place to be in terms of a good old rave - take the A38 ship on the Danube to Bar 25 on the Spree - and also for a spot of nudity or artificial beach time in the summer. Blog snippets from four cafebabel.com local team bloggers, who pay tribute to their watery city icons
romania, identity, paris, berlin, cities, budapest, best of cafebabel.com
'Branding Romania' scandal: next step, brand Roma?
Romania's brand, funded by EU money, was finally launched at the Romanian pavilion at the Shanghai world expo on 29 July – though the 'Explore the Carpathian garden' campaign hasn't (yet) gone down a treat
romania, bucharest, tourism, marketing, culture, human rights, society
Romania and Bulgaria not fighting corruption, EU complains
Fighting corruption? Romania and Bulgaria should do more to fight it, bemoans the EU. A progress report on 20 July singled out the Romanian judiciary and legal system. Romanian bloggers and Bulgarian dailies reply, whilst the Austrian and German press have their bit to say too
romania, corruption, past enlargements, bulgaria, european union, progress, euweek
Bucharest falls from on low
Romania's drastic means to secure IMF and EU loans has incensed its people: 'why do we pay the government's debts?' The May 2010 protests – the 'largest in 20 years' – revived the revolutionary memory, but the threat of salaries chopped by 25% barely provoked civil unrest on a Grecian or French scale. Whilst relaxed anti-corruption laws protect politicians and their copii de bani gati - the 'young rich kids' who are the stars of society - a thriving blog scene works out its own ideas on its own terms. And whilst 'green' and 'touristy' don't define Bucharest, ideas and passion do exist in the 'petit Paris' of the east. cafebabel.com journalists attempt to redefine the culture of the street. Penultimate in a monthly cities series, 'EUcrisis on the ground'
Felix Vogel, youngest curator of a European biennale
The German was picked three years ago when he was just 20 - in Venice, the youngest curator was 46! With a team averaging an age of 24, the Bucharest Biennale between 21 May and 25 July 2010 gives youth the chance to show what they can do
romania, eucrisis on the ground, contemporary art, bucharest, felix vogel, germany, brunch
Hungarian minorities in Slovakia: small arrangements between enemies
One week after a law proposing Hungarian nationality to ethnic Hungarians abroad, prime minister Viktor Orbán announced a new era of 'national unity' during his prime ministerial inauguration on 29 May. Hungary is choosing the route of hostile nationalism, much to the delight of Slovak populists
romania, fidesz, identity, robert fico, racism, nationalism, hungary
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