Europe
Commited and female: end of a contradiction?
100 years ago today, international woman's day was marked in Denmark. 8 March 2010 won’t iron out the incoherence of the general European feminine condition. Here, like elsewhere, women live out their freedoms on a daily basis, be it via the media in Cologne or their unique political engagement in Poland or France. Even the subtleties of a simple language honorific teach us to change our ideas on who we most jadedly slam as the ‘weaker sex’
Crisis: no Brussels burn
The Belgian capital wriggles and writhes out of an era of financial crisis - Brussels is versatile and can adapt itself. You can spot this when you go second hand shopping or over to the aid of the homeless in the ´Les Petits Riens´ boutique, despite the obligatory belt tightening here and there. Where the economic dilemma doesn´t appear to have embroiled a younger, cosmopolitan elite, non-EU immigrants haven´t escaped as luckily. Special edition from five cafebabel reporters who travelled to Brussels for the 'EU crisis on the ground' editorial mission
Italian, French and Bulgarian press vs genetically modified potato
On 3 March the European commission gave the green light for the 'Amflora', used for the production of industrial starch. This was the first time since 1998 that it has approved a GMO for cultivation. Some commentators say Brussels has bowed to the pressure of agriculture companies; others claim this paves the way for a better future
europe, agriculture, eurotopics, ogm, european union, society, food security
In the middle of our street
You have to know how to choose them, have fun in them, and leave them. Having a neighbourhood is a bit like having a second skin. It typically has your local, your loyal neighbours and shops. But neighbourhoods have their own skins too. Take the Gazi quarter in Athens which shed its industrial skin to become the latest craze, as happened to Kreuzberg in Berlin, or the renewed district of Jozsefvaros in Budapest. We take a little stroll around some European streets
Chicken!
'Da lachen ja die Hühner,' cackle the Germans. 'Even chickens would laugh!' - it sounds so ridiculous that it's actually unbelievable! But don't undermine the global power of chickens, you cowards; these south-east Asia originating birds have oft harmed global markets and relations
From Calais to Rosarno: Europe's 'immigrant jungles'
Patras, Athens, Bari, Seville ... a tour of Europe's recent troubled hotspots ends in southern Italy, where 7.2% of the population are illegal immigrants - the EU average is 6.2%
Flare network, mapping Europe's mafia connections
Founded at the European parliament in June 2008, the anti-organised crime network want to rejig European laws and describe how EU money regenerates mafia-seized property. Interview with communications officer Roxana Smil
europe, italy, corruption, gang, organized crime, youth, network
Italy's mamma's boys
If you're Italian, have been sleeping in the same bed for over the last 20 years and aren't running the risk of moving out of your childhood bedroom, chances are you've been diagnosed 'bamboccione'
Devouring Sigrid Verbert, a Belgian food blogger in Italy
It's not just scrumptious cuisine and pretty photos in a book. Its pages won't just dunk you into Italy, Belgium or Germany, but inside Europe good and proper. Just as gastronomic traditions mix and merge, 'il Cavoletto di Bruxelles' constructs tastier realities
Europe vs the US: seven reflections
It’s been a year since Barack Obama was inaugurated president of the United States on 20 January. But despite his inspiring speeches, he is no Franklin Roosevelt, and even if he were, he needs 60 out of 100 votes in the US Senate to pass anything. Since the end of world war two, a power has emerged with the real potential to carry the world forward
europe, economical crisis, public health, united states, welfare state, economy, flexicurity
Marketa Tokova, 26: 'erasmus is too vague'
Set up in 1989, the international erasmus student network is the largest and oldest. Results from a 2009 study into whether the celebrated European academic exchange programme is correctly recognised and understood between and in universities appeared negative; we hear from the president of the network on its virtues and faults
europe, university, erasmus, studies, european union, society, students
You’re getting on my goat
They say that the French are the biggest moaners in Europe, and it’s no lie! They have several expressions for when they need to let off steam. Whilst the Poles go into a 'white fever', the Spaniards ‘turn black’ – it's the saying of the week
europe, tower of babel, germany, expressions, poland, spain, france
'Erasmus is about discovering Europe'
Like many an old advertising cliché, the erasmus student exchange programme offers a ‘dual action’ experience. After the culture shock, the parties, the multinational encounters and the adventures across Spain, come the trips to visit new found friends, in all corners of Europe. This new European consciousness keeps us coming back for more
europe, european identity, university, seville, society, friendship, spain
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
europe, media, christmas, euweek, religion, religion and democracy, european media
Brussels, internships, deaths: should all work be paid?
Work hard, work for free. Placements are all the rage and the signs suggest that they’re here to stay. But businesses fulfilling their obligations and clarification on worker contracts is not top of the agenda for the Spanish presidency of the European Union, which begins for six months from January
europe, university, public health, health, precarity, employment, european union
Eastern European desire for rearmament
Both central and eastern European governments vocally supported US plans to install military defence systems in the region, even if it meant they were to all intents and purposes digging their own graves. Out of authentic and hypothesised shadows of the past and uncertainties on the future, militarisation secrets and desires are emerging
Hello? Could you put me through to the EU president please?
On 19 November we finally find out who will represent Europe as president of the EU council, a new post which was created by the Lisbon treaty and which enters into force on 1 December. Lacklustre candidates, socialists and conservatives, the ping pong balls between national policies, men and women – these are some of the issues in question. Whoever it will be, the future face of Europe won’t have an easy time of gathering 27 national concerns under one hat; the EU council is also responsible for choosing the future head of diplomacy in Europe, in the post of high representative for foreign affairs
- EU press talks of virginity and Benjamin Button as Lisbon treaty is ratified
- An EU Foreign Minister: it’s not ‘Fantasy Politics’
- Historical dinner live: on the menu, one president
- Women on the verge of a political equality attack
- 'An anti-Tony Blair, please': European press reacts prior to EU president election
Picture that: it's only been 20 years since the Berlin wall fell
For its twentieth anniversary Europe will euphorically celebrate the fall of a wall that didn’t just split Berlin in two, but an entire continent. At 6:57 pm on 9 November, the GDR's Politbüro member Günter Schabowski announced that from now, east German citizens could travel freely. Hours later, Berliners were hugging each other from the east to the west. Another 20 years later, and the eurogeneration have made their motto out of this freedom of movement - eastern working girls invade Europe’s labour market, symbolic walls come to a fall in Paris, or exist in people’s heads. Does the spoiled post-89 generation know how lucky they are? Perspectives
- Jean-Christophe Bas: 'the erasmus generation doesn’t know how lucky it is'
- Czech internet forums, KSCM: disillusionment and nostalgia for communist past
- 9/11 - the fateful day of German history
- 20th anniversary: go and see the 'Berlin wall' be destroyed in Paris
- Twenty years on: why Berlin is not Germany
- What communism means to three central and eastern European women
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