Europe
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
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
- Read the special edition Picture that: it's only been 20 years since the Berlin wall fell
- 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
- Jean-Christophe Bas: 'the erasmus generation doesn’t know how lucky it is'
- What communism means to three central and eastern European women
- Twenty years on: why Berlin is not Germany
David Lescot: 'Europe is nothing more than a piggy bank for artists'
The fearless French playwright, musician and director, 38, attacks the concept of Europe in his latest show 'L’Européenne', a wacky commentary on a continent that is still seeking to find itself
europe, paris, david lescot, multilingualism, brunch, culture, european union
Bun in the oven
According to Eurostat, 5.4 million babies were born in 2008. Lithuanians are the most industrious breeders, while Germans are at the bottom of the chart. Some of Europe's expressions for motherhood
europe, tower of babel, germany, languages, audio, spain, italy
Phil Stumpf: anaesthetist by day, DJ by night
Living in France for the last decade has allowed the German, 35, to be more 'exotic'. But the capital is too expensive to allow an underground culture to manifest itself, he says
europe, paris, berlin, club, underground, electronic, brunch
London, Paris, Ghent, Transylvania: cross Europe by bike
An Italian government eco-initiative offering big discounts on bicycles, a London cafe where you can repair your bike and bike film festivals across the continent - an overview of two-wheeled fun to spin your summer
europe, paris, environmental protection, hungary, london, budapest, bicycle
European theatre tips of the summer
Sam Mendes subtitled in Greek, Oscar Wilde in the open air in Regent's Park and the British Shakespeare company with Czech director Jiri Menzel in a castle in Prague - the best music, dance and theatre doses in July and August
europe, arts, greece, william shakespeare, culture calendar, slovakia, scotland
Herman Dune vs. Vandaveer: transatlantic anti- & alt-folk
An American plying his trade in Europe and a Franco-Swiss exporting his ‘anti-folk’ to the American continent – that place where a guy called Dylan’s first notes were heard. Interviews
Unrequited love: are you a 'pagafantas'?
Boy is in love with girl best friend who wouldn't look at him twice that way. In Spain, a 'pagafantas' ('Fanta-buyer') is that boy who is relegated to always footing the bill of girl's soft drink. The expression of the week bows in from Spain
europe, relationships, love, friendship, culture, best of cafebabel.com, tower of babel
Pierre Schellekens: ‘EU is partnership of member states, not rule of the strongest'
At 2 metres 09, the 37-year-old cuts an imposing figure. Politically active whilst a student in Gothenburg in the early nineties, he was appointed head of the Swedish EU delegation in February. At home in his apartment in the leafy, quiet area around Stockolm's Odengatan, he talks Sweden’s presidency of the EU, which runs from July to December
europe, future of europe, sweden, reach, eu presidency, european council, politicians
Calimotxo, Blonder Engel or Advocaat: European cocktails galore
What would the Coen brothers’ film 'The Big Lebowski' be without its revolting milk and vodka cocktails (White Russians)? Roundup of the zaniest European cocktails, plus a recipe for Poland's 'Mad Dog'
europe, recipe, alcohol, best of cafebabel.com, summer, party
Summer read: love in Europe
With quills in rucksacks, budding young authors scour the virgin soil of the old continent, penning their feelings as they go. A selection of the winning articles from the 2009 'Youthreporter' writing competition based in Germany, ‘In love with Europe’. From lovesick autistic children in Wales to interrail hedonism, get literary
G8: Obama 'wouldn't hurt a fly'
When the US president killed a fly in a live CNBC interview on 17 June, it got the whole world buzzing. Will his fellow leaders be all a-tremble when they meet in L'Aquila, Italy, on 8 July? Roundup of the weekly expression and its European counterparts
2 days in Warsaw: Solidarnosc, cult Polish documentaries and Berlusconi
For two days at the end of April 2009, the Polish capital becomes the 'centre of Europe' as the EU's largest centre-right party descend on the city. Quality time spent between British, Spanish and Polish colleagues raises an understanding of what the last twenty years mean, and the gap between east and west. Opinion
europe, cinema, protest, director, divorce, communism, poland
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