eurotopics
Poland elections: another one bites the Tusk
Donald Tusk’s pro-European civic platform (PO) party won 39% of the vote in parliamentary elections on 9 October. It's the first time a ruling party has been returned to power since the fall of communism in Poland. The Spanish, Hungarian, Czech and local press react
eurotopics, eu presidency, euweek, poland, european union, economical crisis, elections
DSK back but Lagarde still in charge: France, Germany and Switzerland on IMF chief
Dominique Strauss-Kahn may be back in Paris, but this 55-year-old Frenchwoman has had firm hold of the reins at the international monetary fund for three months. The appointment of Christine Lagarde as managing director was seen by some as confirming Europe’s continued might on the world stage, while others foresee problems with emerging industries
eurotopics, sex, dominique strauss-kahn, euweek, economy, foreign policy, rape
German, Dutch and Finnish reactions on Greece insolvency
After the discussion about allowing Greece to go bankrupt was reignited in Germany, share prices and the the euro exchange rate dropped on 12 September. While some commentators see the discussion as sheer populism that could have catastrophic repercussions, others say insolvency and a euro exit for Greece are well worth considering
eurotopics, economic growth, europe, germany, greece, euro, euweek
Czech, Belgian, French and Austrian press on Libyan rebels taking Tripoli
According to their own reports, the Libyan rebels now have practically all of the capital Tripoli under their control. Three of Muammar al-Gaddafi's sons have been taken prisoner by the rebels, while the leader himself has apparently fled. Commentators cast doubt on the rebels' democratic intentions and discuss Europe's tasks after power changes hands
eurotopics, saif al-islam gaddafi, euweek, human rights, libya, muammar al-gaddafi, revolution
2010: which EU member state is more corrupt?
In Europe, Denmark, Finland and Sweden tie as the world’s 'very clean‘ countries according to Transparency International's most recent Corruption Perceptions Index. Latvia and Bulgaria edge dangerously towards the bottom of the pile, while Ireland reprimands itself despite a 'fair' rating. Thoughts from Europe’s blogs and portals
Turkey votes yes: fit for the EU king?
58% want extensive constitutional reform. The British, Belgian, Spanish and Czech press say the referendum on 12 September consolidates democracy - but is there potential danger for secularism and the separation of powers? Press review
eurotopics, turkey, candidate countries, european union, referendum
German, Polish, Czech floods: who's to blame?
The Dutch, Czech and Polish media bemoan the lack of preventive measures and criticise the irresponsible behaviour of some politicians
eurotopics, water, europe, germany, euweek, poland, czech republic
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
eurotopics, italy, euweek, silvio berlusconi, european media, press review, politics
Pro-European Polish president: order no. Komorowski
The Polish people didn't vote emotionally on 4 July. Bronisław Komorowski won Poland's presidential elections with 52.6% of the vote across 95% of constituencies. His challenger Jarosław Kaczyński, twin brother of the late president Lech, trailed at 47.4%. The German, Italian and Polish press hail the politically mature result
eurotopics, eu presidency, bronisław komorowski, jaroslaw kaczynski, euweek, poland, warsaw
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
eurotopics, europe, gaza strip, diplomacy, turkey, european union, press review
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
eurotopics, iceland, economy, european union, travel, press review, common foreign and security policy
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
eurotopics, fidesz, hungary, budapest, right wing extremism, elections, press review
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
eurotopics, euweek, london, david cameron, gordon brown, england, united kingdom
EU press agree on Sarkozy's unpopularity
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has shuffled his cabinet after the weak showing of the governing UMP in the French regional elections. The Spanish, Dutch and Belgian press cite Sarkozy's lack of orientation and his high-handed leadership style
eurotopics, paris, euweek, nicolas sarkozy, elections, politics, european press
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
eurotopics, vote, netherlands, euweek, geert wilders, right wing extremism, press review
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
eurotopics, europe, ogm, agriculture, potato, genetically modified organisms, european union
Dutch government fails over Afghanistan
The grand coalition government in the Netherlands collapsed on the weekend after it was unable to reach a consensus on prolonging the operations in Afghanistan. The Spanish, Dutch and Belgian press write that although this won't prompt other states to withdraw their troops from the country, it may give the right-wing populists a boost in new Dutch elections
eurotopics, netherlands, euweek, afghanistan, war, geert wilders
France: burqa bandits, burqa ban
On 26 January, a French parliamentary committee recommended that the so-called 'burqa', or Muslim full-body veil, be banned. While this could check the spread of fundamentalism, it is also humiliating for those affected by it argue German, French and Swiss commentators
eurotopics, religion, presse, european media, panorama, journalism, society
London conference on Afghanistan: 'olive branches and dollars'
In the run-up to the Afghanistan conference which starts on 28 January in London, calls for negotiations with the radical islamist Taliban are mounting. A sign of the growing helpnessness of the international community deployed in the Hindu Kush, write the Austrian, Estonian, Italian and Portuguese press
eurotopics, taliban, euweek, london, afghanistan, islamic terrorism, terrorism
Full body scanners, Obama and Yemen: terrorism 2010
Fears of terrorism are on the rise around the world after the failed christmas day attack on a US airliner. Calls for greater security and tougher anti-terror measures are mounting. Other European papers warn of the threat of war in Yemen, and argue that weapons alone cannot bring a lasting solution.The word from the British, Slovenian, Spanish, Austrian and Danish media
eurotopics, road safety, euweek, european terrorism, barack obama, islamic terrorism, security
by
