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‘Hidden treasures of Europe’: comparing Balkans, Turkey to EU in one minute
‘So similar, So different, So European.’ A dreamy promotional video released in February 2012 compares the EU, Turkey and Balkan in a touristic and utopian bubble. Is Belgrade really like Paris? Six young Balkan voices react
candidate countries, greece, stereotype , sweden, integration, france, enlargement
Croatia EU vote: Swiss, Italian, Slovenian, Czech media react
A clear majority of Croatians voted in favour of EU accession in a referendum on 22 January. However, if they want to join the EU it's above all for economic reasons, European commentators write and prophesy that the EU's eastern enlargement is over for the time being
candidate countries, referendum, press review, vote, brussels, euweek, european union
Ivana Simic Bodrozic and co: more women on Croatia literary scene
The Zagreb-based poet and writer's coming-of-age drama Hotel Zagorje is the theme of a literary event in Paris. Though her debut novel stays true to a tradition in contemporary Croatian fiction, the 29-year-old gets her audience in a flurry with the book's themes of war, women, the past and an inevitable future together
candidate countries, zagreb, culture calendar, death, culture, books, children
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
candidate countries, referendum, eurotopics, european union, turkey
Esma Redzepova: 'Roma are cosmopolitan'
A mother of 47, a career spanning 20 albums and 40 years and songs in Serbian, Macedonian and Romany. At the Sin Fronteras festival in France, the Macedonian 'gypsy music queen' brings a bit of Roma culture to a country which is planning to export large numbers of its gypsy population 'back' to Romania and Bulgaria by the end of the month
candidate countries, paris, greece, roma, multiculturalism, family, roma
Agop J. Hacikyan: 'I don’t feel I am translating my culture into English'
The playful Armenian-Canadian author talks his latest novel - hailed as a 'love letter to Istanbul' - straddling continents and his opinions on Turkey in the EU
candidate countries, literature, languages, armenia, canada, culture, books
Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Schaarbeek: spot the crime in Brussels
Petty crime and unemployment rates (17.6%) are high in inner city Brussels, which registers a low violent crime rate in Europe. Nevertheless, police arrested 12 Belgian Albanians linked to a crime gang on 15 February*, whilst certain districts remain dangerous. Is this down to the crisis?
candidate countries, economical crisis, sex, financial crisis, violence, red light district, journalism
Turk-Eiffel Tower: reminder of the Turkish cultural season in France
Turkey is not only kebabs and hammams. 'La saison de la Turquie', which ends in March 2010, aims to show the French how 'dynamic and modern' the country is. Is this large-scale cultural event with a political background a chance for ice to melt in the Turkey-sceptic EU member state?
candidate countries, tour eiffel, saison culturelle européenne, nicolas sarkozy, culture calendar, jacques chirac, culture
Music duo Kim Ki O: ‘the danger of being Turkish’ for Europe
The Swedish pop elite love them, but EU bureaucracy is preventing Ekin Sanac and Berna Göl from breaking Europe. In Istanbul, music is an unstable bridge between east and west. Part two of a special feature
candidate countries, education, bands, joy division, kim ki o, visa restrictions, sweden
Why Turkish band Kim Ki O can't break Europe
The Swedish pop elite love them, but EU bureaucracy is preventing Ekin Sanac and Berna Göl from breaking Europe. In Istanbul, music is an unstable bridge between east and west. Part one of a special feature
candidate countries, education, education system, europop, member states, kim ki o, konzert
Iceland in the EU: 'Only on our terms'
In a pub in Reykjavik, three young Icelanders discuss the possible membership of their island to the European Union. With less than 10% growth, they are not showing “euro enthusiasm”, but pragmatism
candidate countries, iceland, altiero spinelli, fishing, malta, european union
Run-up to Swedish EU presidency: Turkey-EU blame game
Sweden, one of the most pro-Turkey member states, takes over the EU presidency in July 2009. But this may not be enough to kick-start negotiations for Turkey to enter the EU, which began in October 2005. Is there a common interest? Analysis
candidate countries, european identity, cyprus, copenhagen, bernard kouchner, european capitals of culture, european young journalist award
Kosovo declared independence one year ago. Is the region really destabilised?
As the authority of the world’s newest country moved to the EU, Belgrade asks the international community for a role in shaping Kosovo's future. But there are signs that the government would like to put the issue aside
candidate countries, pristina, belgrade, serbia, minority, anniversary, boris tadic
Meanwhile, Obama Hallowe’en masks outsell McCain
The moment of truth from the US elections, bickering Polish politicians and the return of the Euromed – weekly newsbites from Brussels
candidate countries, john mccain, barack obama, us elections, brussels, halloween, youth
Riots, reactions in Montenegro and Macedonia after recognising Kosovo
Whilst over 400, 000 Albanians celebrated openly in Macedonia, Montenegros’ 15, 000 were silent after the former Yugoslav states recognised their neighbour. Unilateral independence was declared eight months ago
candidate countries, protest, reaction, nikola gruevski, the hague, podgorica, albanian
Exclusive: Barroso on the Lisbon treaty, Croatia and Brussels
In response to questions from the cafebabel.com network from Berlin to Istanbul, the president of the European commission on the Irish ‘no’ vote, future EU candidates and why ‘Europe is not Brussels’
candidate countries, josé manuel barroso, european elections 2009, enlargement, best of cafebabel.com, eudebate2009, european union
Stanley Johnson: ‘Thatcher set a marvellous example for women politicians in Britain’
The Cornwall-born writer, politician and father of London's new conservative mayor Boris Johnson, 59, on why his great-grandfather Ali Kemal Bey would have supported Turkish accession to the EU
candidate countries, london, türkeifrage, ali kemal bey, stanley johnson, brunch, turkey
Macedonia in images: names, Tito and David Morales
After a Greek veto on its joining NATO during the annual summit in Bucharest on 2 - 4 April, the country could still be on track to start EU membership talks by the end of 2008 if it meets the relevant criteria. View from the lens
candidate countries, photogallery, romania, religion, identity, josip broz tito, david morales
Albania: 'Nato yes, PM Berisha no!'
Whilst Tirana celebrated an invitation to join the Nato alliance alongside Croatia on 2 April, the opposition mobilised itself to denounce the government
candidate countries, council of europe, future of europe, bucharest, sali berisha, tirana, non-eu countries
