EUweek
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
euweek, vote, netherlands, eurotopics, geert wilders, press review, politics
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
Europe apprehensive about Athens
Ahead of the 11 February summit meeting on Greece in Brussels, several EU members are apparently willing to provide aid to the crisis-riden state. The German, Bulgarian, Belgian and Czech press fear a devaluation of the euro and say any measures to help the country should be attached to strict requirements
euweek, currency, greece, euro, eurozone, press review, piigs
EU press react: Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's new president
Five years after he was deposed by the Orange Revolution, the opposition leader won Ukraine's presidential elections on 7 February, narrowly edging out prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko in a runoff vote. The Swiss, Czech, Polish and Portuguese press bemoan the rise to power of a politician who is widely regarded as pro-Russian, but believes that Ukraine has now finally proven that it is truly democratic
euweek, ukraine, orange revolution, russian federation, viktor yanukovych, viktor yushchenko, politics
Agenda 2020: 'France and Germany love each other'
At a meeting of the Franco-German minister council in Paris, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel passed the 'Agenda 2020', which comprises 80 joint projects aimed at bringing the two nations closer together once more. A desirable goal, French, German and Czech commentators say, while also noting that the agenda could offer more
euweek, angela merkel, paris, nicolas sarkozy, press review, politics
EU-US: 'If this was Formula One, Europe would still be working on its motor'
US president Barack Obama will not be attending the EU-USA summit planned for May. The official explanation given is that he wishes to devote himself to domestic problems. The German, Belgian and Czech press, however, suspects that he doesn't want to waste time in Europe, which still hasn't found a collective voice
euweek, future of europe, transatlantic relations, european media, global europe, barack obama, united states
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
euweek, taliban, london, eurotopics, afghanistan, european press, islamic terrorism
'Generation 112': the civic erasmus programme
The 'euro-militants' of this French initiative feel the need to expand the erasmus student exchange programme, by adding a spirit of civic service
euweek, erasmus, civil society, european voluntary service , expresso, volunteer, eurogeneration
Ukraine elections: EU press reacts as Tymoshenko trails Yanukovich
Early exit polls suggest that pro-Russian opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych has a clear lead in Ukraine's presidential elections, followed closely by head of government Yulia Tymoshenko. But according to the Latvian, Swedish and German press, no matter who wins the runoff vote on 7 February 7, Ukraine will be more oriented towards Russia in the future, albeit as a sovereign democratic state
euweek, ukraine, viktor yanukovych, viktor yushchenko, politics, elections
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
euweek, road safety, eurotopics, european terrorism, barack obama, islamic terrorism, security
Would only a mentally ill man attack the Italian prime minister...
Silvio Berlusconi, 73, has spent his second night at the San Raffaele hospital with face wounds after being attacked on 13 December by Massimo Tartaglia, a mentally ill man, during a rally in Milan. The attack has launched a broad discussion about Italy's poisoned political climate. The German, Spanish, Polish and Italian press react
euweek, italy, identity, european press, violence, silvio berlusconi, security
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
euweek, media, europe, christmas, religion, european media, press review
In a country of 400, 000 muslims, the Swiss vote to ban minarets
On 29 November, the people of Switzerland voted to ban the construction of new minarets. The referendum initiated by the Swiss people's party and the conservative federal democratic union has dealt a severe blow to religious peace in the country, write the Estonian, Swiss, Portuguese and Austrian press
euweek, switzerland, secularity, neutrality, vote, religion, european media
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
No binding agreement for Copenhagen climate conference in December
At an Asia Pacific economic cooperation (Apec) meeting in Singapore, Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen announced that the agreement has met with opposition from numerous countries. As efforts now focus on a two-phase climate pact, here are some opinions from the Portuguese, Italian, Danish and Swedish press
euweek, lars løkke rasmussen, environmental protection, copenhagen, eurotopics, environment, press review
Dissecting Europe's crucifix conflict
On 3 November the European court of human rights ruled that crucifixes in classrooms violate the religious freedom of schoolchildren. Representatives from politics and the church roundly condemn the judgement, while many media welcome the decision. The Iberian, Maltese and Italian press react
euweek, freedom of opinion, italy, european court of justice, eurotopics, religion, school
EU press talks of virginity and Benjamin Button as Lisbon treaty is ratified
After months of blocking progress, Czech president Václav Klaus became the last head of state to sign on 3 November. The constitutional court in Brno had previously rejected claims brought against the legislative document by conservative senators. As the EU reform treaty can now come into effect, the Danish, Polish, Italian, Czech and Irish press react
euweek, vaclav klaus, cinema, eurotopics, european constitution, prague, czech republic
Jean-Claude Juncker or Tony Blair for EU president?
The Luxembourg prime minister has declared his willingness to run for the post of EU president. But the EU may decide not to elect either of these two formidable politicians and opt for a lacklustre candidate instead. The Luxembourg, British, Italian and French press react
euweek, eu president, european institutions, eurotopics, jean claude juncker, luxembourg, united kingdom
EU formulates 2050 climate objectives
The US and Australia still have a long way to go. China and India could refuse the objectives altogether. The German, Dutch and Luxembourg press fear that the move could come at a heavy cost for Europe and be of little use to the world
euweek, copenhagen, environment, barack obama, press review, denmark, climate change
'Identity convention': Europe’s far right throng in the south of France
Between 17-18 October, young militants are attending a second meetup at the Palais des Princes in Orange. French anti-racist NGO Sos Racism react to their message of ‘political sensitivity spreading through Europe’, which is both welcome and unwelcome in the south of France
euweek, lega nord, nationalism, politics, extremism, society, racism
