opinion
Political husbands' and wives' circus in Europe
On 24 January the wife of disgraced former IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Anne Sinclair, made her debut as the editor of the first European version of the American news website Huffington Post. Our French, Spanish, Polish, German, Italian and British editors react on the choice
opinion, techno-media, citizen journalism, arianna huffington, dominique strauss-kahn, society
Britain-Europe: confessions of an angry Lib Dem
Type 'What Defines an English Person' into google right now and see the top result - this is how unpopular we are with the rest of the world, especially after the UK chose not to join a new EU treaty governing the finance system. Europe has divided a two-headed monster, 'Clammeron', in half: the government led by David Cameron and Nick Clegg since 2010 has been spliced together by iron threads of political contingency
opinion, london, david cameron, liberalism, identity, brussels, nick clegg
Europe day 2011: Robert Schuman's dream: is it yours?
After drifting aimlessly for some time, the European union has reached crisis point. It has lost its way and with it popular legitimacy. Anti-Europeanism is now the currency of choice in many EU state
opinion, 9 de mayo, schengen zone, piigs, citizens, european union, politics
Confused, Cameron? Don’t abandon multiculturalism just yet
There's nothing particularly new in the British prime minister's 5 February claims that multiculturalism has failed. But there is something worrisome about his speech, and not only because other English-speaking countries are looking to Britain as they debate the merits of their own multiculturalism policies. View from Canada
opinion, david cameron, multiculturalism, integration, canada, united kingdom, immigration
Ireland, bailout and latest cafebabel.com blog 'Euromyths'
Once again the presentation in the media of the financial rescue package of a eurozone country is plainly wrong. The so-called 'bailout' does not consist in a gift of capital to Ireland, and taxpayers are most likely not to pay anything as a consequence. Extract from cafebabel.com's blog in the dock
Belfast riots 2010: Orange Order, not girl guides
More bad news from the North? On the evening news in the Irish Republic, a report on the Belfast riots in catholic districts came third after a local car crash and economics reports. In the shadow of the 1998 peace process, the riots are the product of raging frustration in a shattered community
opinion, northern ireland, protest, ireland, cities, belfast, religion
Cafe Niesen in Prenzlauer Berg: no children please
Prams, buggies, babies, toddlers, kids... you name it, anything child related, Prenzlauer Berg will have it. This includes a cafe which has been open since 2005 but is getting media attention now - extract from the official blog of the cafebabel.com team in Berlin
opinion, germany, berlin, cafe, prenzlauer berg, blogs, family
President dead: what political future for Poland?
An election for a new president will need to be held in sixty days, but it’s hard to see how Polish society can pull itself together so quickly since their top illuminaries were largely killed in a plane crash on 10 April. Extract from cafebabel.com's Belgium-based American blogger 'Gulf Stream Blues'
opinion, poland, blogs, accident, russian federation, jaroslaw kaczynski, death
PIIGS unwelcome in the EU parlour: war of words rocks Eurozone
Despite Silvio Berlusconi’s dreams, the next member of the Eurozone is unlikely to be Israel; even Croatia or Turkey have taken a back seat. The current pan-EU squabble is over who should have been admitted to the eurozone in the first place
opinion, economic growth, tower of babel, germany, languages, portugal, eurozone
Unions, strikes and snow: Europe's 12 days of christmas discontent
Is spreading the misery really the best way to get what we want? Inspired by the British High Court banning British Airways’ cabin crew's decision to take twelve festive days of industrial action, we take a look at the latest glut of stars and strikes to hit Europe
opinion, protest, bologna process, christmas, germany, financial crisis, education system
Copenhagen climate: what the EU is being asked to commit billions for
Confused by talk of CO2 concentration and parts per million? In the run up to Copenhagen, what is all the fuss about climate change?
opinion, netherlands, environmental protection, copenhagen, environment, barack obama, greenhouse effect
Babelblogs on bureaucracy: a Lithuanian looks for medical help in Tel Aviv
Health insurance is not institutionally universal here in Israel. My advice? Don't go to live in Israel unless you're perfectly healthy and have no inclination towards extreme sports, and so on. And don't wear high-heels, just in case
opinion, languages, bureaucracy, medicine, doctors, documents, blog review
Historical dinner live: on the menu, one president
Tony Blair? (or David Miliband?) Herman van Rompuy? Peter Balkenende...? The culmination of a long, outdrawn and rather undemocratic process that is shaping the future of Europe is nigh; 19 November, to be precise, and the cafebabel.com Brussels team are invited - check their blog out this evening
opinion, jean claude juncker, eu president, high representative of foreign affairs, jan peter balkenende, david miliband, tony blair
European bloggers describe their Berlin walls
Monday is 9 November, the day when the Berlin wall was brought down. To reflect on this iconic modern historical event for the eurogeneration, citizen journalists from five cafebabel.com local teams - Sofia, Budapest, Turin, Strasbourg and Istanbul - simultaneously blogged one day about the walls they see in their cities
opinion, germany, communism, event, architecture, budapest, history
Calling Europe’s anarchist class 2008-2009: no need to smash bank windows
Today, anarchy has nothing to offer the public; a five-year-old sat in McDonalds could think of a better way to govern the people. Those that push it – the protesters on Europe's streets, as most popularly depicted in the media - are merely self-serving fools who ignore what democracy has done for us, and who are driven by some sort of warped fantasy of idyllic life
67% in Ireland say 'yes' to the Lisbon treaty
On 2 October, the Irish public allowed changes to the constitution to ratify the Lisbon treaty. The 'resounding' and 'convincing' vote dispels fears that the referendum would pass by a slim margin and demonstrate a lack of Irish faith in the democratic process, and in the EU
opinion, european constitution, referendum, ireland, vote, ukip, nigel farage
Five reasons why Italian should be Europe's lingua franca
There are various solutions to fortifying Europe and creating mutual understanding. As far as I am concerned, Dante’s language is perfect for the common good of all Europeans
opinion, european identity, languages, italy, identity, politics, society
Lisbon vote no: a second referendum? How democratic
It’s ironic that the Irish 'No' to Lisbon in June 2008 was taken as a blow to Europe and a step away from democracy, when the treaty would take away our right to vote at all. Focus on media bias and the illusion of choice
opinion, referendum, ireland, vote, media, european union, politics
Lisbon treaty: I'm voting yes for jobs and climate change
Democracy, cross-border crime and climate change are issues that resonate with young Irish people, a 'yes' campaigner says, which is why people should vote for the EU reform Lisbon treaty in a referendum on 2 October
opinion, referendum, climate change, ireland, vote, youth, constitution
Lisbon treaty: Ireland shouldn't feel obliged to vote yes
Remember that other time that Irish voters were told they had returned the wrong result in Nice in 2001? Citizens shouldn't feel they 'owe' anyone on 2 October
opinion, european constitution, referendum, ireland, european democracy, vote, european union
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