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Brussels Studies - Issue 13 - 7/01/2008

Rudi Janssens

Language use in Brussels and the position of Dutch. Some recent findings

read article (pdf)

The issue of language use in Brussels is one of those subjects that are often difficult to tackle dispassionately. It involves issues of fundamental rights and cultural identity that are destined to ignite passions. However, the Brussels-based Flemish university VUB (Vrije universiteit Brussel) has been conducting research into the issue for a number of years. This year, Rudi Janssens is publishing the results of its second language barometer, which takes stock of the situation and yields a series of important findings.

New migration after EU relaxes border control

Thousands of asylum seekers are on the move across Europe as a result of the relaxation of border controls.

 

Combating International Crime in an Enlarging European Union: What is the Role of Europol? (PDF; 56 KB)
Source: Cicero Foundation Lecture by Antonio Saccone, Head of the Crime Analysis Unit, Europol

ETA: copying Kosovo

The EU should watch out for the Basque ETA voice, Prodi's ire that Spaniards are wealthier than Italians (according to Eurostat) and a nice cultural year to all of you, from the Slovenians

Roland Koch and the Return of Right-Wing Populism

By Henning Meyer

Not just the US, but also some German states are preparing for elections. And the current conservative minister president of Hesse, Roland Koch, is leading a particularly nasty campaign. Reacting to some recent acts of violence committed by foreign youths, he is targeting the authoritarian reflexes of the population by calling for the tightening of laws that already offer all sorts of sanctions including prison sentences and extradition.

Eurosceptic blog has no clue about Britain in Brussels

By Jon

The rather gruesome eurosceptic blog EU Referendum likes to think they have information to back up their conspiracy theories about the EU. Yet a post today about FCO diplomatic cuts shows how little they actually know:.........

EU presidency country faces criticism over press freedom

First the Cartoon, then the War: Europe in 1870

Georgia backs pro-EU leader

EU cautiously endorses Georgia's election results

The EU has congratulated the 'peaceful conduct' of the presidential elections in Georgia, but refrained from any further comment until the final results are known. The incumbent President Mikheil Saakashvili is emerging as the winner of Saturday's elections with most of the votes having been counted.

Muslim anger at bishop's 'ghettoes' attack Muslim leaders reacted angrily to a claim by the Bishop of Rochester that Islamic extremists have created "no-go" areas in many cities.

The Horrific unspoken Truth: Europe’s Struggle against Child Sex Abuse

By Crispin Williams

It is sad that with a new year blossoming and all the hope and promise of progress it brings, one of humanity’s most awful flaws continues to dog Europe into 2008 – the sexual abuse of children. Although this remains a global problem, Europe has recently seen a spate of these harrowing incidents committed on a large and organised scale.

 

Epiphany in Europe : The Star Singers (Sternsinger) in Germany, Austria and Switzerland

By Andis Kaulins

The Sternsinger (star singers) dressed as the three Biblical Magi (kings, wise men) were just at our door this afternoon on a bright sunny Sunday here in Germany and we thus thought that we would tell you something about them, because they represent a seldom seen side of the low-key but still fundamentally deep strength of Christian tradition in Europe.

Europe's Shared Values are the Values of the West : Heinrich August Winkler in Die Welt : European Union Urgently Needs to Develop a "We-Feeling"

By Andis Kaulins

Surely one of the most perspicacious analysts of the European Union is Heinrich August Winkler (German bio, English bio), until March 2007 Professor of Contemporary History at the Humboldt University of Berlin, who has a superb article in the December 27, 2007 issue of Die Welt (online in German).

High-Profile Romance Gets Serious For Sarkozy

By Molly Moore on Saudi Arabia

PARIS, Jan. 7 -- Nicolas Sarkozy, who less than three months ago became the first French president to divorce while in office, is now reported to be on the verge of becoming the first one to wed while occupying the Elysee Palace.

French Conservative: "Union of the West" will Sustain Western Dominance

By Kyle Atwell

Édouard Balladur, the right-wing former French Prime Minister (1993-1995), envisions the creation of a "Union of the West" that will help the US and Europe maintain global primacy. The International Herald Tribune summarizes Balladur's argument: