"60 Ideas for Europe
The European Movement: 60 Ideas for Europe- Building together the Europe of the Future
For the complete report from The European Movement click on this link
60 Ideas for Europe- Building together the Europe of the Future
Isabel Aspe-Montoya wrote: "Immigration is currently one of the largest challenges facing European societies. This has been declared the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, and one of its objectives is the promotion of interaction between Europeans and different cultures, languages, ethnic groups and religions on the continent and elsewhere.....Broadband spread in EU too slow, finds report
High-speed internet connections can now be found in one out of five households across the EU, but this is still well below the bloc's 30% target, according to the 2007 report on the EU Telecoms sector published by the European Commission on 19 March.In Search of European Roots, The Forgotten Cement of European Unity: The Literary Canon
"In Search of European Roots, The Forgotten Cement of European Unity: The Literary Canon
Gaither Stewart
From Tom Paine's Corner
Franz Kafka wrote what could be a writer’s credo: “It’s not laziness, bad will, awkwardness that causes me to fail in everything, but the lack of ground under my feet, of air, of law. My task is to create these things.”....
EU citizens want top figure for president
The EU must choose a high-profile figure as its first president rather than one of the less well-known politicians being touted for the job, according to a poll for the FTSerbia's neighbours accept Kosovo
Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary become the first of Serbia's neighbours to say they will recognise Kosovo.New 'bin Laden tape' threatens EU
A new audio message purportedly from Osama bin Laden threatens the EU over cartoons offensive to Muslims.Bin Laden threatens EU over drawings
Al Qaeda leader threatens Europe with grave punishment over cartoons of Prophet Mohammad in an audio recording that coincides with the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasionInterview: Norway's EU membership 'not on political agenda'
Norway is unlikely to join the EU in the near future, but will seek increased cooperation on energy and climate goals as well as a closer alignment of its currency with the euro in the years to come, Norwegian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Elisabeth Walaas told EurActiv.cz in an interview.
EU 'Lisbon Agenda' gets social makeover
While heads of states and government congratulated themselves on putting social and environmental concerns back onto the EU's growth and jobs agenda at a Summit on 13-14 March, social NGOs blasted them for the "social emptiness" of their conclusions.Kosovo riots 'were orchestrated'
A senior UN official in Kosovo criticises Serbia over unrest that caused the death of a Ukrainian UN policeman.Brèves: scandale au Parlement européen, eurodéputés maires, de Schoutheete, Saint-Patrick, Frédéric Lefebvre, Netvibes…
By Thomas LefebvreInterview: Extra funding needed for urban mobility
The European Parliament will call on the Commission and EU governments to set up new financing mechanisms to tackle the growing congestion and pollution problems plaguing our cities, Austrian MEP Reinhard Rack, rapporteur on the Commission's Green Paper on urban mobility told EurActiv.Merkel's NATO Criteria -- And Craddock's Concern
Yet another nail in the coffin of the belief that Angela Merkel is automatically pro-American in her orientation on foreign policy.In a speech that has gotten very little coverage in the U.S. media, the German chancellor, without naming any countries in particular, laid out her view of the criteria that should guide invitations to join NATO.
Economist's diagnosis of Sarkozy
This week's Economist has the obligatory article on the municipal elections and what it means for Sarkozy.If Mr Sarkozy is to rebuild his credibility, he needs to deal with two main causes of voters' disaffection. The first is his presidential style. Voters were dismayed by the distraction of his whirlwind romance with Carla Bruni, a former supermodel, whom he married in February after divorcing his previous wife, Cécilia, last autumn...
This week in Network Europe
- Is the collapse of the Serbian government to be expected?
- French Mayor prohibited people in his village to die
- Airbus bids to win over US Air Force contract
- Is European Union distributing it's development aid realy gratuitously?
- Berlin launches a multi-million-euro advertising campaign to improve the German capital’s appeal
- Preserving Polish culinary heritage
- Network Europe's monthly quiz - second que
A joint response to the credit crunch
by Katinka Barysch
Ailing banks are being rescued, markets remain frozen, economic numbers are becoming gloomier. Of course, central banks and governments are focusing on fire-fighting, on cutting interest rates, on providing cash to liquidity-starved banks and to consumers. But slowly they are turning their thoughts to what comes next. How do we make sure that similar crises do not happen again? Dmitry Medvedev - Putin clone or the new man?
by Bobo Lo
As Dmitry Medvedev walked across Red Square to join the concert celebrating his crushing victory in the Russian presidential elections, he could have been forgiven for wondering whether he had reached the pinnacle of achievement or been handed a poisoned chalice. For someone who had just garnered more than 70 per cent of the popular vote, he looked remarkably ill at ease.
French elections a blow for Sarkozy's conservativesThe opposition Socialists beat out the ruling UMP in many cities, prompting calls for the French president to modify his ambitious plans
After Months of Chaos, Belgians Reach Deal
Power-sharing agreement does not resolve the root of the crisis: demands from the prosperous, Dutch-speaking North for more autonomy from the economically depressed, French-speaking South
Searching for Constructive and Realistic Solutions of Kosovo Status: Theoretical Aspects
IFIMES A Slovene article offering a range of possible solutions to the Kosovo conflict
World Water Day focuses on sanitation
With World Water Day being celebrated on 20 March, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) urged governments, businesses and NGOs alike to step up efforts to reduce uncontrolled dumping of waste in rivers - in both poor and rich nations.Commission cracks down on traffic offenders
In a bid to cut the number of deaths on EU roads, the European Commission intends to make it easier for national authorities to fine drivers from another EU country for offences committed on their territory, such as speeding or drink driving.Nine-Country Poll Finds Europeans and Americans Desire Closer Relations
World Public OpinionTelegraph.co.uk: Europe idle as US battles meltdown - by Ambrose Evans - Pritchard
...Note EU-Digest:The ECB is on the right track, the problems of the US economy are of the US her own making. If the ECB cuts the interest rates in Europe, inflation would rise and Europe's economy would also spiral into disaster.
DOSSIER: Belgium finds a new government | 19/03/2008
On March 18th negotiators of five political parties approved the program of Belgium's coalition government. Nine months after its legislative elections, the country is thus going to have a definitive government headed by Prime Minister Yves Leterme. The press nevertheless doubts the success of this new team.
DOSSIER: Should the Olympics be boycotted? | 18/03/2008
Beijing is to host the Olympic Games in August 2008. In the aftermath of the bloody suppression of the protests in Tibet, the international community is facing the question of how to respond to China's human rights violations. Would boycotting the Olympics in Beijing help to promote democracy and freedom in China?
DOSSIER: The French express disenchantment with the government in local elections | 17/03/2008
The second round of municipal elections confirmed a left-wing victory on March 16th. Several traditionally right-wing cities have been conquered by the left. The press takes stock of these elections, considering whether voters have thus expressed their criticism of President Nicolas Sarkozy and his team's work.
DOSSIER: Paris Book Fair fraught with political tension | 14/03/2008
The Paris Book Fair opens amid controversy this Friday, March 14th. Numerous Arab countries have called for a boycott of this annual literary event which has named Israel guest of honour this year.
DOSSIER: Eastern European bilateral agreements in visa dispute | 13/03/2008
Following the Czech Republic's example, Latvia and Estonia have now also signed individual agreements with the United States which exempt their citizens from visa requirements for travel to the US. The EU is trying to negotiate a common visa agreement for all member states. What repercussions will these independent initiatives have on Europe's common foreign and security policy?
DOSSIER: Austria commemorates 1938 | 12/03/2008
During a ceremony organised by the conservative ÖVP to commemorate the Austrian "Anschluss" or annexation of Austria into Greater Germany by the Nazi regime on 12 March 1938, a speech delivered by Otto von Habsburg caused an uproar. Habsburg, the son of the last Austrian emperor, described Austria as a victim of Hitler's Germany and compared the rush on Vienna's Heldenplatz to a football match.
DOSSIER: A second chance for Zapatero | 11/03/2008
In the legislative elections held on Sunday, March 9th, the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) obtained 169 seats out of 350, ahead of the 153 obtained by the Popular Party (PP, right). The Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is about to embark upon a difficult second mandate, during which he hopes to avoid repeating the "mistakes" committed during his first one.
DOSSIER: Serb government collapses over Kosovo | 10/03/2008
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica has resigned. The government and parliament were deeply divided over the issue of Kosovo's declaration of independence and relations with the EU. New elections are to be called for 11 May. Is Serbia now in danger of becoming even more isolated?
Survey shows Europe's negative view of US
The rift in transatlantic relations is deeper than previously thought, with almost half of Europeans seeing the US as having a negative influence on world affairs and a third of US citizens seeing Europeans as 'snobbish', according to a British Council surveySarkozy set to change style of presidency
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France will seek to regain the political initiative after a heavy defeat in Sunday's local elections by adopting a more discreet and...Spain, Italy and identity politics
The fact that Zapatero has now won re-election may force the conservatives to recognise the government's legitimacy without further equivocation. That, in turn, could help drain some of the bitterness from Spanish politics, writes Gideon RachmanSarkozy tests European consensus
Although officials play down tensions, the Franco-German relationship is under its worst strain in a decade as a clash of visions takes its tollDreaming of new political class
Italian business people have a short but sweeping wish list for the country's new government, which will be elected in just under a month: a completely new set of...30 Big French Cities Fall to the Opposition
PARIS, March 16 -- Opposition parties took over at least 30 major cities from President Nicolas Sarkozy's ruling party in local elections Sunday that were viewed by many voters and analysts as a barometer of public frustration with the style and policies of his government.Wish List Time, Again
After an easy ratification in the European Parliament and 5 Member States, the Lisbon Treaty is running into its first problems:France is Best in Counterterrorism
French counterterrorism efforts have been praised by several analysts, but I am surprised to see that two scholars of the American Enterprise Institute argue that "France is the world's most sophisticated practitioner of counterterrorism. The U.S. can learn from her experience."
Gatekeeping, Elitism and French culture
Guy Dammann makes the following thought provoking point about the late Robbe-Grillet, l’Académie Française, and the effects of gatekeepers on French culture:
