Italy Wikipedia strike: anti-censorship protests online
from cafebabel.com by Eva Vanhee
Here we go again: a new chapter of the world of online democracy begins. In response to a draft law restricting freedom of information being discussed in the Italian parliament, wikipedia Italy has chosen to temporarily close down. A virtual strike but one with consequences
Italy’s insane Internet law prompts removal of Italian Wikipedia
by Cory Doctorow
Prompted by Italy’s punitive (batshit) wiretapping law proposal, Wikipedia has removed its Italian version and now directs anyone trying to find Italian Wikipedia to a page explaining that Italy’s Internet law will make it impossible to have an Italian Wikipedia:
EU Parliament Takes the First Step to Prevent Sales of Surveillance Equipment Used to Violate Human Rights
by cindy
The European Parliament today formally recognized what has become increasingly clear: some European tech companies have been selling to repressive governments the tools used to surveil democracy activists. In response, it passed a resolution to bar overseas sales of systems that monitor phone calls and text messages, or provide targeted Internet surveillance, if they are used to violate democratic principles, human rights or freedom of speech.
What went wrong with Dexia?
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
Eurozone crisis trips up French-Belgian bank
MAIN FOCUS: Banking giant Dexia falters | 05/10/2011
from euro|topics
The share price of the major French-Belgian bank Dexia dropped by almost 40 percent on Tuesday after rating agency Moody’s indicated it may downgrade the bank’s credit rating. France and Belgium declared in the evening that they will support the bank as they did in 2008. Commentators write that politicians have slept for three years and will send the entire banking sector into a tailspin if they don’t take action now.
Slovakia: New Draft Law Threatens Internet Freedom
from Global Voices Online by Tibor Blazko
The Slovak Ministry of Finance has published a draft law [sk] that would allow blocking web servers that provide online gambling without a Slovak license. Internet providers would have to block web sites from a list updated twice a month – not by the court, but by the Tax Office.
Greece near default, EU in trouble ? Six facets of the euro crisis
from Ideas on Europe by Protesilaos Stavrou
The six facets are the Greek crisis, Greek euro exit, the EFSF, the self-fulfilling recession in the eurozone, the contagion in Italy and Spain and France?s AAA credit rating. Strategy needed.
Bulgaria?s tense week: spark, fire, and solvent , Daniel Smilov
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Daniel Smilov
A local incident turned national conflict mixing anti-Roma sentiment and nationalist mobilisation reveals flaws in Bulgaria?s political order that demand a coherent response, says Daniel Smilov.
Nicolas Sarkozy: on the precipice, Patrice de Beer
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Patrice de Beer
An insipid economy, a tornado of scandal, anaemic support, an alienated core, internecine war on the right, a show of opposition unity – France?s president faces a perfect storm all of his making. But are these really Sarkozy?s last days, asks Patrice de Beer.
Growing pains for the EU
from European Voice – RSS – News & analysis
An overview of where the applicants for EU membership stand.
Serbia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Macedonia
Kosovo
Croatia
Iceland
Albania
Turkey
Montenegro
?Satisfactory? grade for the Summit
from Blogactiv by Marek Siwiec MEP
The Joint Declaration of the Warsaw Eastern Partnership Summit has 8 pages and consists of 29 points. The diplomatic language is stiff and if you try to find content in it, you need to translate it into political reality. Within the great policy of bringing the East closer to the EU, what matters is the objective, of course, but also the pace and intensity of the march at each stage. This is how I assess the declaration. Speaking to Catherine Ashton during a debate in the European Parliament that preceded the summit, I defined 3 points in which it would be possible to check the results of the summit.
MAIN FOCUS: Merkel for European bank bailouts | 06/10/2011
from euro|topics
After the fall of Dexia banking group German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Wednesday in Brussels for backing for Europe’s ailing big banks. The chancellor is on the right track with her new Europe-friendly stance, commentators write, because only united can the EU overcome the crisis.
Frontex: Where do human rights concerns fit in?
from Blogactiv by conorbjorn
The following post was contributed by Serena Garelli. Serena holds a Bachelor degree in international relations from the University of Turin and Masters degrees from the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the College of Europe. She is currently working at the European Central Bank.
Introduction
MAIN FOCUS: ECB helps ailing banks | 07/10/2011
from euro|topics
The European Central Bank resolved on Thursday to bolster cash-strapped banks with an aid programme running into the billions. With the move the ECB backs proposals put forward by German Chancellor Merkel and EU Commission President Barroso. The EU is preparing the ground for Greece’s insolvency, commentators write, but fear that the debt burden of the states of Europe will only increase.
A Digital Agenda for Sweden
by Grahnlaw
On 6 October 2011 the government published an integrated IT strategy inspired by the Digital Agenda for Europe2010-2020, which is a part of the EU2020 growth strategy: A Digital Agenda for Sweden. In English we find the government newletter: Sweden to be best in the world at IT.
EU2020 growth reforms Denmark: Policy outcomes
by Grahnlaw
How does the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (EU2020) turn into reality in the EU member states? Indeed, after the failed Lisbon strategy we need to ask: Does it?
Not dead, honest ? or, why the eurozone crisis demonstrates that the nation state is no longer politically/economically viable
from Nosemonkey’s EUtopia by nosemonkey
Just insanely busy in the real world. For ongoing EU / eurozone crisis comment (etc.) from me, your best bet is to follow me on Twitter.
That said, this post?s original, short title (?Not dead, honest?) could refer to the eurozone as much as it does me.
Naturally enough, though, don?t expect me to come up with any magic bullets to solve this ongoing economic shitstorm (that?s the technical term for it, I understand). No one else has, after all. The best I can do is criticise *everything* ? which is hardly very constructive.
EU2020 and WEF: Competitiveness
by Grahnlaw
Just as the Europe 2020 strategy (EU2020) aims for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, the World Economic Forum (WEF) is increasingly trying to actually measure or assess ?quality growth?, especially sustainable growth.
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