NSU trial a litmus test for German stance on Neo-nazi groups: Turkish EU Minister
Turkey’s EU Minister Egemen Bağış has indicated that the National Socialist Underground trial could be used to exculpate the neo-Nazi image haunting Germany.
Trial Begins for a Neo-Nazi Suspect in Germany
A member of a neo-Nazi trio is charged with killing eight men of Turkish descent and one Greek in a case that has renewed a debate about racism in Germany
MAIN FOCUS: NSU trial begins | 07/05/2013
The trial of the extreme right wing terror cell NSU at Munich’s upper regional court was adjourned and postponed to next week just a few hours after it began on Monday. The reason for this was several complaints presented by the defence lawyers alleging that the judges were biased. Some commentators hope that the trial will help Germany to deal with these right-wing extremist crimes. Others warn against expecting too much of the trial.
Berlusconi fraud conviction upheld
An appeals court in Italy upholds the conviction for tax fraud of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and reinstates a four-year prison sentence.
Europe Day takes ironic turn as EU staff strike (News)
A day before Europe Day (9 May), held yearly to celebrate the peace and unity in Europe, 3,500 staff of the European institutions held a strike against budgets cuts that may see their salaries cut by 60% over the next 15 years.
MAIN FOCUS: Signal against anti-Semitism in Hungary | 08/05/2013
At the end of its yearly plenary assembly in Budapest the World Jewish Congress (WJC) called for right-wing extremist parties to be banned across Europe. Some commentators demand that the EU take stronger action against Hungary’s right-wing conservative government, which tolerates anti-Semitism. Others say it’s unfair to indiscriminately accuse all the conservatives in the country of hating Jews.
Cyprus: Divided by history, united by austerity
A political settlement to the Cyprus dispute is no longer just a romantic fantasy; it may be the only way out of the country’s current economic crisis.
Europe: foreign criminals and human rights
from Ideas on Europe by Jon Danzig
Trial forces Germans to look at role of minorities
by Acturca
International Herald Tribune (USA) Tuesday, May 7, 2013, p. 3 By Melissa Eddy, Munich She smiled, chatted with her lawyers and repeatedly flipped her carefully styled hair back from her face. On her first day in court on Monday, the woman whom the country?s tabloids have dubbed the « Nazi bride, » or simply a « monster, » looked
A social Europe must be a political Europe
My dear Etienne Balibar, in a recent article you explain how a new Europe can only come from the bottom up. But how would this shift from top-down to bottom-up work, and what does it even mean?
The Spanish prefer to describe themselves as picaresque or roguish, but the arrogance of the rich and endemic corruption in post-Franco Spain is changing attitudes. Liz Cooper says that volcanic change is on the way
Thousands to mark Hollande’s first year with protests
from Hurriyet Daily News
Thousands are to protest in France on Sunday to mark President Francois Hollande’s.
Democracy in Europe (5 May 2013): a Citizen of Europe
by Ralf Grahn
Yesterday I noted down a few thoughts from reading the fourth of the European Federalist Papers. Today I want to pay my respects to the Federal Constitution of Europe blog, written by a Citizen of Europe since 2009.
Social Europe: “The Erosion Of Europe” by Joschka Fischer
from Bloggingportal.eu – Today’s posts
Just weeks ago, the worst of the financial crisis in Europe seemed to be over. Stability seemed to be returning. But appearances proved to be deceptive. A minor problem (at least in scale) like Cyprus, when combined with an almost unbelievable degree
Ukip?s victory will make all parties nervous
The role of Nigel Farage?s party in UK politics is still more psychological than psephological, but it drag its rivals rightward
Hostages and Ransom Payments: What is France’s Policy?
from Global Voices Online by Jane Ellis
Around three months after the French President François Hollande?s decision to stop paying ransoms to hostage takers, the Moulin-Fournier family were finally released, to the immense relief of their family and friends. However, there is still no information to shed light on how this liberation occurred.
Portugal begins further austerity talks
from FT.com – World, Europe
Economists question whether the package is compatible with government forecasts that the economy will return to growth in 2014
Twists ahead for Italy?s left-right coalition
from FT.com – World, Europe
Brussels asks how Italy plans to finance about ?10bn in proposed tax cuts and rise in social welfare spending without derailing fiscal commitments
Anti-establishment parties defy EU
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
Anti-establishment parties challenge EU politics
Self-Immolations in Bulgaria ? an Intertwined Personal and Social Trauma
from Ideas on Europe
Populist parties tap into EU resentment
from FT.com – World, Europe
UK Independence party has stamped its image on British politics in a manner comparable to populist, anti-establishment movements across Europe
Immigrants and young Italy?s sorrows
from FT.com – World, Europe
In an age of debt, indifference over who, specifically, a country?s residents are and where, specifically, they come from is not reasonable
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