#Europe agenda: “EU at 60: celebrations in turbulent times…

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Debate: EU at 60: celebrations in turbulent times

euro|topics
On March 25, 1957, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the Treaties of Rome – effectively the birth certificate of the European Union. Sixty years on the leaders of 27 EU states will once again convene in Rome and address the question of where the EU should be in ten years’ time in a joint declaration. No easy task, as Europe’s journalists explain.

Sixty years since Treaty of Rome signed

BBC News | Europe | World Edition
It is 60 years since the Treaty of Rome was signed, by Italy, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Borisov’s pro-EU party beats Socialists in Bulgaria’s snap election

World news: Turkey | guardian.co.uk by Agence France-Presse in Sofia

Veteran politician ahead of BSP in polls seen as test of Russian influence in country but stable coalition may prove elusive

Boiko Borisov, the comeback specialist of Bulgarian politics, looked to have done it again as exit polls from a snap election put his pro-EU centre-right party in first place.

Bulgaria election: Boyjo Borisov’s GERB ‘leading’ race

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)
Exit polls suggest former Prime Minister Boyjo Borisov’s GERB party has won a snap parliamentary election.

Populism and fraternity in Portugal

open Democracy News Analysis – by João de Pina-Cabral

There are moments of truth in which, due to some sort of blip in the functioning of the oligarchic system that governs our present world, we glimpse another humane populism.

Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa welcomes Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during the Southern EU Countries Summit at the Belem Cultural Center in Lisbon Portugal, on January 28, 2017. NurPhoto/Press Association. All rights reserved. Much is said of populism these days. Those who practice it do not admit they are doing it; those who do not practice it call for the need to do it (see Chantal Mouffe in openDemocracy).

Quite what populism is, is another matter. If by that we mean a kind of politics that appeals to the masses, that is easy to recite, and that evokes quick emotional responses, then in truth one can understand why some people would like to have that on the left. After all, one can only be puzzled as to why the masses sympathise more with the policies advocated by Trump (which are decidedly against their interests) rather than the policies proposed by Sanders (which would decidedly improve their lot).

Why Macron should give us hope of democratic renewal in France

open Democracy News Analysis – by Aline-Florence Manent

François Fillon’s (LR) entanglements in corruption scandals and Benoît Hamon’s (PS) strategy to court the votes of the far left have helped Macron to emerge as the strongest candidate.

Parisian election posters showing candidate for the 2017 presidential election Emmanuel Macron, March 23, 2017. Apaydin Alain/Press Association. All rights reserved.The 2017 presidential election in France will mark a moment of great historical import. We may be wrong, however, in our assessment of what makes this election particularly significant.

10 reasons why the EU has been good for children

EurActiv.com by Jana Hainsworth
Whatever decisions the EU makes about its future at the Rome summit and beyond, it should recognise the improvements to the lives of children as one if its great achievements and make this a foundation for future action, writes Jana Hainsworth.

Happiness report: Norway is the happiest place on Earth

 BBC News | Europe | World Edition
It beats Denmark to the top spot as the UN ranks countries to mark international happiness day.

Norway: The world’s happiest country

AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH)
Scandinavian country surges from fourth place in last year’s UN assessment all the way to top spot.

As refugees resettle across Europe, four news organizations partner to tell the still-unfolding stories of integration

Nieman Journalism Lab by Shan Wang

Across Europe, the migration story is still unfolding. Starting this month, four European news organizations — in Britain, France, Germany, and Spain — are partnering on an 18-month reporting project tracking individuals and families as they begin new lives in new home countries, as well as the communities that welcome them, amidst a rise of populist resentment.

Debate: Attack in London’s government district

 euro|topics
After Wednesday’s attack in London the police are working on the assumption that the perpetrator was “inspired by international terrorism”. A man drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and then stabbed a police guard. He killed four people and wounded dozens more before he was shot by the police. Europe’s press sees the entire continent under attack but calls for a cool-headed response.

Debate: Eurogroup head angers southern EU countries

 euro|topics
“I cannot spend all my money on liquor and women and plead for your support afterwards,” Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem said in an interview, referring to solidarity with Europe’s crisis-hit states. Madrid and Lisbon promptly called for his resignation. Commentators also take Dijsselbloem to task.

The country where people devour pasta, wine and olive oil is the world’s healthiest. Really.

Mashable! by Maria Gallucci

Special shout-out to my octogenarian cousins still living it up in the Italian hillside.

The Mediterranean nation was ranked the world’s healthiest country in the Bloomberg Global Health Index.

Debate: Mammoth debate in French election campaign

 euro|topics
The five main contenders in the French presidential election exchanged blows on Monday night in the first of three televised debates. François Fillon, Emmanuel Macron, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Marine Le Pen and Benoît Hamon presented their views on economic, foreign and social policy in the three and a half hour programme. What impression did the candidates make on the press?

France election: Leading candidates clash over burkini in TV debate

 BBC News | Europe | World Edition
The five main contenders discuss immigration, jobs and terrorism in the first of three TV debates.

Debate: Merkel meets Trump

euro|topics
Following the first face-to-face meeting between German Chancellor Merkel and US President Trump the media discuss relations between the two. In particular Trump’s refusal to shake Merkel’s hand after being asked to do so by journalists has caused a stir. But what does the meeting say about relations between the US and Europe?

Back home after icy Trump meeting, Merkel calls for open markets

EurActiv.com by Georgi Gotev
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a staunch joint defence of free trade yesterday (19 March), as the United States pushes towards greater protectionism.

Norway spearheads Europe’s electric vehicle surge

EurActiv.com by Paul Hockenos
European electromobility is beginning to take off. The targets set by the Paris climate deal depend on it. The EU’s Nordic neighbour, Norway, is showing the rest of Europe the way forward. EURACTIV’s partner The Guardian reports

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