Eurosphere agenda: In case you missed- “‘Hundreds’ of masked men rampage through Stockholm station beating up refugee children…

Hundreds of men were part of the mob, which marched through Stockholm’s main train station, reportedly targeted refugees via Aftonbladet ‘Hundreds’ of masked men rampage through Stockholm station beating up refugee children independent.co.uk – Jan 30, 5:14 AM Hundreds of masked men marched through Stockholm’s main train station on Friday evening, reportedly beating up refugees and … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: Ireland same sex marriage win… The Riga Summit…

The Riga Summit: Enter, pursued by a bear  by Centre for European Reform The Eastern Partnership summit in Riga on May 21st-22nd will be a gloomy affair. Russia’s aggressive behaviour has put EU member-states on the defensive. Enthusiasm for further integration between the EU and its Eastern neighbours is on the wane. But Europe should be … Read more

As waiting for Greek election results, read “7 experts on Europe’s biggest media innovators… Eurosphere agenda.

7 experts on Europe’s biggest media innovators  EurActiv.com The media’s search for new business models and the potential of new and social media has brought about a wave of enterprises and entrepreneurs across EU member states. What are Europe’s most innovative news applications and initiatives? EurActiv asked the experts. On election day, young Greeks will be voting for SYRIZA open Democracy … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “EU imposes strict sanctions on Russia

Soccer Lessons for Europe’s Economy  Project Syndicate by Harold James Though a solution to the euro crisis continues to elude European leaders, the foundations of one are not difficult to discern. In fact, Europe’s recent soccer experience – in the EURO 2012 tournament and this year’s World Cup – provides insight into how to revive Europe’s economy … Read more

Eurosphere agenda: “Sweden is Europe’s most innovative economy

Sweden is Europe’s most innovative economy, Commission says   Sweden is the best country in the EU when it comes to getting new ideas to reach the market, according to a new innovation indicator launched by the European Commission.   The new indicator measures innovation output, which creates better jobs and makes Europe more competitive, the … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: “Who says Germen election is dull?

Germany’s anti-euro party mobilises non-voters and FDP supporters Three days ahead of the German election, Germany’s anti-euro party, Alternative für Deutschland is polling at 5%, according to the latest INSA Poll. Who says the German election is dull? Barbie, Mutti Merkel and a monstrous personality cult: a campaign diary ahead of the 22 September German election. Germany: on … Read more

European personalities of the year from Cafe Babel

http://medias2.cafebabel.com/13757/thumb/610/406/italy-nichi-vendola-future-leader-of-italy.jpg

Italy: Nichi Vendola, future leader of Italy?

Catholic, homosexual, communist and ecologist, the Bari-born politician is the only credible alternative to Berlusconism. The problem is that the democratic party (the main opposition party PD) doesn?t like the 52-year-old or his Sinistra, Ecologia e Libertà (?left ecology freedom, SEL) party. Nor has Vendola any representatives in parliament. But the young generation see hope for the future via the left in him. The BBC is dubbing him Italy?s Obama whilst the Italians call him a ?left-wing Berlusconi? (?Berlusconi di sinistra?) (Federico Iarlori, cafebabel.it/ Image: (cc) GhostSwann/ Vincenzo Fiore/ Flickr)

check out the rest which includes a Turkish one!

and a Euro roundup:

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New Eurobarometer report: Europeans, development aid and the Millennium development goals

Europeans, development aid and the Millennium development goals European citizens continue to show resolute support to aid provided to developing countries. One week before the UN High Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, the survey shows that 89% of respondents consider development aid is important or very important. Two in three Europeans believe that … Read more

Euro roundup: Media freedom threatened in most European countries, Wilders backs Dutch minority government etc…

Wilders backs Dutch minority government from European Voice – RSS – News & analysis Talks begin to form a minority liberal-conservative administration with the informal backing of the anti-immigrant party of Geert Wilders. MAIN FOCUS: The Netherlands pulls out of Afghanistan | 02/08/2010 from euro|topics On Sunday, the Netherlands became the first Nato member state … Read more

Euro roundup: France working on her identity crisis: banning burqa, chains “illegal” Romas…

MAIN FOCUS: Catalans ban bullfighting | 29/07/2010

from euro|topics

The Catalan parliament in Barcelona on Wednesday passed a ban on bullfighting that will go into effect in the autonomous Spanish region starting 2012. The press writes that rather than being a victory for animal rights over an outdated tradition, the resolution is an expression of Catalan desires for self-determination and clear demarcation from the central power in Madrid.

See no citizens, hear no citizens, speak to no citizens ? the institutional approach to the European citizens? initiative (ECI)

from Jon Worth by Jon

Would you ban the Burka?

from Social Europe Journal by Henning Meyer
Source: Pewglobal.org

The Pew Global Attitudes Project has recently published a very interesting piece of research investigating attitudes towards the full Islamic veil. The results show a remarkable difference between Europeans and US citizens.

Funny, smart commentary about burqa bans

from Boing Boing by Cory Doctorow

Observer columnist David Mitchell (half of the comedy team Mitchell and Webb is in fine form today with this column on the absurdity of burqa banning. It was one of those bits of the Sunday paper that had me stopping to read a passage aloud to my wife every ten seconds or so until she snatched it out of my hands and read it herself.

Egypt: Niqab ban in France stirs controversy

from Global Voices Online by Marwa Rakha

Whither EU-US Relations?

from U.S.A.K. Blog

Written by Mustafa Kutlay and Lukas Linsi

The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States in November 2008 was accompanied by popular enthusiasm in Europe. During his election campaign he had been given a rapturous reception in Berlin where over 100,000 spectators gathered when he spoke at the Victory Column in Berlin. But the support for Obama in Europe was not confined to a popular movement; also the European political elites pinned their hopes on Obama to improve trans-Atlantic ties after the divisions that marked the era of George W. Bush. After all, Obama was a declared multilateralist in international politics and he seemed ideologically close to the traditions of European social democracies on priority issues on the policy agenda, such as health care reform, climate change and tax reform. At the same time, the European leaders in France, Germany and Great Britain were considered to be exceptionally ?pro-American.? The moment seemed unusually ripe for trans-Atlantic cooperation and it was no surprise that Obama?s first overseas trip as US President led to Europe.

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