Nicolas Sarkozy must finally make up his mind to adopt a clear stance regarding China, Gerd Kröncke writes. "France's president promised at the beginning of his term in office a year ago that there would be a return to higher moral standards in foreign policy. We haven't seen much of that in his relations with China so far. He's been prevaricating about the question of whether to meet the Dalai Lama as his German counterpart Angela Merkel did on April 23. As far as Tibet's concerned, Rama Yade, his young state secretary in charge of foreign affairs and human rights, has appeared much more resolute. Sarkozy must now make it clear whose side he's on. He had no influence over Mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanoë's declaring the Dalai Lama an honorary citizen of the city, but the Chinese have no idea about these things anyway." (22/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Gerd Kröncke

"By presenting his late apology to handicapped athlete Jin Jing [she was mistreated during the torch relay in Paris on April 7th], new symbol of Chinese patriotism, French President Nicolas Sarkozy made himself out to be a weakling in the Chinese press and on the Internet. We can compare his attitude to that of Angela Merkel who, recently remained firm after having criticised Chinese human rights policy", writes Jurek Kuczkiewicz. "Combining development of economic exchanges with the promotion of human rights remains a challenge to which no one has yet found the magic formula. But it would be too easy to attribute the errors on this difficult path just to political leaders. Because the attraction of contracts is not only the whim of businessmen and political leaders: if there is someone who doesn't wear running shoes or t-shirts made in China, or who doesn't drive using gas that comes from countries that possess more hydrocarbons than democracy, he can throw the first stone..." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Jurek Kuczkiewicz

Valerie Niquet, researcher at the French Institute for international relations (IFRI), explains why relations between France and China are especially tense, even though the Olympic torch was protested in other countries as well. "Behind the Olympics, the issues are very political, and even strategic. In this struggle, China needs complacent allies and it's as a disappointed lover watching France abandon its role as 'a friend of China', that Beijing deals with Paris today, which is not the case with Berlin, London or Washington. ... France will soon lead Europe for a six-month stint, and its 'bad example' could spread. In these circumstances, putting on the pressure is also a way of warning Paris against any temptation to be firm. ... [France] is a weak link. [Sarkozy's] tendency to change his mind leaves China hoping that there will by a policy reversal if the pressure is kept up." (22/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Valérie Niquet

Columnist Deborah Orr argues that the concept of poverty is misunderstood, because it's poorly defined. "As long as we continue to define poverty as relative, then poverty will always be with us. What, though, if we define poverty in a developed economy in a different way? What if we defined poverty as a state of being which objectively necessitates hand-outs from the Government, just to pay for basic living costs, such as rent, even when one is working full-time? Then it becomes clear that tax credits and housing benefit payments lift people out of poverty just as much as Night Nurse cures the common cold, or methadone treats addiction. Tax credits are a way of acknowledging poverty, and treating some of its symptoms. Tax credits don't combat poverty. They supplement it. Maybe, in our imperfect little world, this is the best that can be done. But let's at least have the clarity to see it for what it is." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Deborah Orr

Since it unilaterally declared independence on February 17th, Kosovo has been recognised by 37 countries, 18 EU members among them. Political scientist José Ignacio Torreblanca calls on Madrid to follow their lead. He writes that this recognition "could reinforce the position of Spain and its influence in the EU by taking a stand with regard to the Balkans, a very important commitment from a human and economic point of view dating back a long time. This would show that even when situations arise that create problems - such as Kosovo - Spanish foreign policy is capable of dealing with this complexity. In this way, the government would not only be contributing in a decisive manner to the stability of the region. It would be helping our own country, in a crucial time, to find a place in the heart of Europe." (22/04/2008)

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All available articles from » José Ignacio Torreblanca

Franco Frattini will have to resign as European Justice Commissioner in order to join Silvio Berlusconi's government. He will be replaced by the Frenchman Jacques Barrot, current Transport Commissioner. "Antonio Tajani [a European member of parliament from Berlusconi's party] may get Transportation, a portfolio just as important, but less connected with human rights", writes Aldo Rizzo. "We can only hope that this is a lesson for Berlusconi, who never had a linear relation with the EU, especially due to his alliance with the Northern League. After his electoral victory, Berlusconi announced that he will make his first official trip to Israel. There is nothing to say about this visit that coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state. Nevertheless, it is surprising that Berlusconi would want to make his first official visit to a country outside the EU, rather than one of the big EU nations, or even better, the European Parliament." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Aldo Rizzo

"To prevent Ukraine and Georgia from joining NATO, Russia instead seems to encourage their destruction. It has all the means necessary. There is a crisis brewing in Europe, terrible, but perfectly avoidable," writes columnist Bernard Guetta. "Time is short because gears shifted last Wednesday [April 17th] when Russia announced its decision to 'cooperate with the authorities on the ground' in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the separatist regions of Georgia. It was a message to the West. ... The Kremlin feels that much stronger now that the West has given it a precedent with the independence of Kosovo. ... You have to look beyond each side's reasoning, these reminiscences for a long gone Century, and a good way to do it would be to make a deal rendering Ukraine and Georgia neutral." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Bernard Guetta

A debate has been raging for several weeks in German political and union circles on the financing of public pension plans. "In Germany, where now nearly half of political party members are retirees, we speak of 'the dictatorship of shareholders'", writes Yves Petignat. "In a book that sparked the debate, 'The Mathusalem Plot', Frank Schirrmacher, editor of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, predicts that the imbalance provoked by demographic decline in Europe will set off a 'terrorist war of cultures'. ... Since Bismarck, the German social state embodies stability, permanence and the continuity of the state. It's security against the tragedies of history. But the state could default and its citizens' confidence transform into social and political malaise. We've seen it with the rise of Nazism. Since then, any reproach against solidarity, any infringement on social ethics is a blow to the state's credibility." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Yves Petignat

Poland's Children's Rights Advocate Ewa Sowińska, a contentious figure in Polish politics owing among other things to her attitude towards homosexuals, has resigned. Among her more controversial moves were her admonitions about gay Teletubbies and her proposal to ban sex under the age of 18. Her resignation came after the centre-right liberal ruling PO party and the left-wing opposition alliance LiD proposed in parliament the dismissal of the ultra-right LPR politician. Dominika Wielowieyska writes that the "post of Children's Rights Advocate", the occupants of which are elected by the parliament, should be abolished entirely. "There have been no tangible results since the creation of the post of Children's Rights Advocate. ... Even if the Civic Platform (PO) does find someone really competent for this post, sooner or later another party will come along and want to curry favour with its coalition partner by offering a cosy and well-paid post. Financing this post is just throwing good money away." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Dominika Wielowieyska

Following the resignation of Bulgarian Minister of the Interior Rumen Petkov amid accusations of corruption, there's been a major reshuffle in the Bulgarian government. New ministers have been appointed for the portfolios of domestic affairs, defence, health and agriculture. Prime Minister Sergei Stanischev has announced that the current ambassador to Germany, Meglena Plugchieva, would become his deputy and be in charge of EU funding for Bulgaria. Ognyan Mincheva comments: "The changes underline the powerlessness of the government, both the coalition and Prime Minister Stanischev. He had the chance to get others to agree with his stance, but these nominations are a rotten compromise between the factions of the Socialist party and President Georgi Parvanov. The only important move has been the nomination of ambassador Meglena Plugchieva. She is to mediate between Bulgaria's ailing institutions and the EU and give Bulgaria a new image in the EU." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Ognjan Minchew

The Czech and Slovak currencies are rising in value, while the dollar, the pound and the euro are declining by comparison. Luboš Palata points out that this has considerable repercussions for many people. "Emigrating to the West is no longer worthwhile. Czechs, Poles and Slovaks are returning to their home countries in such numbers that the British are beginning to worry about who will work in their restaurants and slaughterhouses, let alone do their plumbing. However, the day will come when those who work in our factories also leave: the Ukrainians, Moldavians, Vietnamese and Mongolians. Perhaps it's meant to be that everyone works in their home country." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Luboš Palata

Romania is suffering from labour shortages. Caterina Nicolae reports: "In the construction industry, 58 percent of vacancies remain unfilled, and in the tourist industry it's 49 percent. When a public post is advertised in small towns the hiring committee grows old before someone applies. Everyone knows that manpower - whether it's university graduates or unskilled labour - is in short supply. In 1989 there were eight million working people. Today there are only five million; three million have left the country. Employers are clamouring for employees. Now they've calculated how much the average wage would have to be to solve the labour shortages: between 500 and 800 euros - that's half the average wage in the West." (23/04/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Migration, » Integration, » Labour market / Services, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Caterina Nicolae

Almuth Spiegler bemoans the state of contemporary Austrian art: "Contemporary art is booming everywhere. At the auction houses in London and New York, millions are being paid for the works of artists like Gerhard Richter, Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst - after all, expensive art is regarded as a relatively safe investment in these times of financial crisis. Art collecting and visiting museums and galleries are more popular than ever all over the world. ... But as far as its artists are concerned, Austria is way behind. While year after year young Brits, Poles, Chinese and Germans are being hailed as the new stars, Austria's young artists - with perhaps the exception of Gelitin and Markus Schinwald - are living in the shadows. ... Vienna has always lacked a spacious museum endowed with plentiful funding for exhibiting modern and contemporary art - one where the latest international developments can be put on show and the country's own artists can position themselves to attract international attention." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Almuth Spiegler

Joachim Güntner reports rather disapprovingly that Berlin's tageszeitung has won a court case to have Berlin's Kochstraße renamed Rudi-Dutschke-Straße after the famous German student leader. "A community of residents that under no circumstances wanted to live in a street called Rudi-Dutschke-Straße took the case to court, at the initiative of the Axel Springer publishing house. The plaintiffs argued that naming the street after the student leader was tantamount to endorsing criminal offences and would be an act of discrimination against the residents, who still have unpleasant memories of the riots against the Springer publishing house that followed the attempted assassination of Dutschke. Those who support the initiative to re-name the street are hailing the fact that it shares a corner with the Axel-Springer-Straße as a topographical allegory of reconciliation. How right they are: dialogue between the two sides without confrontation is possible today. But the leftists and left-wing liberals find it particularly funny that cars on Dutschke-Straße have the right of way. Does this really say anything good about politics?" (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Joachim Güntner

Members of the European Parliament yesterday voted by a large majority in favour of a ban against employing relatives as assistants in their offices in a bid to avoid conflicts of interest. The Italians, Spanish and British were not enthusiastic about the move, writes Kateřina Šafaříková. Petr Duchoň, a conservative Czech MEP who employs his wife at his office, also complains in Šafaříková's article: "This is an unfortunate decision. Who counts as a relative? Your wife: well, okay. But what about a distant aunt? And is your mistress also a relative? And who's going to carry out all the checks? ... God knows, the European Parliament has more important matters to deal with." (23/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Kateřina Šafaříková