Jyllands-Posten newspaper criticises Nato's decision to extend careful feelers in Moscow's direction and to put its eastward expansion on hold: "It's easy to understand that the Russians are happy. Nato's decision to distance itself from the states of the former Soviet Union is a victory for Russian energy diplomacy and a move of symbolic value. Time will tell if it was also an important strategic mistake. Because not only does it show how fragmented Nato is, it also sends a clear signal to Russia that its knuckles will not be rapped for invading Georgia. And worse still, it reaffirms Russia's view that crude oil and gas can be used as effective political weapons." (03/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Danish)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Europe, » Global

The Nato foreign ministers have clearly expressed their support for the planned installation of a radar base for the US missile defence shield in the Czech Republic. The conservative daily Lidové writes that this is "bad news for the opponents of the project and those who thought that after Barack Obama's election there would be a change in the direction of America's foreign policy. The nomination of radar advocates Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates (Secretaries of State and Defence respectively) shows that at least as far as this point is concerned, the frequently invoked change in Washington's policy won't come. But the opponents of the radar needn't give up yet. Among other things they can point out that the missile shield is not yet functioning properly. Nor have the advocates of the missile shield won yet. It is not certain that they will secure the support of the parliament in [Prague]. And finally the plans could be delayed by the ongoing global economic crisis." (04/12/2008)

» more information (external link, Czech)
More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Czech Republic, » U.S., » Global
All available articles from » Petr Pešek

We'll have to continue waiting for a compromise on which everyone can agree, writes the daily Delo: "The scenario in Brussels resembled a Euro-Atlantic game of pétanque, in which a strategic rapprochement was substituted for the taking out of the opponent's balls (because of the Georgia conflict in August) - a game of bowling in which enough space was left for a Georgian and Ukrainian 'ball' in the event that Washington decides to pass the ball to [Russian President Dmitry] Medvedev. And at least it looks like there's still enough room for an independent European throw as well. Another thing that was symptomatic of the Brussels meeting was [French President Nicolas Sarkozy's] positive attitude towards Russia's initiative for forming an entirely new 'European security architecture', as well as the response of America and Britain that Nato and the OSCE [Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe] were adequate for guaranteeing Europe's security." (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Slovenian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe, » U.S., » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Damijan Slabe

Writer and columnist Olli Kivinen calls the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Helsinki on December 4th and 5th the highlight of Finland's chairmanship of the organisation. "Even if many critics - including myself - just a few years ago saw the OSCE, which now comprises 56 member countries, as a moribund and needless bureaucracy, recent developments have demonstrated that it remains an important platform. ... According to [its chairman and Finnish Foreign Minister] Alexander Stubb, the goal of this meeting is to make a joint political declaration. Whether this will come about is questionable. In the best case, the participating countries will be in such a panic over the economic crisis that they will be ready to smooth relations between Russia and the Western countries." (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Finnish)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Finland, » Global
All available articles from » Olli Kivinen

Following the arrest in Milan of two Moroccans who allegedly misused an Islamic culture centre for a conspiracy, the Lega Nord party and Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni have applied for an embargo on the building of mosques. The liberal daily La Stampa fears that this could block the construction of mosques indefinitely. "It is a good sign that the Lega Nord chose to go through parliament when one considers that until only recently [Reform] Minister [Roberto] Calderoli, a Lega member, was threatening to drive pigs on to pieces of land intended for Muslim places of worship, thus desecrating them. ... But declaring a moratorium on mosque building until a new agreement is reached, as the Lega proposes, would in practice mean blocking them for an indefinite period. In a country where millions of Muslims now live, the ban could have the opposite of the intended effect by giving those affected the feeling that freedom of religion is being restricted and suppressing the more radical positions, thus risking an explosion instead of keeping the situation under control." (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Integration, » Minorities, » Italy
All available articles from » Marcello Sorgi

Serbia wants to have the International Court of Justice in The Hague look into whether Kosovo's declaration of independence is consistent with international law. Stavri Kalopsidiotu, lawyer and member of Cyprus' Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) in the European Parliament, reflects on the possible consequences of Serbia's action. "Perhaps it comes as a surprise for all those who spoke prematurely of a defeat for 'established law' and the weakening of the principle of sovereignty and political and territorial integrity of countries. ... It is the hope of all small and weak countries on this planet that these proceedings will not give the green light for redrawing the world's borders. ... The resolution of the UN General Assembly [to agree to Serbia's resolution that the case should be investigated in The Hague] theoretically puts a brake on corresponding claims such as those of Kosovo." (03/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Greek)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Crime and Law, » Serbia, » Kosovo
All available articles from » Stavri Kalopsidiotou

After the arrest in France of Mikel Garikoitz Aspiazu Rubina, the military leader of the Basque underground organisation ETA, Spanish and French politicians announced that the organisation has been defeated. But it is too early to celebrate, writes Sega newspaper. "If ETA has demonstrated anything over the last 40 years, it is the abilitiy to hastily repair damaged structures. It is only a matter of time before it strikes once more, because the supporters of a moderate solution to the Basque question have lost control over ETA's combat units. A fight for dominance between the military and the political wings of ETA has long been raging, and new combative faces have certainly taken the place of the old guard. ... [And] the political wing of the group, the banned Batasuna organisation, is also unable to contribute to the peacemaking process." (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Bulgarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Minorities, » Social movements, » Crime and Law, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Svetoslav Abrosimov

The former Israeli ambassador to Germany, Avi Primor, comments in the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung on strategies against terror. "There's no question that you can't convert fanatics and that you have to fight them to protect yourself. But this doesn't tackle the root of the problem. And why are terrorist organisations always able to find new voluntary recruits, from both the Islamic world or the countries of the West, where not a few terrorists grow up in a normal, Western environment? The key word to understanding this problem is dignity. For most people in Muslim countries the poverty in which they live and from which they can see no escape is the root of their sense of humiliation. As long as we fail to support them there can be no new hope - and they will keep on producing terrorists. ... Today one percent of the accumulated gross national product of the US, the EU states, rich countries like Canada, Japan and also the oil-rich pro-American Arab countries would amount to two billion dollars. With such a sum, managed by a sensible international body, one could bring about major change in the Islamic countries. Only then would the Muslim masses turn their backs on the fanatics and only then will there be a chance of victory in the battle against fundamentalist terror." (04/12/2008)

» more information (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Religion, » Social movements, » Weltanschauung, » Global
All available articles from » Avi Primor

Ádám Kiss reflects in the online magazine Hírszerző on the shortcomings of Hungarian politics since 1989/90. "The greatest mistake of the past two decades consists in the fact that nothing has been carefully thought out or consistently implemented in this country. ... For example there is no indication that Hungary's economy is headed in a clear direction with concrete goals. We wanted to become the intellectual centre of the Carpathian Basin. But we must ask ourselves: Were there ever any comprehensive plans aimed at creating a promising and sound social system, from primary school to research and development? And how about tourism? Or regional and urban development? What about the dream of hosting the Olympic Games in Budapest; the army; the ring road for the capital? ... Politicians have failed to give Hungary a clear direction since the fall of communism. How do we feel about the past, about our neighbours, about the Hungarian minorities living in neighbouring countries, about Europe? ... Since the fall of communism things have more or less only been done by halves in Hungary. When there were reforms, they were mainly ad hoc in character. The state simply sold most of the problem cases [state-owned companies]. This in itself would not be such a bad thing, but apart from the buyers no one has benefited from this practice." (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Hungarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Economic Policy, » Tourism, » Hungary
All available articles from » Ádám Kiss

In the daily Corriere del Ticino the vice president of the European Policy Forum in London, Tito Tettamanti, defends with reference to a study Switzerland's financial policy, which levies a 15 percent tax on interest accrued on Swiss deposits and denies access to capital gains. "International supervision of accounts doesn't work, as a study carried out by the European Policy Forum in November proves. The introduction of such controls at the 1,243 European and Swiss banks would cost 753 million euros plus a further 693 million years for implementation per year. Toughening these controls to the extent the EU demands would double the costs. By contrast the system of taxing interest profits directly at the source functions extremely well and costs very little. This raises the question: ... Why do bureaucrats want to stick their noses inefficiently and at great expense into the tax affairs of private people? I have an idea, but I'll leave it to the reader to come up with the answer, which is obvious." (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Tax Policy, » Switzerland, » Europe
All available articles from » Tito Tettamanti

The regional newspaper Ouest France argues that Sunday should remain a day of rest: "First of all, Sunday must not be tampered with because it is not a day like any other. Like it or not, cultural, religious and family celebrations - and even sporting events - all happen on Sundays. Most people do not work on this day. Our society needs this time to 'take a deep breath', a time for reflecting on the fact that our planet is more than just a huge supermarket. We must save Sunday to counter those theorists who would have us believe that 'trees can grow right up to heaven'. ... The real question is not whether people want to go shopping, but whether we ourselves are ready to work on Sunday!" (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Trade, » Consumers, » Economic Policy, » France
All available articles from » Pascal Pellan

La Vanguardia newspaper writes that the Bologna Process will create a new model for university education: "The Bologna Process solemnly marks the end of one era and the start of another for the European university. This change began some time ago. As rash as it may sound, we could put the date at 1968. Since the beginning of the 19th century the university has been a sanctuary of higher education par excellence, or at least it strove to be. From now on this will no longer be the case. The university will be a blend of specialised training programme and technical college, mixed with a small remainder of the former university. I am not saying this is good or bad. Certainly it will answer some of today's social and economic problems. But in return it will also raise others, and in any case it will have important cultural and social consequences." (04/12/2008)

» more information (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Education, » Cultural Policy, » Europe
All available articles from » Francesc de Carreras

Following a journalists' conference on university policy in Paris, the daily newspaper Gândul argues that although Romania has introduced bachelor and master degree courses at its universities, it hasn't solved the problems: "It is useless to undertake structural changes but in essence leave everything as before. This is the bad news: we have brought the same deficiencies that have been plaguing us for 18 years into the new structure: antediluvian courses and subjects, chalk-and-blackboard teaching methods from the Dark Ages, labs from the times of communism and, worse still, a relationship between students and professors that is still based on the authoritarian model of the all-knowing teacher and the subservient student. Moreover, corruption and moral decline [are pervasive], with professors who sell good grades for oral sex and students who come to university expecting exam results to pop out of Father Christmas's sack like gifts." (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Education, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Melania Mandas Vergu

The Spanish newspaper El Mundo has described Portugal's Prime Minister José Sócrates as one of the most elegant men in the world. The daily Correio da Manhã writes: "People always talk about Portuguese friendliness. But in fact only tourists talk that way because they feel well treated. We, who know ourselves better than anyone else does, understand very well that this is just a trick to inveigle tourists. Among ourselves we are not polite at all. But we do everything to impress the foreigners and receive a compliment. Now we have reason to be proud. ... José Sócrates is ranked sixth on the list, behind super-elegant men such as Karl Lagerfeld, Barack Obama and Brad Pitt, but before Jude Law and Prince Charles. That is not worthy of applause, but of gratitude." (04/12/2008)

» full article (external link, Portuguese)
More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Portugal
All available articles from » Leonor Pinhão