The German-French Agenda 2020 lacks a lead project to give it direction, the left-liberal Süddeutsche Zeitung warns: "Both foreign policy and defence offer the chance to merge the countries' armaments industries, nearly to the point of building a single army. A major pitch would probably net Sarkozy, but Merkel prefers taking many small steps. Still, both consider pathos and pragmatism important in order to secure the role of Germany and France as pacesetters for the flagging EU. The Chancellor wants to avoid the appearance that Berlin and Paris are shutting out other states. But the fact remains that there is no comparable partner for Germany. Great Britain is too sceptical of the EU, Russia is too nationalistic and undemocratic and America is too busy with itself and China." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Germany, » France

France and Germany are Europe's uncontested pioneers, the liberal daily Mladá Fronta Dnes writes in its commentary on the meeting between President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel in Paris. But the paper notes that cooperation between the two could be improved: "France and Germany love each other, and the gaps between them are increasingly being filled in. Their scientists work on joint projects, the students learn from the same books and engaged couples can marry without wading through a sea of red tape. But this love also has its limits. ... Merkel's response to Sarkozy's proposal of a joint ministry was restrained. Nor would German voters like it if the French had a 'spy' in the German government. But the results of the summit are nonetheless surprising. The ministers of both sides will no doubt be seeing more of each other, even if 'by invitation only'." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU neighbourhood policy, » Germany, » France
All available articles from » Kateřina Koubová

At the 12th meeting of Franco German Minister Council, held Thursday, the concept of a common minister was rejected. But the challenges of this partnership can and must be handled differently, writes the regional paper L'Est Républicain: "Too bad the symbolism lost out. But in the end, the exchange between Paris and Berlin will take a new path anyway. At a time when Americans are primarily looking toward Asia, and developing countries are demanding a role in international negotiations, this exchange [between France and Germany] is essential. ... Personal relationships are less important than economic connections between the two countries. Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel are knocking themselves out to make it work, just like Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schröder were finally able to have a meeting of the minds only after a difficult start. ... The French would be mistaken to fear the power of their neighbour. Given the fact that the rest of the world isn't holding back to wait for Europe, the imbalance is not a threat." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Germany, » France
All available articles from » Chantal Didier

The US wants to place part of its missile defence system in Romania. On Thursday, Romanian President Traian Băsescu said that his country's Supreme Defence Council would approve the plan. The Voxpublica blog looks into the political entanglements behind the decision: "It is now clear that Vice President Joe Biden visited the very three countries last autumn that are participating in the anti-missile project: Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania. Had Romanian participation in the project already been discussed at that point? What is clear is that Romania's continued contribution of troops to the forces in Afghanistan played an important role in the negotiations. ... The missiles, too, will become a theme for Russian diplomatic pressure on Romania, just as the US bases on the Black Sea have been. We will take note, but will stay on the side of the Czech Republic and Poland. After all, Romania's strategic decisions came with the country's entry into NATO." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Poland, » Czech Republic, » Romania
All available articles from » Laura Cernahoschi

Russia has invited only Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Katyń massacre. However Polish President Lech Kaczyński has announced that he, too, will be attending the event. The daily Gazeta Wyborcza sees this with mixed feelings: "If Lech Kaczyński accepts that this visit is intended as a visit at the level of heads of government, if he acts with restraint, if he is able to refrain from making anti-Russian comments, then his presence will heighten the significance of this event. If, on the other hand, he travels there with the intention of showing off and demonstrating who calls the shots on relations with Russia, ... this will only turn the political hopes into a political embarrassment. A loss of face that would affect not only Lech Kaczyński but also the state of which he is president." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » Remembrance culture, » Poland, » Russia
All available articles from » Jarosław Kurski

In a measure aimed at boosting the fight against corruption three MPs belonging to the Socialist Party (PS) have proposed a law under which data on the gross incomes of all taxpayers would be published and accessible online. This is a serious attack on basic rights, writes the daily Diário de Notícias: "To publish the gross earnings of taxpayers online … is unacceptable. Fortunately Francisco Assis is a man of common sense and has announced that such an idea will never be put into action as long as he is leader [of the PS parliamentary group]. It is a populist and demagogic measure that brings out the worst in people: envy and voyeurism. If it is put into practice anyone would be able to compare his or her income and assets with those of their neighbour. ... This is a violation of a basic right, the right to privacy. The battle against corruption and tax evasion must take priority. But it can't be used … to take measures that encourage gossip and prattling among citizens." (04/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Tax Policy, » Portugal

The Greek government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament for the nationalisation of more than 250,000 second-generation immigrants. The left-liberal daily Ta Nea sees this as a first step toward an effective immigration policy: "The government is trying to bring the migration problem under control and create certain rules governing the presence and activities of these people in our country. The bill for the naturalisation of immigrants and their children who live legally in this country, provided they fulfil certain requirements, is a first but important step, together with the right to vote in local elections, towards their smooth integration into Greek society. Obviously further steps need to be taken, because a situation in which thousands of people live in this country without a clearly defined status is untenable."  (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Migration, » Integration, » Greece

Dominique Moïsi, professor of political science at Harvard University, writes in the left-liberal weekly Heti Világgazdaság about the interplay between identity and fear: "More than ever before in recent decades, fear is becoming the dominant force in European politics. And it is not an abstract, undefined fear: it is above all the fear of the non-European 'other,' perceived by a growing numbers of 'white' Europeans as a threat to our European identities and ways of life, if not our physical security and jobs. The issues of Islam and immigration stand at the very center of these debates. ... Globalization and the frustration accompanying it lead many to a jittery search for self-worth. And the less convinced people are about their future, the more they tend to focus on their identity in a negative, defensive manner. If you lack confidence in your ability to surmount the challenges of modernization, you might as well retreat into yourself and focus on who you are, rather than on what you want to achieve with others." (04/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Integration, » Global
All available articles from » Dominique Moïsi

Demographer Tomáš Sobotka suggests, in the daily paper The Guardian, that the drop in population in Europe is anything but a catastrophe: "Yes, Europe as a whole is projected to experience a gradual decline of its population, from 732 million now to 691 million in 2050 according to the United Nations. But, although further decline after 2050 will most probably follow, this gets nowhere close to a collapse. ... Since the late 19th century, when a massive decline in birth rates began in most of Europe, some demographers and long-forgotten futurologists have been busy envisioning an inevitable demise of Europe and 'western civilisation'. However, it is not population size but affluence and technology that make some countries more powerful than others. Switzerland, with a population of 8 million, is globally more significant than, say, Bangladesh, with a population 20 times larger. In any case, a slow decline in European population should be cheerfully welcomed by all who care about climate change and global pressure on resources." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Demographics, » Europe
All available articles from » Tomáš Sobotka

According to the latest prognosis of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Spain will be the only major EU state not to register growth in 2010. But Spanish daily El Correo points out that its economic situation should by no means be compared with Greece's: "Spain isn't Greece. The economic and financial situations of both countries shouldn't and can't be compared. This needs to be said loud and clear, as the president of Banco Santander, Emilio Botín, has already done in a bid to counter international opinion, which tends to equate the problems of both countries regarding the level of their debts, their public deficits and their capacity to overcome the crisis. This is a poor comparison which seriously damages confidence in our country and increases the risk premiums on Spain's foreign debt, thus raising the cost of the debt and seriously damaging investment in Spain." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Financial Markets, » Spain, » Greece

Trade unions in Slovenia have achieved their goal of a rise in the minimum wage. This will benefit the economy, writes journalist Marko Kos in the daily Delo: "Minimum wages are both an incentive and an obligation for company managements to give up their complacent and cushy defensive stance and focus their energies on innovative development ideas. This will lead to a turning point as far as low wages are concerned. A crisis is not the right time to raise salaries because many companies are already struggling. But without a salary rise there can be no turnabout in the state of the national economy. ... Owners must invest in personnel and development. ... The salaries will then increase parallel to productivity." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Social Policy / Employment, » Economic Policy, » Slovenia
All available articles from » Marko Kos

A school in Copenhagen invited only Muslim mothers, and not fathers, to a parents' meeting on the theme of bullying. This has prompted a heated public debate in Denmark. The daily newspaper Tidende criticises the exclusion of the fathers and urges political leaders to take a stand: "If it appears that several schools have problems taking responsibility and transmitting the values upon which Danish schools are based, then it is not enough for Education Minister Bertel Haarder to confine himself to remaining aloof from the matter. If several headmasters - out of a false notion of tolerance - undermine the urgently needed process of integration that the prime minister has quite often declared to be an urgent government matter, then the minister must take a stand and show where the line is crossed into intolerance.” (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Education, » Integration, » Denmark

Italy is embroiled in a heated debate over the hamburger and national identity, after the agricultural ministry supported the US-based McDonald's firm in its ads for fast food with Italian ingredients. In the online magazine Farefuturo, Cecilia Moretti tries to cool things down: "It is true that in times of rampant globalisation and amorphous identities there is a sense of urgency to bite into everything. It may also be true that we are what we eat. Still, we are tired of being associated only with spaghetti and pizza. They may be fantastic, but I must add without arrogance and in all honesty: It seems to us that Italy and Italians are more than just a huge hunk of dough with tomatoes (which happen to come from America). If push comes to shove, it may be the US mega-firm that suffers an identity shock when it sees its cheeseburgers and fries alongside a slab of Italian beef, authentic Parmesan cheese and bacon from the Venosta valley. When it comes down to it, we Italians do believe we can still identify with something else, and won't suffer an identity crisis over a little sandwich." (05/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Weltanschauung, » Italy
All available articles from » Cecilia Moretti