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Clej, Petru
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4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Conversion to euro too dodgy for Romania
Romania wants to join the euro in 2015, but in view of the current euro crisis the online paper Acum strongly advises against it: "Now, when the euro withdrawal of countries like Greece is no longer a utopia, Romania wants to be part of a currency which is tailored to Germany, the Netherlands, Finland and Austria. It's an illusion to believe that the euro is some sort of protective shield, like the EU is in general, or Nato. If the crisis intensifies and it turns out that it is too expensive to keep a country from bankruptcy, tax payers in the major euro countries - particularly in Germany and France - will simply dig in their heels and stop paying. It is by no means absurd to believe that the European single currency will fail. ... Which is why it would be more prudent if public opinion were more sceptical about joining the euro. But the issue is being all but ignored and it looks as if the Romanians will be running, whistling cheerfully, towards their downfall."
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Financial Markets, » Greece, » Europe, » Romania
Take popular concerns seriously
In criticising multiculturalism British Prime Minister David Cameron is reacting to the fears of one segment of the electorate, writes Petru Clej in his blog for Contributors.ro: "Britain has ... an extremely liberal policy regarding ethnic and religious minorities. Schools for Muslims are financed with public funds and Islamic headscarves are common in public institutions. Three months after German Chancellor Angela Merkel adopted a similar position declaring the failure of multiculturalism and saying immigrants must learn German, Cameron has now followed suit. This demonstrates that Western European politicians are starting to react to signals from voters who are attracted by the extreme right in many countries. The concerns voiced by the centre-right politicians Cameron and Merkel are voicing concerns shared by a growing number of Europeans."
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Integration, » Minorities, » Society, » Germany, » United Kingdom, » Romania
Britain loses trump card BBC
The British international broadcaster, the BBC World Service has announced it will be discontinuing five of its foreign language programmes. Unions fear 650 jobs will be axed over the next three years. Petru Clej, a long-term employee of BBC Romania, which was discontinued in 2008, comments in his blog on the Portal Contributors.ro: "Compared with the first five years of the new millennium, not to mention the time before the end of the Cold War, the BBC World Service is barely recognisable as an institution. This service was an invaluable weapon of public diplomacy for the United Kingdom, without the government in London having a hand in it in any way. It was a trump card that allowed Britain to box among the heavyweights on the world stage, although in the last 70 years its real weight had dwindled. Now it is on the way to losing this trump card."
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Audiovisual Media, » Media policy, » United Kingdom
Farewell, BBC!
Since 1939 the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) has broadcast in Romania. The programme is to be discontinued as of August 1. In an article for the Romanian blog ACUM, former BBC employee Petru Clej gives a nostalgic review: "With the conclusion of Romania's BBC programme an important symbol will disappear. For the older generation it brings back memories of the war, when Radio London strived to correct the false information delivered by Hitler and Antonescu. During the times of the 'Cold War', which lasted considerably longer, the BBC once again broke the information block of a totalitarian regime, this time that of the communists. After the fall of communism the BBC service in Romania reached the peak of its popularity, with around 16 percent of Romanian adults tuning in to its programmes. ... In Romania the BBC was always a model for how public opinion can be formed: with rational, unbiased journalism that never relied on shrill tones or flashy but meaningless pamphlets as the Romanian media does. ... Farewell, BBC. We will miss you!"
» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » Audiovisual Media, » Print media, » Media policy, » United Kingdom, » Romania
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