Antonio Elorza, a professor of political science, asserts that "in the new autonomy statute, the bilateral relationship between the Spanish state and Catalonia's governance is incompatible with a federal organisation of the state. Time will tell whether it is compatible with the effective functioning of public policies. We are headed toward a dual state, and if the Basque country follows Catalonia's example , toward an asymmetric confederation. ... In the discussions over status, Zapatero demonstrated an extraordinary talent for negotiation and marshalling every political trick; but he revealed a worrying void concerning his conception of the state.... Catalans and Spaniards have drawn further apart due to a lack of constructive dialogue (during the campaign) and national reconciliation is needed more than ever." (20/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Antonio Elorza

Leo Wieland fears that Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's "policy of smiles and concessions has opened Pandora's box, and that it could lead to internal instability, increased demands from tribally-minded regional nationalists, and in the end to a Balkanisation of the Iberian peninsula": "The hard-core nationalists in the Basque country and the somewhat more moderate ones in Catalonia are not open-minded, urban figures; they often seem to have sprung straight from the pages of an old picture book dating back to the 19th or 20th century. The areas they govern are not exactly models of free communities, but ones where (sometimes racist) narrow-mindedness is thriving, along with the tribal network and cronyism, which is cleverly combined with the regional language as an instrument of power." (20/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Leo Wieland

"Catalans, Spaniards and Europeans all have reason to be proud of Sunday's democratic decision to expand the powers of self-government available to the citizens of Catalonia," asserts an editorial in the financial daily. "The Catalans wanted it. The Spanish parliament mandated it as constitutionally lawful. And the European Union provides a framework - part architecture, part shock-absorbers - that should make such exercises perfectly ordinary. ... The deep-rooted and culturally ineradicable nationalism of Basques and Catalans ... still excites visceral opposition from Spain's right, and discomfits its more Jacobin left. All credit, then, to Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Socialist prime minister, for insisting that more devolution, to the extent that it democratically empowers those of Spain's citizens who want it, will strengthen the country." (20/06/2006)

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"With the approval of a future political framework for Catalonia, Zapatero has scored his first major domestic political victory," the daily's Madrid correspondent writes in an analysis. " Upon his arrival at the helm in March 2004, the socialist leader promised to put an end to nationalist oneupmanship by agreeing to modify, within constitutional limits, the autonomy status of the 17 regions that desired a change. ... Zapatero hopes to make the increased autonomy for Catalonia a model for Spain, especially for regions with an acute nationalist sensibility such as the Basque country. The Catalonian example has thus provided a less centralising image of Madrid. Basque supporters of independence now say they are ready to talk ... Within the next ten days, Zapatero is expected to announce to Parliament the opening of negotiations with the Basque separatist organisation, ETA." (20/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Diane Cambon

The daily's Brussels correspondent analyses Europe's ambiguous role as an ally of regions. "Regional autonomy plans are multiplying in Spain, where the current government is striving to bring about a new federalism. ... And the same goes for the states: offered the promise of a reassuring European Union, they can spawn, as in Montenegro's case, new divisions. Under Europe's protective cover, these new entities remain assured that they will not end up isolated or exposed to violent reversals of fortune. ... The paradox is that by encouraging split-ups and relatively harmless freedom aspirations, the European Union also provides a way to moderate the effects of such moves. The new neighbours, born from new break-ups, are often quick to realise in Brussels that they have no better allies than those with whom they sought to part company." (20/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Eléonore Sulser

"For the first time in history more than half of the world's population will be living in cities by the end of next year," Radek Nedved quotes a new study published by the UN. He adds: "The problem with this is that one in three city dwellers is forced to live in slum-like conditions. The Third World, in particular, is experiencing dramatic changes. By 2030, more people will be living in African cities than in Europe as a whole. There, demographic changes and migration account for 95 percent of the global increase in city populations. The question is: who's going to build homes for these people, provide jobs for them and take care of their health and education? The study refers to the situation as a time bomb – one of the greatest problems mankind must overcome in this century." (20/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Radek Nedved

Under the auspices of the World Cup, many people in Germany are showing nationalist fervour for the first time. The terms "new" and "friendly" are often used in conjunction with this new wave of patriotism. Christian Schlüter has nothing against the flag-waving football fans, but he takes a critical view of the phenomenon: "More worrying are the countless offers to give people's life a new meaning and appeals to national identity with which we have been regaled for at least half a year now by journalists with nationalist leanings. The intellectual content of the message basically boils down to the slogan 'Du bist Deutschland!' (you are Germany). A certain sense of weariness with history and an attitude of bold nonchalance is spreading across the country... The drop in intellectual standards is making nationalism a matter of indifference: Everything can be anything. Take, for example, the slogan of the Sudeten German Homeland Association at its Whitsun meeting: 'Expulsion is genocide!' Revisionism, it seems, has now also become a German trade mark." (20/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Christian Schlüter

Three months after its parliamentary elections, Ukraine still has no government. If over the next five days a working coalition is not formed, new elections will be held. "In the beginning everything seemed clear. The three parties of the orange revolution have 243 of the 450 seats in the Werchowna Rada, so it was just a question of defining the fundamentals and distributing the ministerial posts. However, a series of amendments to the constitution introduced this spring have altered Ukraine's political system. Now it is no longer a presidential democracy, and the prime minister and the parliamentary president have more power. This has prolonged the negotiations. President Yushchenko has called on the 'Orange supporters' to demonstrate solidarity. There is no other alternative, because to block the government together with Viktor Yanukovych's Party of Regions would be political suicide for the former revolutionaries." (20/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Askolds Rodins

A citizens' action group in Hungary wants Hungarian Jews to be accorded the status of a national minority. Religious scholar Geza Komoroczy points out that the project is causing concern among many Hungarian Jews, the majority of whom are secular and speak Hungarian as their first language. "They remember that back in 1944 the Jews were first counted by the Hungarian authorities and then deported. They know that in principle even today it's possible to misuse lists of minorities." Nonetheless, Komoroczy calls for Jewish culture to be given more prominence in public life. "People can forget their Jewish origins, or make them invisible if they want to. But those who are seeking to define their identities with regard to others should try to emphasise this difference." (16/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Geza Komoroczy

The right-leaning daily fears a possible schism in the Anglican Church after the U.S. branch of the communion elected as its leader a woman who does not regard homosexuality as a sin. "The election of the Right Rev Katharine Schori to be Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States may be as much a reflection of the rivalries within that body as a calculated challenge to the wider Anglican community [which numbers 77 million members worldwide]. Yet it will still have the effect of pouring more petrol on a raging fire. Her elevation may well entrench attitudes within the Church of England over the appointment of women bishops, deepen the Anglican divide on homosexuality and render a formal schism more probable. ... The Anglican Church today appears less a 'rainbow coalition' than a cast of angry, incompatible, colours." (20/06/2006)

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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » United Kingdom

The daily says Cyprus is "burning bridges without winning anything" after its threat to veto the start of Turkey's EU entry talks. The EU appeased Cyprus by reminding Turkey of its 'obligations'. "This is an extremely risky game that betrays a complete lack of touch with the harsh realities of the world. [Cyprus President Tassos] Papadopoulos seems to believe that a tiny country like Cyprus can take on the world and win, without relying on alliances with other countries. We have an open front with Turkey and now he has decided to open a front with all the EU member states, including Greece, the only country that had steadfastly stood by Cyprus in the last 30 years. Without Greece's support, Cyprus would never have become a member of the EU, yet Papadopoulos seems to have no qualms about recklessly destroying this very special relationship, unhappy that it is not conducted on his own terms." (20/06/2006)

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For the first time since the reintroduction of democracy in 1989, there is not a single member of the opposition on the National Broadcasting Council in Poland. The council, which among other things makes decisions pertaining to staff, now includes only people with close connections to the right-wing governing coalition. Sociologist Piotr Zuk comments: "The PiS's campaign to control the public broadcasting stations is much more frightening and effective than those of its predecessors. It is being conducted without any scruples. It's really obvious that the PiS couldn't care less about the accusations that it is politicising the media. The media are de facto being taken over by the party, and ceasing to be public media." (20/06/2006)

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The daily regards today's [Tuesday, June 20]inauguration in Paris of the Musee du Quai Branly - an institution dedicated to the art of non-western civilisations that has been a personal pet project of Jacques Chirac - as an encapsulation of the French president's convictions. "His passion for aboriginal art has become in a certain way a recurrent theme of his presidency. ... It has assumed a deliberate and all-embracing character where everything blends together: the feeling of being at ease in unappreciated or humiliated cultures, the recognition that they bring him on the world stage, and a message to France not to withdraw into itself. Jacques Chirac is not just looking to reconcile esthetics and ethnology; he seeks to project a global vision of the world via 'his' museum. ... Upon discovering the Quai Branly, foreign journalists are often surprised that cultural ambition is so closely allied with politics. That, too, is the French exception." (20/06/2006)

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All available articles from » Catherine Pégard

In 2011 Finland and Estonia will be joint European Capitals of Culture. Estonia has chosen Tallinn to represent it. Now Finland has announced that Turku is to be its 2011 Capital of Culture. The newspaper agrees with the decision, but also argues the case for Rovaniemi, which the ministry of culture put in second place. "European tourists are familiar with certain aspects of Turku, because the city has a centuries-old culture. But this is also true of many other places in Europe, including the other European Capital of Culture, Tallinn. Rovaniemi, on the other hand, would have had something completely new to offer." Rovaniemi is the home of heavy metal band Lordi and of Father Christmas. (20/06/2006)

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More from the press review on the subject » Cultural Policy, » Finland

The paper is very annoyed about what it calls the "travelling circus" of the European Parliament and the apparent unwillingness of European heads of state and government to do anything about it. It argues that it's absurd that the parliamentary buildings in Strasbourg stand empty for 300 days of the year, and that the travelling expenses and other costs incurred by MEPs are also entirely unnecessary. "This situation not only alienates the average citizen, it also increases distrust of the EU and weakens the credibility of the European project with people who have to work hard to earn their living." (20/06/2006)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe