"What could be more embarrassing?" asks Nick Reimer. "Now the energy group Eon presents itself as being even more progressive than the Federal Government, wanting to sell its power grid. ... True, Eon's motives are not exactly honourable. For years, this energy giant reaped profits off the energy net without undertaking necessary modernization. And now that the regulatory authority has managed to cut these profits successfully and investors are lining up, the business suddenly gets innovative. ... It always follows the same pattern. The EU Commission finally develops ways to effectively implement climate protection. Germany then cashes in on these tools. That's how it was with air traffic, with certificate trading and automobile construction. Merkel's government has managed to hobble every good idea up to now." (29/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Nick Reimer

Peter Rasonyi thinks the Eon energy group lost interest in the power grid that must be built in the coming years, given the billions in investments and painstaking authorization processes it will require. "But it is ironic that the EU Commission comes out the winner, precisely at the moment when the regulations finally reveal their positive influence on competition. Now an experiment begins, without the pressure of urgent need, and with an open outcome. Will a new owner run the power grid in a competent, efficient and secure manner? Will it invest enough? What hidden interests will it have? The regulatory authorities will soon face major tasks and responsibilities.” (29/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Corporations, » Germany, » Europe
All available articles from » Peter Rasonyi

The daily criticizes "European Union member states, led by France and Germany which oppose sweeping energy liberalisation", explaining they "have persuaded the European Commission to rethink a forced split of companies' production and distribution assets. That is not to say the deal between German power company Eon and EU competition authorities will not lead to more grid sales. But if Europe's leaders are serious about increasing competition, then the compromise discussed by ministers is a weak alternative to the Commission's original plan. Under the latest proposals, energy companies would not have to sell grids and pipelines. They would face tougher regulation and a requirement for more independent management. ... The EU's goal should be a more efficient market where prices better reflect supply and demand balances. Enforced separation of assets is the best way to achieve that. The compromise being considered lacks teeth." (29/02/2008)

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With support from the UN, Norway has constructed an underground vault on the island of Spitsbergen, near the North Pole, where seeds from plants will be preserved in the permanent frost. This prompts Peter Michalzik to ask how such a project envisions catastrophe. "Someone who builds an ark believes in the destruction of the world. There is no ark without a deluge. ... There are waves of apocalyptic thinking in our culture, which says more about the mythical dimensions, the dark side of our culture and our conscious or subconscious fears - and less about technological possibilities. After all, it makes no sense to plan for the possibility of global catastrophe. It is pointless to sow seeds when no one is there to harvest the fruit. It is as ridiculous as building a bunker for a government when there is no one left to govern." (29/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Science / Research, » Global
All available articles from » Peter Michalzik

Civil rights activist Vasile Paraschiv was one of the most prominent opponents of the Ceausescu regime. He tells Ovidiu Simonca it was good that Romanian President Traian Basescu condemned the crimes of communism at the end of 2006, but more must be done. "It is not enough to condemn communism theoretically. We need a commission made up of victims of the communist dictatorship, and they should propose a law that would allow all victims to bring their torturers to justice. … We need a law that that would enable us to convict all those Securitate members who injured the Romanian people. This law must not be as unclear as the one that the Romanian Authorities for Analysis of the Securitate files (CNSAS) has worked on up to now, and which was recently declared unconstitutional." (29/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Ovidiu Simonca, » Vasile Paraschiv

Raluca Ursachi, a doctoral student at the Sorbonne University in Paris, considers the decision of the Romanian Constitutional Court to limit the work of the national council responsible for the Securitate archives (CNSAS). "The main reason for the outlawing on the CNSAS is that it works as an 'exceptional instance of judgement', which goes against the fundamental law. ... The fundamental law and indeed all Romanian laws in general, have made no room for the exceptional justice demanded by the Revolution. The crimes of the regime are dictated, the former members of the Nomenklatura and the Securitate continue to occupy the foreground of the political and economic scene and the bloody incidents of December 1989 have never been elucidated. From a legal standpoint, the Revolution never took place. And if wee take a closer look at the past of the guardians of the temple of legality, you do wonder if, apart from the 1,000 victims, (whose deaths have still not been understood), the Revolution did really take place..." (27/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Raluca Ursachi

The Islam specialist Tariq Ramadan denies calling for the boycott of the Turin Book Fair, at which Israeli writers are due to be special guests this May. He does nonetheless support the boycott and explains why. "A boycott is the method that defenders of Palestinian rights have chosen, in Italy, to make a voice of protest be heard in the hymn praising Israel, behind which lies the sombre reality of the occupied territories. ... I continue to think that the choice of Israel as guest of honour, while Palestinians are dying in Gaza, is a clumsy mistake. The gesture is totally in keeping with Europe's political position: Israel is celebrated, constantly maintaining confusion between political criticism and anti-Semitism and above all, we maintain a 'conspiracy of silence' regarding Israel's apartheid policy. This 'cultural' choice echoes the 'political' silence by contributing to the displacement of the problem as the blind partisans of the State of Israel are so good at doing." (29/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Italy, » Israel
All available articles from » Tariq Ramadan

To no avail, the EU Commission negotiated with the USA over a period of four years for visa-free entry for citizens of the new EU member states. Now the Czech Republic has prepared its own deal with Washington. Other European countries, such as Slovakia, want to follow suit. Peter Schutz finds this only right: "Brussels, which opposes the unilateral move of the Czechs and others, is acting all hot and bothered for nought. The EU had four years in which to secure visa-free entry to the USA for citizens of the new member countries. It didn't work. ... But the good news for freedom of movement is bad news for European solidarity." (29/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Peter Schutz

The British MP Denis MacShane, former Minister of European affairs, analyses the European dimension of the legislative elections that will take place in Spain on March 9th. "Europe needs a strong, progressive, tolerant and open Spain to counter the presence of neoliberal and nationalist governments within the EU. ... . In an increasingly globalised world, the danger isn't that we might see too much of Europe in the future, but rather not enough. ... The labour party and the Spanish socialist party (PSOE) have common positions on Europe while differing on certain matters. Both can bring a lot to the next chapter of Europe's construction. And with the right-leaning tendency of numerous countries, it is important for Spain to keep a political balance within the EU as it is going through a crucial historical moment." (29/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Denis MacShane

A week away from legislative elections on March 8th, the daily takes issue with the current Labour leader Alfred Sant after he said he does not regret saying before Malta joined the EU, that an alternative to membership, a partnership, was the right choice for Malta. "Labour may not have any regrets about their past policy on the EU but the people do. They regret the fact that Labour has delayed Malta's membership process and, consequently, the progress the country has been able to make since accession. Who would blame the people now for branding the Labour Party eurosceptic ? Going by what the Labour leader has said, it is clear that, deep down, the party still feels that the people have made the wrong decision. Labour's policy has cost Malta dearly. Dr Sant's 'no' also hurts the electorate's feelings, for the least they would expect now is Labour's recognition of their mistake. No wonder the Labour leader does not like referendums." (28/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Malta

The day after the new president of Cyprus, the communist Demetris Christofias, was sworn in, the daily considers that "Somebody is going to have to explain to the foreign media that our Che is not preparing a new Sierra Maestra. He is going to try to deal with the territorial problems of our island that has been divided since the invasion of the Turkish army in 1974. Granted, those who are saying that the Cypriot problem is our Sierra Maestra are not entirely wrong, but you cannot compare the struggle of the Argentinean revolutionary with the problems of euro zone, the Maastricht and Shengen agreements. ... Our new president is a communist and his political agenda can be summed up in a single sentence: the reunification of the island. An historical transition should commence shortly, along with peace negotiations. So there will be no revolution! Indeed, our resin wine would have killed off the revolutionaries long before the CIA could take care of them..." (29/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Cyprus

Michael Moravec is outraged that the Austrian government has refused to endorse an EU plan that would support, among other things, research for a new generation of nuclear reactors. "It is no accident that Austria's previous partners in the fight against atomic energy have departed from this radical path by now, including Ireland, Denmark and Luxemburg. They all recognized that the growing need for energy and the climate crisis didn't jibe with some countries' rejection of atomic energy. Austria's attempt to hold off the development of atomic power is an extension of its policy toward the Czech Republic, in which they oppose something with great moral indignation, and then secretly profit from the same venture through the back door. ... Austria has the right to pursue its state doctrine of rejecting atomic energy. But it has a lot of nerve preaching to others." (29/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Michael Moravec

Up to now, Danish teachers were trained like social workers or nurses, in special colleges. Now, the University of Aarhus is offering a five-year programmme for educators. The paper approves. "At a time when the demands for training and competency among teachers is changing and becoming more complex, a good foundation is more important than ever. This demand will be met by an academically sound training. As much as pupils, teachers deserve to have methods and curriculum based on a real understanding of what works and what doesn't. If all goes well, this new academic training for teachers could well pave the way for closer cooperation between universities and [teachers'] academies nationwide." (29/02/2008)

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Beatriz Navarro informs us that Serbian public television has decided not to broadcast the song contest due to select the candidates who will defend the Serbian flag in the Eurovision song contest in May. This international competition won in 2007 by the Serbian singer Marija Serifovic will be held in Belgrade this year. "After the painful declaration of the Kosovo's independence, Belgrade is no longer in the mood to organise pro-European festivities ... . This polemic clearly shows that the festival has had increasingly political connotations ever since former Soviet Union countries started to join in. They see the Eurovision contest as an extension of Europe, just as Spain did at the time of Massiel [a Spanish singer who won the Eurovision in 1968]. The map of Europe has changed a lot since then, as has the festival." (29/02/2008)

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All available articles from » Beatriz Navarro

Chantal Savioz is delighted with the "construction fever" that has taken a hold of the Spanish town of Saragossa, where there will be an international exhibition all about water and sustainable development in June. "The big names of architecture are fighting to build constructions that will mark the modernity of the exhibition. ... Meanwhile Saragossa is working on other projects. The town of Goya is dreaming of a future in a Spain which is all too often turned towards the Mediterranean. ... The famous winding Ebro River will become the icon of a provincial town which has launched into the 21st century. Forget the theme of water and sustainable development! The next project due to shake up the Aragon region is far from ecological. It will involve a group of casinos and a golf course in the neighbouring desert. You can already hear enthusiastic cries hailing 'Europe's Las Vegas'. Saragossa is thirsting for a future." (29/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Exhibitions / Museums, » Spain
All available articles from » Chantal Savioz

Peter Frankl gives Slovenia a critical evaluation. "Certainly Slovenia resembles Austria more today than it did 20 years ago. But Estonia has also come closer to Slovenia in that time. And Estonia has made even greater strides. It used to be a Soviet republic, less democratic and much poorer than Slovenia. At some point it became a state that has surpassed Slovenia in its organizational and enterprising qualities, and in its curiosity. … Slovenians are world champions when it comes to plodding along. But they get upset if they are not recognized, or counted among the countries of the former East Bloc.” (29/02/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Slovenia, » Estonia
All available articles from » Peter Frankl