Slovakia, which is entirely dependent on Russian gas supplies, has declared a gas emergency. The country's reserves will last for just 10 more days. The liberal daily Sme gives Moscow and Kiev an equal share of the blame for the crisis. "Ukraine is turning the countries west of its borders into hostages. And so is Russia. [The gas company] Gazprom is not particularly interested in being seen as a serious exporter. But Europe has no alternative. Can Europe, which has been taken hostage from two sides, do more than insist that gas deliveries be resumed as quickly as possible? No. This dependency on the Kremlin and Kiev is humiliating." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Trade, » Corporations, » Consumers, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe
All available articles from » Ivan Štulajter

The daily Postimees notes the difference between the status of gas in Western and Eastern Europe and comments that this has prompted different reactions in the East and West: "The gas dispute does not bode well for the countries to the east of the EU, for it reminds them once more of their dependence on Moscow. Bulgaria, for example, receives 100 percent of its gas supplies from Russia and has now had to inform its citizens that owing to the interruption its reserves are now almost exhausted. But ultimately all those countries, from Poland to Greece, that are supplied via Ukraine are affected. It would take time to reduce this dependence and this is what separates the new Europe from the old one. While the old EU states are calling on Eastern Europe to face up to their dependence on Russia, the new members call on the EU to close ranks with them and present a united front against Russia." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Energy, » Estonia, » Russia, » Europe, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Ahto Lobjakas

The conservative daily Rzeczpospolita criticises the lack of a common European energy policy. "Russia has declared a gas war on the West and is testing how far it can blackmail other countries with its raw materials. ... In times of crisis the EU member states usually remember their partners - according to the motto 'every man for himself'. German chancellor Angela Merkel is now wondering how she can secure gas supplies for German customers, not how she can help Bulgaria. Polish prime minister Donald Tusk is worried about our gas reserves,  not about whether kitchen stoves are functioning in [the Slovakian capital] Bratislava. For sure, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek has called for the resumption of gas supplies from the East in the name of the EU. But a single declaration is a far cry from a common energy policy." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Energy, » Poland, » Europe
All available articles from » Marek Magierowski

The gas dispute has once again shown how much power Russia wields thanks to its gas reserves, the daily Delo writes: "On the one hand Russia is making it difficult for Ukraine to free itself from its former mother country (for instance by joining Nato or working closer with the EU). On the other hand Russia has made it clear to Europe that it can only count on reliable gas supplies if it leaves Russia in peace. ... The EU knows this but has not been particularly skilled in its attempts to break this vicious circle." The paper adds that the different EU states are using different cards in the gas supply game: "In such a situation it is impossible to execute a concerted energy policy within the Union. This is also why it's clear who holds all the trumps and will use them to his own advantage if necessary - for example when temperatures plunge to minus 10 degrees Celsius outside." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Energy, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe
All available articles from » Damjan Virsek

The weekly newspaper Revista 22 writes that the energy company Gazprom is seeking to press ahead with the construction of the planned North Stream pipeline, which is to deliver Russian gas directly to Germany. The project is currently on ice over ecological concerns. "The gas crisis, by contrast, should highlight the dependence of numerous EU countries on Russian gas, and heighten fears that supplies through Ukraine could be disrupted. The only way to ensure the security of European consumers is to bypass this moody Russian neighbour. And what better way to bypass Ukraine than over the Baltic? With the Ukranian conflict Gazprom is consequently seeking to strengthen its position in the discussion over the future of the North Stream pipeline." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Energy, » Economic Policy, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe
All available articles from » Armand Gosu

The conservative daily Magyar Nemzet fears that Ukraine could end up as the big loser of the gas dispute. "Ukraine needs to grasp the following: It can't open up to the West on the one hand and continue to hang on Russia's apron strings - as it did in Soviet days - at the same time. ... For its part Europe can't simply abandon Ukraine, which is on the brink of ruin, to its fate. But it is becoming increasingly clear to the EU that in order to secure its energy supplies, in addition to the planned Nabucco pipeline it also needs the Russian North Stream and South Stream pipelines currently under construction. Kiev is therefore taking a great risk: If the plans for these [pipelines] go ahead, it will not only lose import transit revenues, it is also likely to lose the active support of its big brother, the United States." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Energy, » Economic Policy, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe
All available articles from » Gábor Stier

Given the present power vacuum in the US the EU will play a leading role at the meeting of the UN Security Council on the Gaza conflict taking place today, the daily Dagens Nyheter writes. "This is basically a positive development. There has long been talk of the EU and the US joining forces to achieve something - the Europeans mainly through their contacts with the Palestinians and the Americans through their contacts with Israel. But as often happens when the EU is called on to act on the international stage, the problem is that such action requires unity if Europe's voice is to be heard and taken seriously. The normal state of affairs is divided [opinions]. As regards the Middle East for example, some states are openly critical of Israel while others tend to side with Washington when it comes to foreign policy issues. ... And to be frank: The EU is not the only one with such problems. There is also a certain lack of consensus among the other players." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Europe, » Middle East
All available articles from » Per Ahlin

Joaquin Navarro-Valls, long-time director of the Vatican's press office, stresses in a commentary the importance of a climate of religious freedom which underlies the demonstrations by Italian Muslims against Israel's offensive in Gaza. "The use of the public prayer for political purposes must not be equated with combining religion and terrorism. On the contrary: the wish to seek a political and cultural identity in traditional faith is no outpost of terrorism, but a remedy for it. ... We must understand that the freedom of which we in Europe are so proud - one politically and legally sanctioned on very few other continents - is always based on the religious freedom of others. ... Seeing that Muslims in Italy may practise their faith in front of the cathedrals will certainly inspire many Muslims elsewhere in the world to grant similar rights to Christian and Jewish minorities." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Religion, » Migration, » Italy, » Global
All available articles from » Joaquin Navarro-Valls

According to Greek daily I Kathimerini the attack on a police officer on Monday could spawn new forms of terrorism while at the same time causing the police to overreact, thus triggering a spiral of violence: "The assassination attempt against this policeman confirms our fears that a new breed of city rebels is emerging on the fringes of this strange youth rebellion. It is unlikely that there will be a repeat of the terror organisation model of November 17. It will bear more resemblance with the scattered armed autonomous movement in Italy. ... It's clear that the radicalisation of our youth and the riots of December form a reservoir for an autonomous movement. ... On the other hand the serious injury of the police officer has intensified the sense of insecurity of his fellow officers, which in turn hugely increases the likelihood of dangerous side effects. ... There can be no doubt that the attack on the policeman will ....escalate the spiral of violence which began with the murder of [the student] Alexis Grigoropoulos." (06/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Social movements, » Greece
All available articles from » Stavros Lygeros

"In recent times the focus of [EU] politics has shifted away from enlargement of the European Union. It is easy to see the reason for this silence." The EU has neither the ability nor the desire for further enlargement, the Finnish daily Turun Sanomat writes in its leading article. "The treaties are one reason for its inability to take on new members. The Treaty of Nice offers no possibilities, ... and the Treaty of Lisbon won't enter force until the beginning of 2010 at the earliest. ... The primary goal of the EU is to create a peaceful, democratic, stable and prosperous Europe and establish a standardised market. ... The EU will be forced to impose tougher criteria for membership and as regards its own operative capacities. Before the Treaty of Lisbon comes into effect negotiations for EU enlargement should take place in an unhurried manner without any sense of urgency." (07/01/2009)

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

The Financial Times sees in enterprise, environment and Europe the three core areas for the revival of the European Left: "For years, social democrats have talked about creating the enabling state. Better to invert that logic and encourage an enabling market. The financial crisis has led to clear demands to regulate the market more effectively. How can governments better channel the creative dynamism of the market for the public good? This is where the Left's intellectual revival must begin. ... The Left is already more convincing on the environment, where public and private sectors have to work hand-in-hand and internationalism is a precondition of success. While some of Europe's Right parties flirt with uglier forms of nationalism, Left parties should distinguish themselves by remaining enthusiastic champions of the European Union. Enterprise, environment and Europe are the three Es needed for the left's revival after we have emerged from this economic downturn. Some of this new agenda may have little to do with old school socialism. So much the better." (07/01/2009)

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

In times of economic crisis old business virtues could soon become fashionable once again, writes Dagmar Deckstein in the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung. "Managers and business patriarchs need not invent a new world of values when seeking an inner cultural framework for their business dealings. Such dealings should be in harmony with their conscience while corresponding to the demands of society. Sincerity, reliablility, trust, frugality, diligence, truthfulness, consideration and the desire to make a measured profit - such values have been at the heart of respectable trade since the 14th century and made possible the material and cultural development of Europe. As Thomas Mann's character Johann Buddenbrook put it: 'Take a hearty interest in the dealings of the day, but only in those that let us sleep well at night.' And as the businessman Robert Bosch said: 'It is better to lose money than trust.' Such maxims do not belong to a lost business world, they are harbingers of a coming renaissance." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Trade, » Economic Policy, » Weltanschauung, » Global
All available articles from » Dagmar Deckstein

Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov argued on Tuesday that the deactivated block three of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant should once more be put into operation. Sega newspaper agreees with the proposal and suggests a referendum on the issue: "Things were handled much better in Lithuania, for example. There the parliamentary elections were combined with a referendum on Ignalina power plant. This summer Bulgaria will elect representatives for the national and European parliaments. Should we not also think about killing three birds with one stone? In times of crisis every country must look to its reserves. ... Putting the blocks of Kosloduj power plant back into operation would mean producing cheaper electricity. Bulgaria could then raise its energy exports. ... And the cheaper energy would help the country's ailing chemical industry, metallurgy and machine building sectors." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Economic Policy, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Juliana Boncheva

The daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung blames the insolvency of the Irish-British porcelain and crystal maker Waterford Wedgwood on mistakes at the management level. "Who drinks tea out of a teacup and saucer nowadays? Who serves their ready-made soup in a soup tureen? ... One of the ironies of the collapse of this company that once pioneered machine production at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution is that mass production was one of the main factors that contributed to its demise. Although Waterford Wedgwood shifted part of its production to Indonesia to cut costs, the factory founded by Josiah Wedgwood lost its market share to manufacturers of cheap Asian products. The current generation of managers appears to lack the understanding of consumer behaviour that made Josiah Wedgwood's rise possible." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Corporations, » Consumers, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Gina Thomas

The Vatican and the Pope have once again criticised the 'destructive' impact of the Pill and homosexuality. These statements are more than questionable, writes the daily Trouw, but adds that at least it's positive that the Catholic Church calls on people to take love seriously and protect it against "sex as a consumer good": "After all love is about opening oneself up to [the creation of] new life. This is not possible in homosexual relations and this is why in the opinion of the Pope they contravene the 'truth of marriage as the sacrament of creation'. And because of new life one naturally can't approve of the Pill. All very logical, it would appear. But I ask myself whether the Pope and the Vatican are really taking the faithful seriously in this point. The faithful will certainly agree wholeheartedly with the Pope that in essence it's all about love. But the difference is that people find it easy to combine love with taking the Pill, and that love is equally compatible with homosexual relationships." (07/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » Global
All available articles from » Willem Breedveld

According to studies people whose appearance identifies them as members of a minority are subjected to identity controls twice as frequently as their fellow citizens. In the coming week the Representative Council of Black Associations in France (CRAN) plans to launch a campaign against so-called "face controls" using an Obama lookalike. CRAN president Patrick Lozés explains the campaign as follows in the French daily Libération: "Barack Obama is a man of the present and embodies a lot for visible minorities. The American president [elect] passed a law against these 'face controls' in his home state of Illinois. ... We want to raise awareness among our fellow citizens, but also with our authorities." (06/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Migration, » Integration, » France, » U.S.
All available articles from » Floriane Andrey