Slovakia lacks energy due to the gas dispute, and now wants to restart the nuclear reactor in Jaslovské Bohunice. The left-leaning daily die tageszeiting says that the EU is partially responsible: "Before acceding to the EU the Slovakian population and government had long been reluctant to close down the reactor in Jaslovské Bohunice. They were worried that otherwise they would be too dependent for their energy on the hated former hegemonial power Russia. Western European politicians, by contrast, made the country's EU accession dependent on their closing down the reactor, because they mistrusted the security standards of reactors in the East. That is legitimate. But when the spokesman for Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs now suggests that the Czechs should curb their industrial production, it just sounds cynical. The economic situation is difficult enough without energy problems to boot. If Brussels isn't able to pump sufficient gas into Slovakian pipes by the weekend, Bohunice will go back on grid. And the EU Commission will not dare to press charges." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Slovakia, » Europe
All available articles from » Daniela Weingärtner

The left liberal daily Népszabadság writes that the nuclear lobby hopes to see decommissioned nuclear power stations put back into operation as a result of the gas shortages. "In Slovakia it has already been decided that the fourth block of the Jaslovské Bohunice nuclear power plant is to be reopened, and in Bulgaria similar measures are in the pipeline. ... But we should bear in mind: We're talking about nuclear power plants that were closed down as a prerequisite for EU membership because they represented a high safety risk - and now a single week of gas shortages has sufficed to torpedo all the arguments and promises. ... As an energy source, nuclear energy is neither cheaper nor more reliable than gas, oil or wind. What's more, it's simply not true that it reduces dependency on other countries. Both Slovakia and Bulgaria purchase the heating rods for their nuclear power plants from Russia. Both countries return the used heating materials to their country of origin. This means that the degree of dependency is by no means lower than with gas." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Slovakia, » Europe, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Miklós Hargitai

In view of the gas dispute the daily Delo calls for intensified efforts to find alternative energy sources: "The media coverage of the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute has had a pretty clarifying effect. ... The proportion of natural gas in Slovenia's energy mix is relatively low in comparison with other countries. In times of suspiciously frequent gas crises this is a good thing, but not as far as greenhouse gas emissions are concerned. The discussions about secure supplies, potential new pipelines, terminals and storage facilities were immediately resumed - but too quickly. For institutions don't function optimally under pressure. The proportion of natural gas could be increased while reducing the amount of heating oil and coal we use, but it is above all the proportion of renewable energies that needs to grow more than it has so far. ... Our politicians will probably end up killing two birds with one stone: they will use natural gas as an excuse for forgetting our wood and sun energy and building a second nuclear power plant." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Slovenia, » Ukraine, » Russia
All available articles from » Borut Tavcar

The current gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine could also threaten the Arctic, writes Aftonbladet newspaper. For this reason new energy sources must be found: "The gas crisis is putting the Swedish government's commitment to the environment to the test. According to geologists, around 30 percent of the world's gas reserves are situated in the vicinity of the North Pole. When the other reserves start to dry up, the pressure will mount to drill for gas and oil in the sensitive Arctic environment, where pollution only dissipates very slowly. Extraction will be facilitated once the ice melts due to global warming. ... Until now the government has been very careful in its choice of words when discussing the protection of the Arctic." And the Swedes have yet to sign a binding agreement on protecting the Arctic, the paper writes: "The main strategy for avoiding gas crises in the future must be to save energy and seek renewable energy sources. The answer cannot lie in starting up new reactors and exploiting the Arctic." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Energy, » Global
All available articles from » Mats Engstrom

If we fail to find new energy suppliers the next gas crisis will hit Europe even harder, writes the daily Die Presse, and examines the alternatives: "The first step to be taken to sheathe the sword of Damocles that the empty pipelines represent is to build more pipelines - as foreseen in the North Stream and South Stream projects that are to create a direct link between Russia and the EU via the Baltic and the Balkans respectively. This will weaken the position of Ukraine and Belarus vis-à-vis Russia, as they would no longer be the sole transit countries, but on the other hand it would mean that EU citizens could no longer so easily be left helpless in the event of a dispute. ... Because it can be most swiftly achieved the primary goal should be more efficient use of the available energy. The compulsory renovation of buildings and fiscal measures would help. ... It may be unrealistic to expect the EU to become completely independent of energy imports, but it is possible to make shocks like the current gas crisis easier to digest." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Russia, » Europe
All available articles from » Jakob Zirm

Petr Mach, a close confidante of Czech President Václav Klaus, has founded the "Party of Free Citizens" (SSO) in Prague, which opposes the Treaty of Lisbon and will participate in the European Parliament elections. The conservative daily Lidové noviny is sceptical about the new party. "It is unlikely that the party will play a significant role on the political stage. Mach and his friends will no doubt be able to attract a few notorious opponents of the EU reform treaty. But there aren't that many of them. In the conservative camp Lisbon tends to meet with approval. ... Instead of representing a serious threat to the [major conservative ruling party] ODS in the battle for conservative votes, Petr Mach is simply being used as a new pawn by Václav Klaus." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Constitution, » Domestic Policy, » Czech Republic, » Europe
All available articles from » Petr Kolář

The traditionally pro-government newspaper I Kathimerini criticises the tactics of the Greek police, who beat protesters and journalists at a demonstration in Athens last week. "The biggest problem in this country is the wholescale lawlessness. No one respects the law, and the worst thing is that no one even cares. ... The problem with recent events is not only the lawless behaviour of those who have sworn to abide by the law, but that their acts teach the young generation a lesson in lawlessness. Young people don't understand how fragile the political equilibrium can be (for example that after a longer period of inaction the government has decided to show a harder face). And so they turn against the democratic regime and its organs ... and start chanting fascist slogans like: 'Police, you pigs, you murderers'." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Weltanschauung, » Greece
All available articles from » Paschos Mandravelis

In an opinion piece in the Helsingin Sanomat daily MEP Pekka Haavisto calls on the EU to play a more active role in the Middle East. "More than 800 dead - including almost 300 children - and over 3,500 injured. ... It is impossible to accept the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Back in 2003 the EU pointed the way to a Palestinian state in quartet with the United Nations, Russia, and the United States. ... Cooperation between the US and Israel is too intense to expect any independent peace proposals from the US. Now the EU has not only the opportunity but also the obligation to step in and take the lead in Middle East peace politics. ... The EU should promote the political process and make concrete proposals for a controlled ceasefire and subsequent peace agreement. The EU likes to see itself as a superpower for peace. There is now an urgent need for this great power in the Middle East." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » EU Policy, » Middle East
All available articles from » Pekka Haavisto

According to media reports in December, a large majority of Danes harbour strong doubts about the use of development aid. These doubts are groundless, writes Jakob Simonsen of the United Nations Development Programme: "Of course projects financed by taxes cannot alleviate poverty in the world. ... We know that private enterprise plays a huge role in fighting poverty in both rich and poor countries. ... Danish development aid money has payed for a good number of successes, which fully justify the 0.82 percent of the gross national product. ... On Monday, December 29, 81 million people were able to vote ... in Bangladesh. In cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme, Denmark laid the groundwork for the development of democracy in Bangladesh. Before the elections all voters were registered by means of photos and ID so as to prevent election fraud. Denmark helped out with this huge task to the tune of 5 million crowns. That's one crown per Dane." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Denmark, » Asia
All available articles from » Jakob Simonsen

The fate of German billionaire Adolf Merckle, who committed suicide after the collapse of his business empire, is exemplary of modern capitalism, writes Tanja Lesničar Pučko in Dnevnik newspaper: "Merckle was the very personification of German discipline. He took care of everything himself. He knew everything, better than anyone else. With 30 billion euros in annual turnover he was one of the 100 richest people on earth. What destroyed him? Faulty calculations and stock market speculations. From the real economy, which earned him huge sums of money, he shifted over into the virtual world of money making without security. ... He was drunk with power. ... He actually believed the stock market fairy tales swallowed by naive investors. But his workers, who stood by him and helped to build up his empire over the decades, who listened to him and breathed with him ... now stand alone, stripped of all they possessed. They have lost their very means of existence. ... In recent decades numerous directors have swapped the logic of slow but continually growing production ... for quick-paced, large-scale profits. The social market economy has been replaced by (neo)-liberal capitalism. ... The new rules only apply for the rank and file. They have to adapt to the new times, while the directors prattle on about flexible working hours, the reduction of rights and whatnot." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Corporations, » Economic Policy, » Germany, » Global
All available articles from » Tanja Lesnicar-Pucko

In the liberal Swiss daily Corriere del Ticino Renato Martinoni analyses the social impact of free movement of persons between the EU and Switzerland, the future of which is to be decided in a referendum in February 2009. "It is right to remind those with short memories that we Swiss went from being a nation of emigrants (particularly in the 19th century, with California as their destination) to being a people that is now confronted with immigration. ... However 19th century society cannot be compared with today's society. And also the way children were brought up, with strict religious and family values and a strong sense of duty which the emigrants took along with them in their bundles, is sadly no longer prevalent in today's society. The latter is mainly based on the values of consumption, of having 'everything immediately' and a sense of entitlement. A serious discussion about immigration cannot disregard humanitarian principles, nor can it avoid calls for a sense of responsibility and contribution. The reality and problems of a country must be shared by all who live there. ... This is the lesson we must learn from those who have experienced the struggles and suffering of emigration. Our task does not end here. We must also hand on this lesson to those who move here and are often ... seeking a place of refuge rather than a fatherland. A fatherland whose basic principles must be duty, effort, respect and responsibility." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Migration, » Integration, » Switzerland, » Europe
All available articles from » Renato Martinoni

The German energy giant RWE has acquired the Dutch company Essent. De Telegraaf points out the dangers of this move: "RWE says that Essent, its employees and its customers will barely notice the change. But experience has shown that parent companies are always more likely to take the axe to a foreign subsidiary to achieve an advantage. The question is what the Netherlands stands to gain from this deal. ... The authorities will continue to control the rates, but all the profit Essent yields will now go to Germany. And a stake in the Borssele nuclear power plant is also to pass into German hands. The government doesn't want to make any decision about expanding nuclear energy, but it would be unwise to allow the control over existing capacities to pass into foreign hands." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Germany, » Netherlands

The business newspaper Les Echos analyses the deal between the French-Dutch Air France-KLM group and the Italian airline company Alitalia: "After more than two years marked by twists and turns, inopportune political intervention and last-minute sensations, Air France-KLM has clinched the deal with Alitalia. ... With a quarter of Alitalia's share capital, the French-Dutch enterprise has consolidated its position in the European air travel market. In so doing it has garnered for itself access to a wide pool of more than 24 million air passengers. ... And with Rome it has secured an additional anchorage point on the continent. ... The Air France-KLM deal has taken the wind from the sails of Lufthansa, which was also trying to build up a major axis connecting Berlin, Vienna and Milan. And the group has also beat British Airways to the punch, which is having difficulty sealing its deal with the Spanish carrier Iberia." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Corporations, » France, » Italy, » Netherlands
All available articles from » François Vidal

A representative of Poland's Slavic Orthodox Church once worked for the Polish secret service. This is revealed in a document belonging to the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), which has the task of investigating crimes committed by the communist and Nazi dictatorships, and which conservative daily Rzeczpospolita has now published: "There were claims that we Catholics had it harder than other religions. This is not true. ... We have also published documents that dealt with collaboration between the secret services and members of the Lutheran church. Today we present a text about a place of worship of the Slavic Orthodox Church. ... The Slavic Orthodox Church was ... a much easier target for the secret service than the powerful Catholic Church. Secondly, unlike the members of the Slavic Orthodox Church, who were left to their own devices, the Catholic bishops and priests enjoyed the protection of the Holy See during the communist era." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » History, » Poland
All available articles from » Piotr Semka

The Spanish business paper Expansión analyses the statistics on viewer behaviour in the US and predicts that there will also be changes on Europe's television advertising market: "The media bosses and a few advertising agencies in Spain are observing developments on the US prime time advertising market, which tends to determine the price for advertising. The popularity of PVRs (Personal Video Recorders), which are used by a third of viewers in the US, is casting doubts on the value of prime time. ... This means that the impact of the use of PVRs and other changes in recreational behaviour, such as the downloading of programmes from the Internet, could turn late night viewing into the new prime time. Or what is even more likely, these time slots could become blurred to the point of dissolution, while advertisers shift their focus to certain programmes as opposed to concrete times of day." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Audiovisual Media, » Spain, » Europe, » U.S.
All available articles from » Javier Montalvo

The Dutch public broadcaster is often criticised for its "stultifying" entertainment programmes. Wim Bekkers, former director of the public television's viewer behaviour department, argues in NRC Handelsblad for an end to the primacy of viewer quotas: "One is entitled to expect that at least one of the public broadcaster's three television channels will deal in depth with relevant topics, analysing them in a level-headed way, and not give way to the emotion and frenzy of the day. A channel where intelligence is not objectionable, and which is not afraid to deal with real issues. ... The struggle for a higher market share means by definition that reaching audiences takes priority over content. Programmes that don't attract their share of the market are taken off the air, even if they achieve much from the point of view of the broadcaster. The public broadcaster should compete for the best content, not the highest number of viewers." (13/01/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Audiovisual Media, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Wim Bekkers