The daily Helsingin Sanomat is optimistic that Obama will be able to improve the US's reputation. "The expectations for Obama are disproportionately high and it will be years before the mess left behind by George W. Bush is cleared up. But restoring the US's reputation and re-establishing the rule of law and democratic rules are things which the new president can start working on and implementing immediately. And fortunately his most recent speeches have reaffirmed the belief that Barack Obama can do this." (20/01/2009)

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Writing in the daily Diário de Notícias, Portugal's former president Mário Soares does not doubt that Barack Obama will honour his campaign promises: "Obama is taking office in very difficult times, and expectations run high. The young humanist president will renew the American dream. ... Obama has promised change, including with regard to US international relations, and he will do everything to keep his promise. I have no doubt he will succeed." (20/01/2009)

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The daily Delo writes: "There is a great sense of euphoria and the expectations are even greater. Obama has already warned that the situation may get worse before it gets better. But it looks like after eight years of cynicism and sarcasm, the people are now driven by a new sense of optimism. This can be best described by citing the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt when he was sworn into office in 1933: 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself'." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Boris Cibej

The business daily Les Echos focuses on the huge challenges facing Obama: "Two wars and the worst recession since the 1930s. The challenges that Barack Obama must face are spectacular. No one is more aware of their scope than Obama himself. The new president is well prepared for this task, for which he has been readying himself since his triumphant election victory on November 4 and the eclipse of George W. Bush." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Nicolas Barré

Obama can only tackle the huge problems his predecessor George W. Bush has left him facing through greater cooperation, writes the daily Der Standard. "Obama sees a cooperation that takes into account the interests of other nations as well as his own as the only way to solve the major global problems. He has promised to make vigorous use of diplomacy and only use brute force as a last resort. ... In Europe the expectations that damaged transatlantic relations will rapidly improve may be too high." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » James Hoge

The daily Dagens Nyheter sees Obama's inauguration as the start of a new era: "The chance is here. Like all presidents, Barack Obama will put the interests of the US in the forefront and never give an international organisation the last word on how, where and when American troops are deployed. But today's overzealous faith in military means will be replaced by a stronger faith in diplomacy." (20/01/2009)

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The daily Romania Libera puts a damper on the high expectations for the new US president. "At present the majority of Americans see the new president as a kind of messiah, a saviour who will be able to solve all the world's problems, address all the injustices and heal all wounds. Barack Obama has had a brilliant but brief political career so far, so he knows little about his own capabilities as president. But one thing's for sure: Barack Obama is no messiah! He is not the saviour who has descended into this world to save it." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Cristian Campeanu

The daily Postimees doubts the new US president will be able to master the challenges awaiting him. "Political opponents and disappointed supporters will soon begin to remind Obama of his campaign pledges, such as the swift withdrawal of US troop from Iraq or the creation of four million new jobs, but these could prove to be impossible tasks. Obama needs to show people now that not only can he move the masses, he can also lead them." (20/01/2009)

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The daily To Ethnos writes that the new US president should be given time in order to fulfil the expectations. "Perhaps the government he has put together is not the one many progressive citizens of the US and the world had hoped for. But perhaps he knows more than we do and is giving priority to realism and balance. ... We must invest time to find out whether Obama really does represent an important change for the US and the rest of the world." (19/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Panagiotis Panagiotou

The liberal daily Sme writes: "America traditionally stands on three pillars: the prosperity of its economy, the power of its army and the appeal of the American model. Today all three are weak. ... The US continues to fascinate people, even after eight years of George W. Bush. ... One can only wish Obama the best of luck. If he manages to steer America out of the crisis it will improve the West's image in the eyes of the world, and ultimately that of Europe as well." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Tomáš Valášek

The Irish Times comments on the ceasefire in Gaza, arguing for dialogue with Hamas. "That political reality should now be recognised and tested by a more imaginative and searching diplomatic effort on the Israeli-Palestinian question, including on Gaza's future. Excluding Hamas from any political engagement until it recognises Israel's right to exist and renounces terrorism is a misguided and self-defeating strategy. Rather should these be clear-cut objectives of an eventual agreement. That would provide an incentive for the organisation to develop its pragmatic, political character, including its willingness to participate in a national Palestinian government following fresh elections. The recent international involvement by the UN secretary general and by Arab and European states can now be joined by the Obama administration in a fresh search for peace. Like it or not, Hamas should be part of that." (20/01/2009)

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The German government is predestined to initiate a common EU energy policy, writes the daily Gazeta Wyborcza. "The only thing Vladimir Putin took back with him from his visit last weekend to Berlin [and Dresden, the capital of Saxony] was the 'Sächsische Dankesorden' (Saxon order of gratitude). The government of the state of Saxony honoured the former KGB agent for his services in promoting cultural exchange between Germany and Russia. But as far as the gas issue is concerned the Russian Prime Minister went back empty-handed. He had assumed the Germans would take sides with the Kremlin in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. ... Polish and German diplomats should join forces to convince those in the EU who oppose a common energy policy of its merits." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Bartosz Wieliński

The liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera comments on the increasing democracy deficit in Russia, after human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov was shot at a press conference in Moscow on Monday. "Crimes and racketeering are clear symptoms for the malaise of countries in which a so-called democracy deficit has reached alarming levels. The return of the will to power, aggressive business activity, nostalgia for authoritarianism, post-Soviet sympathies and a disrespect for social rights are all characteristics of this regime ruled by an ex-KGB man. ... The new president of the United States Barack Obama, who is supposed to solve all of the world's problems starting today, should give the Russia dossier top spot on his emergency agenda." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Paolo Lepri

Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende has blocked a parliamentary investigation into the legality of the Iraq War in 2003. Debate on the subject reignited after a memorandum from 2002 came to light in which highly-placed lawyers in the foreign ministry declared the war unlawful. NRC Handelsblad newspaper writes: "If the prime minister keeps blocking the investigation, he will damage parliamentary democracy and himself as well, by giving the impression that he has something to hide. His obstinacy has already led people to ask whether he granted more than just political support for the war. And he harms democracy by hindering parliament in its supervisory role. There is only one thing for Prime Minister Balkenende to do. He must stop blocking the investigation as soon as possible. If he fails to do this, parliament - preferably the entire coalition - must take the decision for him." (20/01/2009)

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Diplomat István Gyarmati expresses concern about Europe's stance on the conflict in the Middle East in the left-liberal daily. "Europe has the unique opportunity to play an important role in solving the conflict in the Middle East. But to do this we must learn that unprincipled and hypocritical 'neutrality' is not the best formula. ... We should let neither unconditional support for Israel nor a blind Islamophobia guide us in our political actions. We can only achieve results if we assume a resolute stance on the major issues: Firstly, a truce only makes sense if Hamas doesn't use it to gather its forces and launch new terrorist attacks on Israel. ... Secondly, only international peace forces can guarantee a lasting ceasefire. And only Nato, or perhaps an ad-hoc coalition in which the US, as well as Europe's leading powers, play a decisive role, is suited to this task at present. Thirdly, violations of the ceasefire must lead not only to the withdrawal of support from the international community, but also to sanctions. ... If Europe is not prepared to engage in crisis management in the Middle East it will lose any influence it has in the region." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » István Gyarmati

Louis Michel, EU Commissioner responsible for Development and Humanitarian Aid, fears in the weekly newspaper freitag that development aid will decrease in these times of global recession: "The economic recession has made people aware that our financial architecture is not only extremely fragile, but also hardly suited to our times. The current calls for a reform of the IMF are long overdue. Voting rights in the institution couldn't be more paradoxical. One example: Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands have more votes than Brazil, China and India. This has got to change. I am deeply convinced that the African Union must have its own adequate representation to further the interests of the continent. Although the economic crisis began in the richest countries, its ill effects are felt above all in the developing countries, not just because development aid is dwindling. Money transfers from migrant labourers in Western Europe to their families in Zimbabwe, Somalia, Angola or Ghana are often the only lifeline for millions of families. If these are interrupted it will be tantamount to a catastrophe. This is all the more reason to put thought into finding new sources of development aid." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Louis Michel

The EU Commission yesterday predicted a dramatic economic slowdown for the 27 member countries, with the exceptions of the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia. The liberal daily Mladá fronta DNES comments: "It is worse than we expected, was the message from Brussels. The original prediction, a symbolic 0.2 percent growth rate, has been revised to warnings of an almost two percent drop. But amidst all the bad news the trio formed by the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland remains an island of growth. It would be great news if the forecast of 1.7 percent growth for the Czechs were fulfilled. ... However, the two most important motors for the Czech economy - the 'standing' auto industry and Germany - are expecting their deepest downswing since the end of World War II. There's no sign of a speedy recovery - and we will feel the consequences." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Jiří Šticky

The British government yesterday presented a rescue package for the financial sector worth billions of pounds. The Guardian is sceptical of the programme's efficacy: "Yesterday's package must be viewed sympathetically, but with one eye on a stopwatch. It is intelligent, yet leaves us a long way short of anything approaching normal service. The stock market is not always the best judge of policy, but yesterday's 66% plunge in Royal Bank of Scotland shares and 33% dive for Lloyds will frighten ministers. For all its technical proficiency, the Treasury's package did not go far enough in addressing the core problem. Perhaps this was a result of the tight turnaround; many bits of the scheme are still to be negotiated. Perhaps it reflects an understandable unwillingness to spend much more taxpayer money. But there is also a hole in the package's centre. It is aimed at driving up bank lending - and yet there is too little in the schemes that addresses that issue head on. There are measures to free up lending, and to encourage banks to lend: all helpful, but the equivalent of cleaning the pipes, rather than forcing liquid through them." (20/01/2009)

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Evenimentul Zilei newspaper comments on how Romanian authorities forgot to withdraw EU funding that was at their disposition: "When people talk about local projects being delayed, it's usually the central authorities who are blamed. Another myth that is carefully preserved is that European funding is managed by local authorities and that they have the power to decide how it is allocated. ... For example we have lost access to between 20 and 30 million euros from the PHARE funding scheme. The contracts were to have been signed by November 30, but certain high-ranking finance officials forgot to put out the tenders in time to meet the deadline. ... It was all foreseeable, all it would have taken was for someone to look at the calendar on the wall in the summer and count the days that remained until the deadline. In the meantime the change of government has led to the departure of the officials and ministers in question, and the EU will take back its money - for thank goodness there are still people elsewhere who will know what to do with this money." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Sorin Ionita

In a campaign called "Great Reading", Bulgarian citizens selected their favourite literature on national television: "Viewers who participated in 'Great Reading' prefer sentimental novels, adventure stories, thick tomes on history and children's books. Cinema, the literary canon and nostalgia for lost youth and childhood clinched the results of this selection. ... Many books were on the list because they reinforced people's sense of opposition during the times of socialism - people read a lot under socialism, among other things to reassure themselves that the reality of their lives was indeed idiotic. If the truth isn't printed by newspapers, people look for it in books. And even today 'Great Reading' offers an alternative, nowadays to our accelerated lifestyle." (20/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Mitko Novkov

Hooded rowdies, presumably Greek Cypriots, attacked a group of Turkish Cypriots at a football match several days ago. Phileleftheros newspaper comments: "This attack ... confirms the Turkish side in thinking that confidence has been lost, and that the best model is for the two communities in Cyprus to live separately. ... But a group of football fans should not be able to send political messages and determine political life. We must not tolerate extremism, which is foreign to the Cypriot reality. The swastikas and racist slogans that one sees and hears in the stadiums are foreign to us. These fascist groups must be resolutely fought. Otherwise they will gain strength and present themselves as a way out of the social impasse. Then the problems will only increase. The sport clubs must not build 'armies' of fans and engender a fanatism which they cannot control." (19/01/2009)

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All available articles from » Kostas Venizelos