The daily Frankfurter Rundschau writes on the Pope's visit to Israel: "Benedict XVI hasn't said anything wrong yet but that's no reason to praise him, because reserve can only be bought at the price of superficiality. Condemning the Shoah is no great intellectual feat, it's a moral matter of course. Warning of the 'ugly face' of anti-Semitism is nothing more than trite if the pontiff contents himself to raise his finger without saying that it was he himself who rehabilitated a Holocaust denier. The Pope's talk of peace as a gift jars with the reality in the so-called Holy Land, where every child knows that peace is not given to anyone, but must be negotiated and fought for, and that failure can never be ruled out." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » Global, » Middle East, » Israel
All available articles from » Katharina Sperber

The left-liberal daily La Repubblica compares the Pope's visit to Israel with that of his predecessor John Paul II: "The Polish Pope declared himself a 'Jew among Jews' and made his mea culpa at the Wailing Wall. He lifted his voice to God in the holy language of the Jews. As was his custom, he overcame the obstacles of theology with his heart and his devout humility. ... Joseph Ratzinger's actions are not steeped in feelings, but in theory. Driven by a pessimism that has grown with the global tension in the wake of September 11, Benedict XVI first cultivated division and then unity. This has led to several disagreeable incidents which have almost jeopardised the Jewish-Christian dialogue. .. So also at Yad Vashem, in his passionate speech against racism and Holocaust denial, he prefered to avoid ... any of the self-criticism or reference to the part the Church played in creating the destruction of the 20th century with which his predecessor had made such a bold start." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Weltanschauung, » Remembrance culture, » Europe, » Middle East
All available articles from » Gad Lerner

The daily Karjalainen writes that independently of its destination, a papal voyage always means politics: "With his arrival in Israel on Monday Pope Benedict XVI began the most delicate phase of his pilgrimage to the Middle East. The role of the Vatican and then Pope Pius XII in Nazi Germany continue to be interpreted in conflicting ways. It's easy to suspect Benedict of attempting to construct a bridge to the ultra-conservative wing of the Church, one of whose representatives, Bishop Richard Williamson, denies the Holocaust. On his trip the Pope must show a gesture of repentance and reconciliation. But everything he does when he's outside the Vatican is analysed according to political criteria. ... The trip to Israel by the 82-year-old Joseph Ratzinger evokes living memories of a time almost 70 years ago, when the then 14 -year-old boy was part of the Hitler Youth. For this reason a speech by the Nazi Pope is of little help." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » Israel

On the occasion of the Pope's visit to Israel the daily Le Figaro surveys the political situation in the Middle East: "Pope Benedict XVI did not choose the date of his journey to the Holy Land at random. Everything points to the fact that in several weeks the foundation will be laid for a resumption of the peace process . ... This Monday the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be received at the White House. It would be hard to imagine a more decisive time for such a meeting: one between an American president whose father was a Muslim and who wants to make peace with the Arab World, and an Israeli leader who is opposed to the two-state solution. The Holy Father's call on arriving at Ben Gurion Airport for the coexistence of both people 'within secure and internationally recognised borders' couldn't come at a better time." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Middle East, » Israel
All available articles from » Pierre Rousselin

A directive drawn up by the EU intended to strengthen the rights of asylum seekers is meeting with stiff opposition in Austria. The daily Die Presse approves of the proposed rule: "It is the task of the authorities and the guiding principles by which the performance of the ministry of the interior is measured to see that only the persecuted are granted asylum. But it is also an imperative dictated by political common sense that asylum seekers should not be condemned to an inactivity which puts silly ideas in their heads. A person who is not allowed to work will one day start to steal, or burgle homes or sell drugs. … Unfortunately there will always be persecuted people in this world. And there will also be abuse of the right of asylum. For ten years the EU has been trying to create a common asylum policy. It would be a shame if intellectual slackers were allowed to mess this up." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Migration, » Austria, » Europe
All available articles from » Oliver Grimm

In the Czech Republic voices can be heard calling for impeachment proceedings to be launched against President Václav Klaus because of his refusal to sign the Treaty of Lisbon, which has now been approved by both houses of the Czech parliament. The liberal daily Mladá Fronta Dnes comments: "Why is Klaus hesitating to sign the document? For him it's a slightly morbid bit of fun. He can thus push up his price. Not only the Czechs but all Europe is watching him. What an intoxicating feeling. … To initiate impeachment proceedings is an absolutely extreme step. It would bring disgrace on the president, the MPs and the voters. But if the president was not abusing his power the proceedings would be superfluous. … A procedure for removing a president from office who violates not only the laws, but also the spirit of liberal democracy should be added to the Czech constitution." (12/05/2009)

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

Iceland could give Croatia a real run for its money in the negotiations for EU membership, writes the daily Delo: "Reykjavik has announced that Iceland will submit its EU membership application before July. ... This step by Iceland, which has shown enormous interest in the Union after being badly hit by the global finance crisis, would make the situation on the enlargement chequerboard ... all the more complicated. As a member of the European Economic Area Iceland has already adopted much of European legislation, including the most difficult area concerning the Single European Market. For that reason Iceland could soon give Croatia a real run for its money in the race to be the 28th EU member state. Even Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn doesn't exclude the possibility." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Croatia, » Iceland
All available articles from » Bozo Masanovic

The liberal Swiss daily Corriere del Ticino criticises all parties who have voiced their opinions in the controversy about how to treat refugees and calls for more pragmatism: "Instead of taking refuge in utopian dreams of crawling into the hell of fear it would be far more clever to ask how many immigrants we can take in and integrate. … When making his ideological acknowledgement of the ethno-centric ideas of the Lega [Nord] Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he was against the birth of a multi-ethnic society in Italy. This declaration makes no sense because Italy has long been a multi-ethnic society. In a nutshell: ideologising the subject of immigration won't lead to a solution. It would therefore be desirable if all the ideological weapons were put away and a good dose of realism was injected into the cultural and political life of the country which would arm the body with a robust and pragmatic mind." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Migration, » Integration, » Italy
All available articles from » Piero Ostellino

The business paper Világgazdaság writes about the Irish movement Libertas, which is making clever use of the possibilities offered by the Internet in the European elections: "The European election campaign of the Irish Libertas movement, which takes a critical view of further EU integration, has caught the public eye not just for its habit of regularly posting untruths, but also because it knows how to make the best of the technology of the 21st century. ... Granted, the real problem isn't that the EU critic is a virtuoso on this new instrument. What really has people racking their brains is that the traditional political forces have apparently not taken up the challenge. ... Until now citizens have been primarily fobbed off in European affairs with cut and dried political slogans, while rational arguments are few and far between. This has functioned until now because there was nothing else to choose from. However in the era of Internet mobilisation there is now an alternative, and the Libertas movement is the first significant example." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Elections, » Ireland, » Europe
All available articles from » György Fóris

In Denmark, too, people are barely aware of the European elections, but at least they will be combined with a referendum there. This prompts Der Nordschleswiger to hope that there will be a high voter turnout: "For on the Sunday of the elections [the Danes] will also vote on a new law on the succession to the throne, and over 82 percent have said they intend to go to the ballot to have their say in the matter of gender equality [as regards succession to the throne]! But there is still much to be done before June 7 if the European elections are to be made attractive to voters, for according to an EU analysis only one in six (!) Danes is aware that a European election is soon to take place. The last time, on 13 June 2004 only 48 percent voted. … The candidates would also do well to get active because according to election analyses 55 percent of Danes have not yet decided who to vote for. But the main thing is that they do vote." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Elections, » Denmark
All available articles from » Peter Lassen

Portugal's former head of state Màrio Soares writes in the daily Diário de Notícias that the upcoming European elections provide a chance to strengthen the EU project und thus overcome the economic crisis. EU politicians, he notes however, have failed to recognise this: "Last weekend the end of the Second World War was discretely celebrated. … The international press wrote - quite rightly - that the EU had no reason to celebrate because at present it is peppered with nationalist movements (which we believed had long been relegated to the past). The current EU politicians are not up to the challenge, … have no plans for the future and are incapable of further developing the European project. The elections to the EU Parliament, which in future will hopefully have more powers, are imminent. It is therefore strange that so far the most important issue has not been discussed: an integrated vision of the EU that … confers it a global political dimension in keeping with its history. The European elections are failing to provide the incentive or reasons to vote. This disinterest leads to abstention and this in turn to decadence. Only a strong and united Europe can combat the current crisis. It would be a shame if this opportunity was missed. … Can't European politicians see this? History won't forgive them!" (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Elections, » Europe
All available articles from » Mário Soares

The British group Centrica wants to sell its majority stake in the Belgian utility SPE-Luminus to France's EDF. Feelings of mistrust are warranted, the business paper De Tijd writes: "At first glance it doesn't look like foreign influence would increase with this transaction: a French player takes the place of a British one. Yet this move makes a huge difference. After all, EDF is controlled by the French state, as is GDF Suez which now holds almost three quarters of the Belgian electricity market. The danger that the French partner companies are working together is realistic. … The regulatory authorities may lack sufficient grounds to prevent a takeover of SPE by EDF, but if it becomes clear that the two French groups EDF and GDF Suez are in alliance the authorities must send one of the two away." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » France, » Belgium
All available articles from » Stefaan Michielsen

The Dutch homosexual singer Gordon has threatened to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest if protestors at a demonstration for the rights of homosexuals called for Saturday in Moscow are subject to physical violence. The daily Trouw comments: "The rights of gays and lesbians are trodden underfoot in Russia. And in some EU member states (!), primarily in former East Bloc countries like Poland, their status also leaves much to be desired. ... But have Russian gays been waiting for a Dutch ponce to strut over Red Square in a Delft blue-sequined suit in their support? Definitely. People are writing and talking about this. And with any luck it will let a lot more Russians hear about the attempt by Irina Fjet and her girlfriend to be the first lesbian couple in Russia to get married. The fight for equal rights must be fought with all peaceful means." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Minorities, » Netherlands, » Russia

Spain's Supreme Court has ruled that the Catholic Church must offer compensation to religious instructors who are fired in violation of industrial law. The daily El País sees this as an important decision: "The Supreme Court has injected a little logic and common sense into the crazy and anachronistic working conditions of Catholic religious instructors at state schools, in which the Church has managed to arrange things so that it has all the rights and the state all the obligations. In accordance with the fundamental principle of personal and institutional responsibility the court has ruled that the bishops are to pay compensation for 'moral damages' to religious instructors they dismiss unlawfully and for reasons which, with increasing frequency, are not provided for in industrial law, such as having divorced, participated in a legal strike or failed to attend Sunday mass." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Social affairs, » Spain

In Finland the introduction of media fees to be levied on all households and replace television licences is under discussion. Voitto Rissanen warns in the east Finnish daily Savon Sanomat that this fee should be tailored to people's income: "The financing of public broadcasting needs alternatives. A fair solution would be to levy it as a special fee on taxable income, as with the local tax. This fee could, like health insurance, be written off as a pre-tax deduction. The precise amount to be charged would be stipulated by the parliament. … The assessment basis for calculating the fee should be fair. It makes little sense to burden low-income households with overly high fees on the one hand and give them social benefits on the other." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Tax Policy, » Media economy, » Finland

In its leading article the daily Les Echos describes how media that are badly hit by the economic crisis are looking at new financiing possibilities: "After taking over the Wall Street Journal, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch criticised his booty [for charging for online articles] with the words: 'The future of the online press does not lie in fee-based models, but in free models financed through advertisement'. ... Today however he's changed his tune. The 'Wall Street Journal' not only remains one of the few papers to charge for most of its content. The Australian American even goes a step further. His flagship paper will now sell articles by the piece. In the magnate's view, other groups should follow his lead. ... It's a bit like in the world of music, which had to learn to sell individual songs instead of albums. Rather than selling entire papers, part of tomorrow's press will at best sell an article or two." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Print media, » Online media, » Global
All available articles from » David Barroux

The bosses of the state Polish television channel TVP are incompetent, writes Tomasz Sekielski in the conservative daily Dziennik and criticises the unexpected sacking of popular TV presenter Tomasz Kamel: "The Polish TVP channel has no luck with its bosses. It has never found anyone for this post who led the institution competently and professionally. Even if we disregard the matter of political affiliation the most important issue still remains: Too many people who have occupied leading posts at TVP have no idea how to run a station or organise it. And this although many of them looked the part. The conviction that you can hire people more cheaply … is too facile and risky. Up to now no TV channel has been able to get by without the support of famous stars and familiar faces." (12/05/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Media policy, » Poland
All available articles from » Tomasz Sekielski