Heribert Prantl comments in the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung on the German Federal Constitutional Court's judgement concerning the Treaty of Lisbon: "This judgement doesn't fiddle around with Europe, it doesn't box its ears with its own shortcomings. It outlines how Europe can be constructed. These judges aren't critics of Europe, but eight European democrats. ... This judgement puts the onus on the Bundestag, which will no longer simply be able to wave through the European legal framework. It's no longer possible to give blanket endorsement to an EU Treaty. The Bundestag will have to address each and every additional competence accorded to Brussels and provided for by the EU Treaty. The EU will no longer be able to unilaterally appropriate German competences. The excuse 'that's what they decided in Brussels' is no longer in the cards." (01/07/2009)

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All available articles from » Heribert Prantl

The conservative daily Lidové Noviny comments on the German Constitutional Court's ruling on the EU reform treaty: "The opponents of the Treaty of Lisbon yesterday [Tuesday] had to kiss goodbye to yet another and admittedly rather hypothetical hope. The Federal Constitutional Court ruled that Lisbon is compatible with the German constitution while at the same time adding a big 'but' to its judgement. The judges in Karlsruhe may be more conservative and Eurosceptical than the average German, but they don't live in a vacuum. Therefore from the very start it was clear they wouldn't have the courage to swim against the current and go to war with pretty much the entire political establishment. … The members of the Bundestag must now decide on a similar solution to what [their Czech colleagues of the liberal conservative Civic Democrats party] the ODS came up with: both here and in the Czech Republic the important thing is to ensure that member states don't simply hand over powers to Brussels with the blessing of their governments." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Constitution, » Germany, » Europe
All available articles from » Daniel Kaiser

According to the liberal conservative daily Corriere della Sera the German constitutional judges' ruling on the Lisbon Treaty is above all proof of the follwing: "Europe is neither federalist nor a super state as some would say. It is a Europe of nations. The court in Karlsruhe has decided that the Treaty must be accompanied by a letter that explicitly reaffirms that power of the German parliament. … In a series of matters Brussels cannot decide alone. … In the areas of police, military, taxes, social legislation, family law and penal law the Bundestag and the Bundesrat [the lower and upper houses of the German parliament, respectively] are to remain at the core of the decision-making process even after the Treaty comes into effect. … The political reaction to the Karlsruhe ruling was one of great relief - a sign of a certain degree of concern that prevailed among the major parties, even if they didn't show it openly. … But even those who brought the case before the Karlsruhe court, the Left Party led by Oskar Lafontaine and some conservatives with Bavaria's Christian Socialist Union, are content with the judgement because it underlines national sovereignty and democracy." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » EU Constitution, » Germany
All available articles from » Danilo Taino

The Federal Constitutional Court's ruling on the Lisbon treaty shows that concerns about a loss of national sovereignty are justified, writes Carla Joosten in her Europe blog for the conservative liberal weekly Elsevier: "The Dutch, French and Irish were seen as malcontents by the rest of the European Union because they voted against the constitution. But this reproach must be taken back following the ruling of Germany's highest juristic body. In the opinion of the court, without amendments to the German Basic Law Germany will be surrendering too much power to the European Union. … What does this judgement mean for the sovereignty of other member states? Should they not also build a guarantee into their own legislation in order to secure their right to self-determination? Following the guarantees for Ireland … the EU leaders had hoped that the treaty's long ordeal had ended. But that seems to have been a vain hope." (01/07/2009)

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All available articles from » Carla Joosten

The challenges are huge, writes the daily Göteborgs-Posten on the Swedish EU presidency that began today, Wednesday. "The climate issue - above all with regard to the UN summit in Copenhagen in December - and the financial crisis - with the demand that despite British resistance joint regulations [for the financial market] are coordinated - are two of the most serious challenges that must be met. Then there's the Irish referendum [on the Lisbon Treaty] in October. In the case that it is approved it's up to Sweden to implement the Treaty and clarify who is to be president of the European Council and who is to be 'foreign minister' of the EU. … Sweden is much more pro-EU nowadays than in 2001 [when it last held the Council presidency]. … With Sweden as president European and global policy enters the Swedish living room. The international community, of which we are an important part, will not fail to notice this." (01/07/2009)

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

At least 14 people lost their lives on Tuesday in Viareggio in Italy's northern-central Tuscany region when a freight train carrying liquid gas derailed. The left-liberal daily La Repubblica demands better controls: "The freight cars belonged to GATX, a railcar leasing firm based in Vienna. According to European regulations, railcars must be inspected every 4 to 6 years. ... But is that a sufficient guarantee? As it seems, no. ... GATX, for its part, argues that the lessee of the train, in this case Sarpom oil refinery [Esso Group] is responsible for inspections. However the latter passes the buck to the logistics department of the Italian railway company. ... What is lacking is an external, independent body to issue regulations and see to it that they're adhered to. It's impossible that when people talk about liberalisation what they mean is the lack of such a body. A liberalised market is not a game without a referee. It's a game where the referee doesn't take an active part but still calls the fouls. Even if an efficient referee has his price." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Italy, » Europe
All available articles from » Maurizio Ricci

On Monday evening another plane made by Airbus crashed - the second in the space of a month. The left-leaning daily Libération looks into the safety of air travel: "Transport with planes is safe. It's more dangerous to cross the Champs Elysées than to cross the Atlantic. But these two latest disasters at [airlines] Air France and Yemenia … will undoubtedly have a dramatic impact on the holiday season. It's difficult to compare the two accidents. One affected the renowned airline of a rich country, the other the modest airline of a poor country. But even if the planes were from different manufacturing series they are still from the same producer, which owes an explanation about the reliability of its machines. … Moreover, ensuring the security of air passengers must be a global and public concern." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Corporations, » Tourism, » France
All available articles from » François Sergent

The Irish Times predicts that the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq will be a rocky road: "US troops are due to leave Iraq in 2011, according to the current timetable. But it is subject to reservations on both sides, according to the security and political facts on the ground. Despite his opposition to the invasion and his desire to see an end to the occupation, President Obama accepts that these disciplines will determine if the timetable can be met. There are many sceptical voices among well-informed actors and commentators on whether it is possible. President Obama has put US disengagement from Iraq firmly in the wider regional context of deeper engagement with Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Calibrating his policies on all these fronts will be a huge task." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » U.S., » Iraq

The EU Commission has postponed publishing its critical progress report on Bulgaria until after the Bulgarian parliamentary elections on July 5. The decision was taken in exchange for Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev's support in reelecting José Manuel Barroso as Commission President, writes the daily Sega: "The question is whether what the governments and the head of the EU Commission stand for actually corresponds to what Bulgarians and other Europeans understand by a functioning democracy. This business of 'one hand washes the other' is simply peddling influence. Above all it's unworthy of Brussels, because it was Brussels that initially imposed requirements on Bulgaria concerning an appropriate attitude and adequate standards. If it's now Bulgarian standards that hold sway, we can invite Barroso to a refresher course in [the Bulgarian resort town] Borovec." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Svetoslav Tersiev

Harvard political economy professor Dani Rodrik writes in the business paper Világgazdaság that although the US economy is slowly starting to recover, "the troubles for the world economy are just starting. If globalisation does not get the fix it needs, economic prospects will be dim for rich and poor countries alike. ... It will take real effort and creativity to repair the deep cracks in globalisation revealed by the financial crisis. ... History teaches that global economic order is difficult to establish and maintain in the absence of a dominant economic power. The interwar period, which suffered from a similar crisis of leadership, produced not only a collapse of globalization, but a devastating armed conflict on a global scale. So the stakes in righting the world economy could not be higher. Mismanage the process, and the consequences could be unimaginable. ... In effect, the best way to save globalization is to not push it too far." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Economic Policy, » U.S., » Global
All available articles from » Dani Rodrik

"It's terrible how annoyed the whole world is with intellectuals," complains Romanian philosopher Andrei Plesu in the daily Adevărul. "It's not really clear what an intellectual is, but nowadays individuals who are seen as belonging to this category are blamed for all that goes wrong in the Romanian world. … Intellectuals are not really dislikeable; it's our rulers who are. However not even 'the people' love intellectuals all that much. When they interfere in politics they are suspected of overambitiousness, having material interests, subservience or being vainly elitist. No matter what they do they end up being harshly condemned: They did nothing. Or even worse, they ruined everything. But when they keep their distance they are criticised for not intervening. … What can we do? I see only two solutions: either intellectuals serve a purpose, so every waiter should quickly convert to philosophy; or intellectuals are a bad thing altogether and it would be better to produce waiters en masse. In the end the crisis will decide: both professions are having a tough time! All we have enough of are presidential candidates." (01/07/2009)

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All available articles from » Andrei Pleșu

Iraq has granted oil production licences in an auction. The business paper Financial Times sees winners on both sides: "Iraq gets boosted production; the entrant company hopes to gain future access to oil reserves. The match has a compelling logic - and not just in Iraq. The oil majors have cash and technology but dwindling reserves; national oil companies have reserves in abundance but many lack the expertise and capital to exploit them properly. ... Iraq is problematic because of the war, rows over the legal status of oil contracts the Kurdish autonomous government has signed and Baghdad's provocative invitation of bids on the disputed Kirkuk fields on Kurdistan's edge. Transparency is vital. So too is a legal consensus and fair regional shares of resources. But experiences such as the Niger Delta's show the need for local citizens to see benefits from their national resources: schools, clinics, roads. That is what earns legitimacy." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Energy, » Corporations, » Iraq

Following the sentencing of billion-dollar defrauder Bernard Madoff the daily La Vanguardia praises the efficiency of US justice. But some doubts remain: "It's surprising that Madoff is being given all the responsibility and no one is bothering to examine to what extent the US financial supervisory bodies or the auditing companies, the institutes that looked after the money and the banks that traded with it were to blame. Irrespective of whether it was incompetence or intentional, it's surprising to see them get away scot-free. It's true that governments have taken measures to exert stronger control over the financial markets but many people have lost their assets or their savings through this fraud." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Financial Markets, » Banks, » U.S.
All available articles from » Màrius Carol

Owing to the construction of a bridge across the Elbe the German city of Dresden has lost its status as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The daily Lapin Kansa can understand why the UN organisation made this decision: "The reason for this very unusual step is the bridge which the German city has decided to build across the picturesque Elbe valley. There was strong opposition to the bridge not only from the city's residents but also from writer and Nobel Laureate Günter Grass and many other German intellectuals. Two-thirds of those who govern the city were nonetheless convinced of the need for a bridge. And no compromises could be found, even though they were sought right until the last moment. … The Dresdeners and all Germany have both cause for healthy pride and great shame. Unesco had no alternative. A destroyed landscape and mutilated natural environment cannot remain on the World Heritage List." (30/06/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Architecture / Cities, » Germany

Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus has refused to sign a law forbidding schools from teaching their pupils about homosexuality. The daily Lietuvos Rytas asks what it would mean for the country's youth if parliament overruled the presidential veto: "This would leave only one option for a youth who believes he is homosexual: to put all of his energy into denying his innate tendencies. ... That which defines him, his flesh and blood, is defined beyond the boundaries of the law. I would like to know who will accept responsibility if that youth withdraws from life. Youths who in our cruel post-Soviet times would no longer have the possibility of learning that it is not a handicap to be gay or lesbian. Perhaps MP Vida Marija Čigriejienė, who believes that all homosexuals are criminals?" (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Minorities, » Weltanschauung, » Gender equality, » Lithuania
All available articles from » Monika Bončkutė

The daily Le Temps comments on the founding of a new regional television channel called La Télé: "As of this evening the Vaud and Fribourg cantons can count on a new connection between them: a TV channel. The birth of a new and important regional medium is an event in itself. La Télé also brings the implementation of the new television law. It is a law that by shifting the broadcasting zones has caused a lot of turbulence in a section of the regional audio-visual landscape. La Télé, which sees itself as supplementing Télévision Suisse Romande, certainly has the means to play an important role and viewers could be the first to profit from this." (01/07/2009)

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More from the press review on the subject » Audiovisual Media, » Media policy, » Switzerland
All available articles from » Laurent Caspary