According to the leading article in the Portuguese daily Diário de Notícias, the founding of the Mediterranean Union is just the first step: "Nowhere else in the world is the disparity in terms of wealth as great as between Spain, France and Italy and North Africa. This is what lies behind the drama of illegal immigration and why so many people from the poor side want to come to the rich side, even if it means risking their lives. The Mediterranean Union which was launched yesterday in Paris will not suffice to bridge this centuries-old chasm - which is filled with nationalist and colonialist hate on both sides. But Nicolas Sarkozy's project has been signed by representatives from forty countries, and this proves that they are all aware that common prosperity depends on everyone cooperating with each other. And at least this is a start." (14/07/2008)

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The Slovenian daily Večer recalls the rocky road to the founding of the new Mediterranean Union: "It is not exactly what Sarkozy had in mind. He had imagined an association of littoral countries, the so-called 'Club Med', with its own investment bank and regular ministerial meetings. Sarkozy had envisioned the project receiving generous financing from the EU, with France playing the leading role. But in the end France's president was forced to give in to the opposition of the key EU states who were against Brussels financing France's desire to expand its clout. ... Although it is obvious that the new Union has been born amid a lack of serious promises for investment in the development of the Mediterranean countries, France's president has chalked up his first victory with the statement that the 'Club Med' brings 'new hope'. ... So far only one thing is for sure: France has ... managed to strengthen its role, and hence the role of the EU, in the Middle East." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » EU Policy, » Europe, » Middle East, » North Africa
All available articles from » Jože Plešnar

For the newspaper Le Figaro, the Mediterranean Union heralds France's return as a diplomatic player in the Middle East: "The launch of the Mediterranean Union in Paris this weekend highlights with much pomp France's return to the Middle East. Getting the Israeli Ehud Olmert, the Syrian Bashar al-Assad and the Lebanese Michel Suleiman all to sit down at the same table is in itself a stage victory for a project that was confronted with many difficulties even before it was born. ... And it shows that French diplomacy still carries weight when the future of the Middle East is at stake. ... Nicolas Sarkozy is a sort of godfather for the new relations between Damascus and Beirut. That is a major risk, in view of recent history. But the responsibilities that the president is shouldering correspond to the ambitions our country has always had regarding Lebanon and the entire region." (12/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » EU Policy, » France, » Europe, » Middle East
All available articles from » Pierre Rousselin

The Times doubts the effect of the new Mediterranean Union: "A useful Paris conference, though the results may be a damp squib. ... Beyond the high-sounding declarations, however, there will be useful measures: cleaning up sea waters, working on land and maritime 'highways', developing solar energy and student exchanges and setting up a body to help medium and small-sized companies with technical assistance. The meeting has been used to bring Syria in from the cold. President Assad has been given a chance to break away from Iran's suffocating embrace and, on sufferance, has been accepted again as a negotiating partner by the West. ... Whether a lasting secretariat and institutions come from the conference remains open. But at least long-separated neighbours have been brought closer together." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » EU Policy, » Europe, » Middle East

Russia has substantially reduced its crude oil supplies to the Czech Republic over the past few days - without any explanation so far. Prague has not ruled out that the measure could be a reaction to the radar treaty for the construction of a missile defence shield signed between the Czechs and the US. The conservative daily Lidové noviny comments: "Russia is taking advantage of the situation to test how far it can go as regards using its energy sources to put pressure on the West. It is also putting the Czech Republic, its neighbours, Europe and the transatlantic alliance to the test. This puts one in mind of the Berlin Blockade in 1948, albeit on a much smaller scale. ... The EU now has the chance to prove that it not only regulates its member states but can also stand by their side. If it fails to do so it is completely useless." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Economic Policy, » Czech Republic, » Russia, » Europe, » U.S.
All available articles from » Bohumil Doležal

The United Nations Security Council has decided not to apply sanctions against Robert Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe. The Independent regrets the decision as a diplomatic defeat. "The international community looks divided and irresolute over the crisis in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Mr Mugabe himself has been able to hail the failed resolution as a personal triumph and a defeat for 'international racism'. ... Russia and China vetoed the resolution at the Security Council meeting in New York, arguing that Zimbabwe poses no threat to international security. ... It was a diplomatic blunder for Britain and the US to force a vote on this resolution without being reasonably sure of a positive result. ... The no vote of South Africa, one of the non-permanent members of the Security Council, points to a broader failure to prepare the ground. ... The international pressure for this blood-soaked tyrant to step down needs to be redoubled, not eased." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Africa, » China

An expert report by the European Commission concludes that the Roma ethnic minority is the victim of economic, social and political discrimination throughout Europe. Cotidianul newspaper sees it as the duty of the new EU states to take action: "The report describes the lives of the Roma in a very dark tone: their life expectancy is 10 to 15 years lower than the European average. They are extremely poor and are openly discriminated against both on the job market and within the education system. ... The new EU countries are praised for allowing the rest of Europe free trade without customs, but as far as problems like the integration of the Roma are concerned ... [these countries] are the ugly ducklings. Yet the integration [of the Roma minority] is a European problem. ... Even if Romania's public authorities are not taking extreme measures like Italy's fingerprinting of all Roma, they still treat the Roma like second-class citizens." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Integration, » Minorities, » Italy, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Ciprian Ranghel

Slovakia is one of the few countries in the EU not to have extended diplomatic recognition to Kosovo. One reason is the fear that such a move could strengthen the desire for autonomy among the Hungarian minority in Slovakia. The liberal daily Sme criticises Bratislava's attitude: "In acting this way, we tacitly put Slovakia among those countries with serious concerns about their territorial integrity. It is only understandable that Spain or Cyprus feel this way. But it is incomprehensible that of its own free will Slovakia should count itself among the threatened countries. And it could lead other countries to adopt the same view." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » History, » Hungary, » Slovakia, » Kosovo
All available articles from » Marián Leško

In the light of the current global oil crisis the daily Jornal de Negócios calls on the countries of the West to show more solidarity: "The current crisis ... is a crisis of solidarity. The West, which has always needed great quantities of crude oil to fuel its lifestyle, is in an awkward position because other countries now want to lead the same lifestyle and consequently the price of crude oil has reached levels that were unimaginable just a dozen years ago. Ironically it was the West that always talked so enthusiastically about the need to promote economic development worldwide. ... It does not take a genius to realise that the Earth's resources are limited and that an increase in consumption in Asia and Africa can only be made possible by reducing consumption in the West. ... The indignation at the declining purchasing power in the West cannot be genuine unless the solidarity of the West was only feigned in the past. With the rise of China and India ... the West will have to get by on even less because it will have to share even more ... Showing solidarity means sharing more, not having more." (12/07/2008)

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All available articles from » Paulo Baldaia

The member of the European Parliament and former Polish Foreign Minister Bronisław Geremek died on Sunday in a car accident. The conservative daily Dziennik recalls his achievements in an obituary: "In the world of democratic politics he was a historical giant, one of those people who owed their position in free Poland to his commitment to the anti-communist opposition and the Solidarnosc [freedom movement]. His path to this commitment was not an easy one - as was the case with many intellectuals with a Jewish background who had a brief flirtation with communism. ... The European Parliament became a place of refuge for him. ... This was his world - a world of insider talks conducted in perfect French with French, German or British politicians. It came naturally to him to assume a leading role among the Polish here. He represented the weakest ... group, yet he was the one who headed the meetings of Polish MEPs." (14/07/2008)

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All available articles from » Piotr Zaremba

The left-wing liberal daily Népszabadság voices scepticism about the construction of the Nabucco gas pipeline: "We still cannot rule out the nightmare scenario of many Europeans: a gas pipeline that gobbles up billions of euros but does not pipe any gas. ... Under the present circumstances there is little likelihood of finding a responsible entrepreneur willing to take the risk of building the gas pipeline. ... In contrast to the EU, Russia has vastly expanded its sphere of influence in the countries surrounding the Caspian Sea. Moscow's strategy is simple: it not only aims to gain control of the Caspian region's energy resources, it also wants to control the potential transport routes to the West. ... A few years down the road we could [therefore] be facing a scenario in which Europe has the transit gas pipeline but Russia dictates the prices." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Energy Policy, » Trade, » Russia, » Asia, » Europe
All available articles from » Tibor Kis

The international banking crisis has made a comeback with the collapse of the American mortgage bank IndyMac. The daily Die Welt anticipates negative repercussions for the global economy. "It has now become crystal clear that the mantra repeated endlessly - even by bankers - according to which the financial crisis has been overcome was nothing other than the proverbial whistling Dixie. ... The bank has already had to write off around 600 billion euros worldwide. Add to that a few hundred billion more before the crisis is over. In view of these numbers, it seems increasingly unrealistic that Europe will come out of the global financial typhoon unharmed. ... The prospects [are] rather bleak, because the US government can now hardly avoid significantly intensifying its control over the financial sector. But this will markedly dampen international growth, and hence prosperity, for years to come." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Europe, » U.S., » Global
All available articles from » Thomas Exner

The EU wants to introduce duties on grain imports from the Black Sea region. The daily Klassa considers the measure will defend the interests of agricultural lobby groups, but not those of consumers: "Lobbyists' demands are increasingly boldfaced: higher subsidies, guaranteed minimum prices, compensation for catastrophes, lower taxes. But all of that is paid for by taxpayers. ... By introducing duties, the EU has once more shown that its agricultural policy is hostile to free enterprise. This is a major institutional encroachment on market mechanisms, with the purpose of introducing regulations that will serve specific interests." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Trade, » Agriculture, » Bulgaria

Columnist Tanja Lesničar-Pučko comments on the website of Slovenian daily Dnevnik on the role of culture in the agenda of the French EU presidency. "One of the priorities of the French presidency which unfortunately will not be part of the official French initiatives is culture. According to the French representatives, the reason why culture is not on the official agenda is that the member states are not in agreement regarding cultural initiatives and the preservation of culture. ... France's politicians have nonetheless decided to offer the future countries of the EU presidency and above all their own citizens a six-month European culture programme. In France, cultural life consists mainly of domestic products. ... This explains why knowledge of other - and above all smaller, Eastern European cultures - borders on ignorance." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Cultural Policy, » France, » Europe
All available articles from » Tanja Lesnicar-Pucko

After a series of stabbings in the UK, the government wants to resort to shock treatment: confronting young perpetrators with the victims of stabbings: The Daily Telegraph is opposed. "It would be heartening to think such 'punishment' would have a significant impact on knife crime, but we doubt it. ... This has all the trappings of ill-conceived, headline-hunting policy-making. ... There is a need for shock treatment of knife-wielding youngsters, but the means for delivering it are already there. ... There is a weighty corpus of statute dating back half a century that can be brought to bear. All that is required is for it to be applied with rigour and purpose - but it is not. ... Pre-emptive and exemplary action is what is required, which is why the Conservatives are right to say there should be a presumption that the act of merely carrying a knife without good reason should lead to the expectation of jail. ... The 'shock' of a spell in prison, even of short duration, will be a far more potent deterrent." (14/07/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom