The ban on bullfights in Catalonia will hardly ruffle the feathers of modern Spaniards, writes the daily The Times: "Ritual, mythology and machismo all make up the clichéd image, the symbolic essence of Spain that has made a few matadors millionaires, excited the bloodlust of Ernest Hemingway and lavished funds, art and praise on the 'sport'. But modern Spain is outgrowing bullfights, just as the Romans eventually tired of gladiators. It is still popular in Portugal, southern France and much of Latin America. Some Spaniards will mourn this blow to their culture. Most will be indifferent." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Sport, » Spain

The ban on bullfighting in Catalonia testifies to a change in mentality and the difficult departure from antiquated values, writes the regional newspaper L'Est Républicain: "This snook cocked at the bullfight nevertheless has symbolic value. It shows that like other cultural elements the corrida, which is defended as part and parcel of the Spanish identity, is subject to the vagaries of passing time and changing mentalities. Hemingway must be turning in his grave. And the fans of this choreography of death are mourning an epoch that is losing its sense of tragedy." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Spain
All available articles from » Chantal Didier

The bullfighting ban in Catalonia is no triumph for animal rights as the main issue here is regional nationalism, writes the daily nrc.next: "The barbaric bullfights, so the argument goes, were imposed on us by Spain and in particular Madrid at some point. They're a 'custom alien to our people', one could say, but it doesn't sound as good. … At any rate it's a useful warning for the rest of Europe: As soon as 'national identity' turns up as a political argument mistrust is called for. We who live in a democratic society based on the rights of individuals can get along very well without it. But one encounters this argument more and more often, whether it's about Kosovo's independence or the discussions about identity and immigration. Regional nationalism, with the special tradition it has in places like Catalonia and the Basque country, reminds us why nationalism doesn't work as a political ideology." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Spain
All available articles from » Steven Adolf

The Catalan parliament's bullfighting ban is proof of the high level of democratic maturity the Spain of regions has attained, writes Lluís Bassets in his blog Del Alfiler al Elefante: "If this entire process has made something perfectly clear it's how well democracy functions in this Spain of autonomous regions, where the autonomous communities have sufficient competences and power of self-government to take a decision deemed to be of such great import by an important part of Spanish public opinion that some identify it with the rupture of Spain or an attack on its very essence. No one is stopping the advocates of bullfighting from launching a new initiative aimed at making the spectacle legal once more and trying to attain a new majority in their favour in the new parliament that next autumn's elections will produce." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Social movements, » Federalism, » Spain
All available articles from » Lluís Bassets

EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy wants Switzerland to automatically adopt changes in EU law in future. The daily Die Presse sees Switzerland's laborious solo approach, which has entailed 120 bilateral agreements with the EU so far, as a failure: "In Austria it is often said that Switzerland has been cleverer in its dealings with the EU. But that overlooks that fact that the Swiss are increasingly being driven and forced to adopt inconvenient regulations like those on the financial market or corporate taxation - all in exchange for their participation in the single market. The Swiss/EU special model shows that in the end there can hardly be a middle course for other countries like Turkey. Because on the one hand it's unreasonable to expect partner countries not to be involved in EU decisions, but on the other we can't expect the EU states to pay high membership contributions, make compromises on joint decisions and then make allowances for partners who have invested far less both financially and politically." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Switzerland, » Europe, » Turkey
All available articles from » Wolfgang Böhm

The Polish opposition leader Jarosław Kaczyński has demanded that the government resign, accusing it of having done too little to investigate the plane crash near Smolensk in which his brother Lech died. The liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza finds this intolerable: "The intentions of the leader of [opposition party] PiS are made obvious and transparent by his calling straight after the presidential elections for a battle for 'the truth about Smolensk'. … With yesterday's statements Kaczyński has confirmed that all tricks are allowed, like insinuations … and the absurd demand that after the disaster in which the president and high officials died those who were left behind be relieved from office." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Poland
All available articles from » Wojciech Czuchnowski

With an eye to the dissatisfying results of last year's Copenhagen climate conference, Sweden's Minister for the Environment Andreas Carlgren has declared war on "climate nationalism" in an article for the daily Dagens Nyheter and called on countries with high environmental ambitions to voice their concerns as a small group. The conservative daily Svenska Dagbladet couldn't agree more: "That doesn't mean international climate talks are out of the question. But as far as climate agreements are concerned it is entirely possible that these are better reached between countries with roughly similar initial positions. Incidentally this lesson can also be applied to other parts of the UN system. The climate question is far and away not the only matter in which countries like China and Venezuela have a disproportionately large influence." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Environmental Policy, » Sweden, » Latin Amerika, » Global, » China

Tim Judah writes in the Financial Times that the Balkan states belong in the EU. All of the problems are surmountable, Judah contends, and urges EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton to strike while the iron is hot: "Lady Ashton needs to energise a process that has stagnated in recent months. When it comes to Kosovo, Europe can move things forward, especially in partnership with the US. We do not need a final settlement now, but we do need compromises and constructive ambiguity from both sides. Serbia, which applied for membership last year, needs to be moved to candidate status as soon as possible, as do Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia. Macedonia needs a date to start talks on accession. The European Commission has recommended that Bosnians and Albanians are ready for visa-free travel to the Schengen zone. This needs to be granted now. ... None of this is very complicated. There are some 22 million people in the western Balkans, roughly the same amount as in Beijing. Difficult though their problems may be, they are eminently resolvable. Let's hope that Lady Ashton's low profile until now was just her induction period. These are problems you can solve, so come on Catherine, speak for Europe." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Serbia, » Bosnien, » Mazedonien, » Kosovo, » Montenegro
All available articles from » Tim Judah

The Finnish Greens have launched a public debate about a basic income. A proposal worth considering, finds philosopher Tuomas Nevalinna in the daily Helsingin Sanomat: "It's been a long time since the other parties introduced something this complex and radical. Critics see the idea of a basic income as a project by anarchist lefties to have the state pay for laziness. But even with the basic income no one would be able to get by without doing extra work or receiving extra payments. The basic income society would therefore be a society based on work. So is this an argument for or against it? Would it mean that there will always be 'work no one wants to do', as the Social Democrats fear? Or would such jobs disappear if the job seekers had more room to manoeuvre? Is this the first step towards liberation from work or is it about making it easier to find a job? Or is it a compromise? Should those who, like me, support meaningful work and getting rid of exploitation be for or against a basic income? The real weak points in the different positions would become apparent if the issue was discussed not just in pamphlets but also in parliament." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Social Policy / Employment, » Finland

The Spanish company Telefónica has upped its billion-euro offer and convinced the government in Lisbon to give Portugal Telecom (PT) the green light to sell its share in the Brazilian mobile telephone operator Vivo. PT will use the proceeds to buy into Vivo's rival Oi. The business paper Jornal de Negócios calls the deal a win-win situation: "The compromise that has been reached is advantageous for all four negotiating partners: PT, the government, Oi and Telefónica. Only last-minute antics on the part of the Spaniards - like for example retracting their offer - could prevent the deal from going through. But if everything goes well it will be done and dusted in two days: PT agrees, Oi signs, the government authorises and Telefónica buys. In the days to come the winners will toot their own horns to the newspapers - each one pointing to its own achievements. All's well that ends well. That's the good thing about this PT deal. It's like an election night, everyone comes out the winner." (28/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Corporations, » EU neighbourhood policy, » Spain, » Portugal, » Brazil
All available articles from » Pedro Santos Guerreiro

The Italian carmaker Fiat has threatened to transfer part of its production to Serbia should the government, trade unions and workers refuse to accept changes to working conditions. The left-liberal daily La Repubblica says Fiat is resorting to blackmail tactics: "The Fiat strategy increases the danger of social conflict escalating and spreading. There can be no doubt, despite the prophecies of the ministers and trade unionists: thousands of companies with foreign subsidiaries will lose no time making the same demands for themselves if the strategy turns out to be successful. It's true that the crisis has weakened the unions and workers and that the spectre of unemployment is forcing them to accept almost any conditions. But it's by no means certain that … the majority of workers will unquestioningly accept the dictates of the 'global working class', including bans on strikes, demonstrations, raising objections and even calling in sick." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Social Policy / Employment, » Labour market / Services, » Economic Policy, » Italy
All available articles from » Luciano Gallino

The Czechs often pay more at home than in Western Europe for comparable goods and services, although they earn considerably less than their Western neighbours. This has led a growing number of Czechs to do their shopping abroad. The liberal daily Mladá fronta Dnes writes that Czech retailers are short-sighted: "They justify their high prices on the grounds that the Czech market is small while rents, energy and marketing costs are high. But perhaps things are far simpler: they ask the prices that consumers are willing to pay. They trust that people won't travel abroad to do their shopping and will be afraid to buy their goods on foreign-based websites. ... The growing disaffection on the part of buyers is not good news, either for retailers or for the state. ... And it will continue until the dealers have to decide between raising their prices or lowering them and selling at prices that are normal abroad." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Trade, » Consumers, » Czech Republic
All available articles from » Tomáš Vocelka

The founder of the website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has rejected criticisms that publishing secret US documents has endangered Afghan informants. The conservative Jyllands-Posten daily agrees sensitive material should be given careful treatment, but argues that we should "be delighted at the possibilities Wikileaks offers anyone who believes in a transparent, open society. Last year Wikileaks was behind the publishing of thousands of e-mails by climate researchers revealing attempts to suppress information that cast doubt on global warming. Wikileaks has uncovered corruption in Kenia, irregularities among Western banks, an oil scandal in Peru and the dumping of hazardous waste in Africa. On the day when an official working for an oppressive regime wants to speak out about the crimes of a dictator, Wikileaks will be the natural medium to go to. In the meantime perhaps someone should explain to Julian Assange the difference between journalism and activism." (29/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » Online media, » U.S.

The daily Dnevnik wants to bring the European Football Championship to Bulgaria: "At first glance it sounds absolutely batty to suggest Bulgaria as host for such a sporting event. In view of cash-strapped budgets and the current economic difficulties no one dares even mention the idea. But that doesn't stop us from fixing our sights on holding the European Championship, as we fixed our sights years ago on Nato and EU membership. ... As a small and economically weak nation Bulgaria couldn't hold the European Championship on its own, but it could share it with a neighbour. Whether it's crisis-ridden Greece with its functioning infrastructure or Romania, which like Bulgaria wants to catch up with the developed EU countries, is not so important. The main thing is to prepare our candidacy early enough and to have good arguments to back it up." (28/07/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Sport, » Greece, » Romania, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Georgi Filipov