In these times of political turmoil it's up to election winner Viktor Yanukovych to bring stability to Ukraine, writes the Süddeutsche Zeitung: "Yanukovych could manage this if he is able to bring politicians from Western Ukraine on board. ... The European Union also has every interest in a stable Ukraine, and consequently EU politicians should do all they can to exert a moderating influence on both the winner and the losers. ... Domestic stability is the precondition for any further reforms and something even the country's powerful oligarchs are pushing for from the sidelines. They too know that the country must become more democratic if it wants any further political support from the EU. And Kiev will need just that as soon as the next conflict with Moscow rolls around." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » EU neighbourhood policy, » Elections, » Ukraine
All available articles from » Thomas Urban

The conservative daily Magyar Nemzet writes that election winner Viktor Yanukovych must now focus on uniting Ukraine: "Ukrainians took their most important decision in the first ballot, when they sent Viktor Yushchenko packing. His term as president was marked by dilettantism and nationalism on the one hand and an understanding of democracy as a never-ending power struggle on the other. That made the country highly unstable. ... No doubt the new president Viktor Yanukovych will not be able to deliver Ukraine from all of its woes. But if he manages to stabilise this country torn by political and regional strife, his work will be done." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Ukraine
All available articles from » Gábor Stier

Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko could help stabilise Ukraine after Viktor Yanukovych's electoral victory, writes The Irish Times: "Both candidates had broadly similar programmes favouring economic integration with the EU and particularly the negotiation of an EU-Ukrainian association agreement. Membership of Nato is off the agenda for now. But  [Yanukovych's] victory was less to do with policy differences than his successful leveraging of both the country's continued deep east-west divide and popular disenchantment over [Tymoshenko's] handling of the economy. ... If he can bring a measure of stability to the country's politics the election may prove an important turning point." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe

Viktor Yanukovych, winner of Ukraine's presidential elections, is generally regarded as more pro-Russian than his opponent Yulia Tymoshenko or his predecessor Viktor Yushchenko. The daily Latvijas Avīze questions this theory: "Ukraine is not Russia, where even before the elections it was clear that Medvedev would succeed Putin and their United Russia party would win the parliamentary elections. Yushchenko lost the popularity he enjoyed during the times of the Orange Revolution. Russian gas, on which Ukraine is dependent, played a major role in this loss. Yushchenko's former rival Yanukovych can now finally take possession of the presidential seat he coveted for so long, but he is also at pains to correct his image from previous times. ... Moreover Yanukovych remains deeply unpopular in western Ukraine, and it is entirely possible that he will be forced to make concessions." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Domestic Policy, » Ukraine, » Russia
All available articles from » Māris Antonevičs

Iran is making good on its threat and has started to enrich its uranium to 20 percent. The press sees only one way out of this predicament: "Our best hope at putting an end to the quarrelling with Iran is a change of regime. This is what the West should be working towards. Europe and the US have two peaceful means ... at their disposal: full support for the opposition movement and targeted sanctions against the regime, and above all against the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Even if the regime were toppled there would be no guarantee that Iran would dispense with its nuclear programme. Everyone knows that opposition leader [Mir Hossein] Mousavi, for example, has spoken out in favour of the nuclear option. But there would at least be the possibility of a more responsible government coming to power, one that is open to reasonable arguments and at least doesn't pass on its nuclear materials to extremist allies like Hamas or Hizbollah." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Iran
All available articles from » Christian Ultsch

The new European Commission will take office in Brussels today under President José Manuel Barroso. The daily Les Echos stresses the challenges facing the body: "In this particularly difficult period, the end of Europe's lethargy and indecision ... is keenly awaited. It is high time for the executive to make its voice heard, formulate propositions and lead the way into the future. ... Nevertheless the authorities in Brussels know very well they must not entertain too many illusions. ... Because two difficulties loom large. The first is political. ... The crisis has shifted the centre of gravity in Europe from the federal to the intergovernmental level, and the governments concerned have no intention of backtracking here. ... The second difficulty is institutional. Of course it's important to take time, but the first steps of the new body at the head of Europe have not been at all convincing." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe
All available articles from » Dominique Seux

The social-democratic Dutch Labour Party is not an option for migrants in the Netherlands' upcoming local elections, write prominent intellectuals, including well-known immigrants, in the daily NRC Handelsblad. They hold the party responsible for turning public opinion against Muslims: "Why are those who fan civil frustration barely contradicted? … Why haven't we put paid to this right-wing populism that has soiled our politics and debate for so long? ... Instead of putting the irregularities [in integration] in a socio-historical context, as expected, we have a social-democratic party that is allowing culture and religion to rule the day. Doesn't the party realise that a focus on culture can easily sound like an excuse for racist discourse? Every day we read in the newspapers and see in the survey results of the [right-wing populist] Freedom Party how this excuse works." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Elections, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Mohammed Benzakour

Historian Libor Gottfried attacks in the liberal daily Mladá Fronta Dnes the commentary by Lukáš Lhoťan in yesterday's issue of the paper warning of an escalation of anti-Islamic sentiment in the Czech Republic: "If Islam is supposed to bring the world new-found tolerance and equal rights, then male Muslims should also wear the burqa, for example when dealing with authorities, going to banks or restaurants and driving cars. Women don't have such problems because in Muslim countries they aren't allowed to drive, let alone go to a restaurant alone or open a bank account. Islamic mores, including the burqa, simply don't belong in Europe, and why should they? ... The problem isn't that Europeans are suppressing Islam by banning the burqa. The real problem is that one day Europe will be suppressed by Muslim values and morals. We've already seen the first 'honour killings', although for the time being these are limited to Muslim families. But we should also firmly reject customs of that sort." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Religion, » Integration, » Minorities, » Czech Republic, » Europe, » Middle East
All available articles from » Libor Gottfried

Now that the Treaty of Lisbon has taken effect the EU has the right structure to play an important role on the international stage, writes Lluís Bassets in his blog, but it lacks the will: "Europe is leaving the card table at the precise moment when China is taking its place there, cards in hand, calm yet impossible to ignore. We saw it at the climate summit in Copenhagen and the World Economic Forum in Davos, and now we've seen it again at the Munich Security Conference, which each year brings together the international elite to confer on defence matters. The European Union has its brand new Lisbon Treaty and its new high offices, but it lacks the most essential attribute to join this new game that began with the changes at the White House and the brutal economic crisis which is changing the world we live in. Even the new players are telling us this. China and India wanted Europe as a global player with its own voice. The United States also wants this. Only we Europeans are showing with stubborn resistance that we don't want the EU to be a global player with its own voice. We may have the instruments but we lack the will." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Europe, » U.S., » China, » India
All available articles from » Lluís Bassets

Next year Estonia will presumably be the first of Finland's neighbours to introduce the euro. The daily Kaleva praises the country's achievements in dealing with the global economic crisis: "Estonia is looking forward to the credibility, stability and investments it will gain from the euro. It is admirable how our neighbours on the other side of the Gulf of Finland have swallowed the bitter pills necessary to stabilise their economy. And as the first Baltic state to introduce the single currency they have good reason to be proud. History has taught the Estonians how to overcome difficulties and emerge from crises even stronger than before. That was the case in the 1990s when the Soviet Union collapsed. Finland would do well to take a lesson from the Estonians on how to withstand crises with determination." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Estonia, » Finland

Malta could up the number of tourists who travel to its shores by developing its club scene. But the daily Times of Malta argues the country should avoid modelling itself on Ibiza: "Would clubbing make Malta a better value proposition than it is today? Would this merely result in higher numbers? Or will it serve to contribute to a more 'complete' programme that Malta would be able to offer potential visitors? The history of clubbing in Ibiza has been notoriously double-edged. On the one hand, it has attracted young clubbers in their thousands, prepared to dance through the night. But, on the other, it has brought with it 'lager louts', anti-social behaviour and noise. In an island about half the size of Ibiza and with almost four times the population, would it be wise to try to expand this segment of Malta's tourism product beyond what we have already? What will be the costs and to what benefit? Malta, another Ibiza? A little careful thought is likely to lead to the logical conclusion." (08/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Tourism, » Malta

Farmers in Greece demonstrating for higher agricultural subsidies have been blocking border crossing points with Bulgaria since mid-January. This has caused heavy losses for Bulgarian transport and trading companies. Greece is still getting used to its new EU neighbour Bulgaria, writes Balkans expert Rumjana Michneva in the daily Klassa: "I am worried that this crisis could lead to nationalism on both sides of the border. The Greeks are unhappy about cheap [Bulgarian] goods and we're unhappy about the blockade. … It's only since Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU that Greece has realised it has to obey the EU rules. Before that [the Greeks] had a lot of space to themselves, for there was no other EU member in their immediate proximity. So it's understandable that the farmers are not happy about Bulgarian imports; they're not used to this kind of competition." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU neighbourhood policy, » Greece, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Rumyana Mihneva

Romanian literary critic and historian Adrian Marino wrote the book The Life of a Lonely Person, which at his own request was to be published five months after his death and will now go on sale in March. In the book Marino accuses famous intellectuals of provincialism and making moral compromises. The daily Evenimentul Zilei comments: "With all due respect to the intellectuals in Adrian Marino's book, it is good that he has voiced criticism against them; it's good even if it looks bad. Provocation. A discussion about a person can sometimes help to understand his work. At any rate controversy attracts attention and thus has the same effect as a shelf full of trophies. ... However the posthumous discussion triggered by Adrian Marino risks turning into a typical Bucharest smear campaign instead of a genuine and necessary debate about Romania's cultural values - what they are, what they should be and how they should be fostered." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Cultural Policy, » Philosophy, » Weltanschauung, » Romania
All available articles from » Calin Hera

On a bridge in Vilnius stand four groups of Soviet-era sculptures that are in urgent need of repair. The daily Lietuvos Rytas sees little point in their being preserved: "Historical arguments are often used: collective farming and the Red Army are also part of our history and therefore deserve a place in the centre of Vilnius. But if we are so consistent with historical relicts why did we bring down the Lenin monument? And why do we have relatively little problem getting rid of other art works from socialist realism? It is difficult to understand what precise value the sculptures on the Žaliasis tiltas [bridge] are supposed to have. ... If we are seeking a didactic moment then we would be better off putting the camps in Siberia and the treatment Lithuanians suffered at the hands of the KGB on the curriculum. And if we want sculptures that remind us of the Soviet times they should be dedicated to the victims of communism, not the ideological symbols of the occupiers." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Architecture / Cities, » Public Culture, » Cultural Policy, » History, » Remembrance culture, » Lithuania, » Russia
All available articles from » Monika Bončkutė

The war against doping will never make headway as long as it remains a money-making venture, writes the daily Dnevnik with an eye to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Vancouver. "The truth is that even the fight against doping is a big money-maker. Huge amounts of money change hands with all the laboratory tests and concessions. If professional sport actually managed to free itself of doping, many people would lose their jobs. And it's clear which interest groups have the most influence when you see how unequal they are before the law. Like prisoners on parole, competitors in individual sports must report to the World Anti-Doping Agency on a daily basis wherever they are, while many team sports - which also are more interesting from a marketing perspective - are only controlled on the location where the sporting event will take place. Clearly there will be no fairness and nothing at all will change as long as the profit motive holds sway even on the honest side of the doping war." (09/02/2010)

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More from the press review on the subject » Sport, » Global
All available articles from » Aljaž Vrabec