"No sooner had European leaders quaffed their glasses yesterday in celebration of half a century of unity than they were experiencing the familiar hangover about what the next five decades holds in store", comments the daily. "Ms Merkel concentrated her fire yesterday on breaking the logjam of institutional reform. She is pushing for an intergovernmental conference which would have to agree on a draft charter by December. This would be endorsed by all 27 governments in February next year. But, after a long period of reflection, everyone still wants different things: Germany, Spain and Italy hope to preserve much of the original text of the ill-fated constitution. Poland is reluctant to surrender the generous voting rights it and Spain achieved in Nice. France wants a slimmed-down core. Britain does not want a charter at all. Everyone talks about being practical, but no one has a clear vision of the future." (26/03/2007)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe

Martin Winter writes that despite all the celebrations in Berlin, the "desired breakthrough" never arrived. However, "the painstakingly penned "Berlin Declaration" was not a total failure. "On the contrary, it is a document of great honesty. Europe has looked in the mirror and has seen what must have been a sobering sight to all those who had hoped that political fortification would follow the recent expansion. ... When it takes weeks to agree to call the euro a success in the Berlin declaration, when the model for Europe's social welfare system has to be full of clauses, when the common foreign and security policy barely gets a mention, this is a sign that Europe is in a sorry state. Of course it's a victory for Merkel that the other states have committed themselves to completing the reform process by 2009. But what reforms? Unless the Holy Spirit of sensible European policy descends to enlighten the EU's heads of state and government, there will be nothing but a mini reform just to keep business in Brussels ticking over." (26/03/2007)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » EU Constitution, » Europe
All available articles from » Martin Winter

The Danish newspaper criticises the celebrations in Berlin: "Spurred on by German Chancellor Angela Merkel the EU now wants to create a set of rules that enable a 27-member-state EU to pass resolutions as smoothly as it could with 12 or 15 members. This is the crux of the treaty that is supposed to mature into a new, simplified constitution, if possible before a new parliament and commission are elected in 2009. If this effort fails, we risk having to wait another five years for an EU that is capable of acting. The plan is to ask parliaments instead of voters, in order to avoid another fiasco. This would only exacerbate the problems with democracy which not only the EU but also the member states are facing." (26/03/2007)

» to the homepage (external link, Politiken)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » EU Constitution, » Europe

The editorialist François Ernenwein considers that the EU's "deficiencies will not be compensated for by the Berlin declaration, a sort of minimal contractual programme, by 2009. The incremental, step by step policy with which Europe has been built over fifty years and which previously guaranteed its success has today run out of steam. The European project is in danger of a slow death unless it switches to a far more explicit will power and an ambition that goes beyond building an enlarged zone dedicated to the free market. We need new energy. This can be found in the hopes of Europeans that are relentlessly being formulated." (26/03/2007)

» to the homepage (external link, La Croix)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » EU Constitution, » Europe
All available articles from » François Ernenwein

"The German Chancellor, who fought hard to include a 2009 deadline for the institutional reform of the EU in the Berlin declaration, is having some difficulties with the timetable", explains Richard Werly. "As ambitious as it might be, her plan to get Europe out of the crisis generated by the 2005 rejection of the Constitution by France and The Netherlands must be put on the table in Brussels by the end of the German presidency on the 30th of June. However the new French head of state to be elected on the 6th of May will obviously avoid commitment on this subject just a few weeks after taking office. ... Angela Merkel's audacious bid aims for the second term of 2008, at which time France will preside the EU for a six month period. ... This strategy holds two risks: irritating critics of the Franco-German axis and not finding an ideal partner in whoever succeeds Jacques Chirac." (26/03/2007)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe
All available articles from » Richard Werly

According to Petr Zavadil, the Czech Republic is mainly to blame for the "uninspiring Berlin Declaration". Prague was staunchly opposed to everything: to the constitution, to anything new in the text and to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's proposals and her uncompromising negotiation methods. The Czechs and the Poles behaved more like the British than the British this time. Whether these playground tactics will work in the real battle remains to be seen. The real fight for the future of the EU constitution has just begun. The Union is giving itself only six months to negotiate the finer points. This means it will have to chose between meeting that deadline and a more time-consuming leap forward towards integrations." (26/03/2007)

» to the homepage (external link, Lidové noviny)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » EU Constitution, » Czech Republic, » Europe

The editorialist Andrea Romano deplores certain passages of the Berlin declaration, notably the part that says, "The European model combines economic success with social solidarity". "These banalities don't even feature in manifestoes of well-to-do associations. They can only serve to once again gloat over having been born in this blessed part of the globe ... . Europe has chosen the comfort of rhetoric, running the risk that the European Union might, like the Amish, close in upon itself, blissfully contemplating its luck and benefiting from its security while the motor of the community shows more and more signs of fatigue. And yet the world all around us is in need of more leadership and commitment from Europe". (26/03/2007)

» to the homepage (external link, La Stampa)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe
All available articles from » Andrea Romano

Author of 'Capitalism or Democracy? The 21st century alternative', the French economist Marc Fleurbaey explains in an interview conducted by Dominique Berns why it is difficult to reconcile the two concepts. "Although I consider that the market economy is where our future lies because it is the most efficient as well as the fairest in some respects - particularly as a means of promoting the autonomy of individuals -, I also feel that its current form is not destined to last. Why? Because there is an incredible gap between our culture, steeped as it is in democratic values, and the way that economy continues to work in a very undemocratic manner in general as much as within individual companies. ... There is a gap, as everyone concedes, between democracy's arena, whether political or social, and the field of action where economic operators and particularly investors work, which goes well beyond the level of Nation States and dialogue with social partners." (26/03/2007)

» more information (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Labour market / Services, » Corporations, » Philosophy, » Global
All available articles from » Marc Fleurbaey, » Dominique Berns

In an interview with dpa journalist Matthias Hoenig, German philosopher Jürgen Habermas proposes a way out of the constitution crisis: a referendum to be held parallel to the Euro-elections in 2009. "The different governments, which after all control the whole process, must admit their own impotence and for once 'put their faith in democracy'. As political parties, which are what all governments are made up of, they must overcome their fear of losing control and face the challenge of fighting a pan-European battle for each vote in favour or against the expansion of the European Union... If the referendum succeeds, Europe could say goodbye to the convoy model in which the slowest sets the pace. And even in a core-and-periphery-Europe, those countries that prefer to remain on the periphery would naturally retain the option of joining the core at any time." (23/03/2007)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Constitution, » Europe
All available articles from » Jürgen Habermas

Tensions have arisen between Poland and Spain after the Spanish Senate called on the Spanish government to lobby for the two dozen or so Poles who fought against Franco during the Spanish Civil War and are still alive today. The senators argue that the former combatants will be affected by Poland's lustration law, which requires Polish citizens to reveal former collaboration with the communist secret services, and could face pension cuts as a result. Igor Janke comments: "The Spanish are hitting out blindly in defence of the memory of their heroes. The Polish government is not punishing anyone for having fought in the war against Franco. It simply wants to abolish the privileges of those who were members of the apparatus of repression, of people who wanted to choke our independence and persecuted and tortured the heroes who fought for freedom and democracy in Poland." (24/03/2007)

» full article (external link, Polish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » History, » Spain, » Poland
All available articles from » Igor Janke

José Aguilar comments on the 'decommunisation' being applied in Poland by the brothers Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, respectively President and Prime Minister. For him, they have thrown themselves into an "operation destroying the historical memory of their country. The last episode to date is the plan to take pensions away from several dozens of Poles who were part of the International Brigades who fought in Spain to defend republican legitimacy during our civil war. ... [The Kaczynskis] are preparing to carry out a sort of ideological purification that no other former communist country has ever exercised. A real witch-hunt against ... people guilty of having embraced a cause they believed in. ... But it happens that these Poles, being called 'traitors and criminals' by their President, are entitled to Spanish nationality thanks to a decree dated 1996. And this is why the Senate is going to decide, unanimously, to offer refuge and solidarity here." (26/03/2007)

» full article (external link, Spanish)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » History, » Spain, » Poland
All available articles from » José Aguilar

Nicolas Sarkozy, right-wing candidate in the Presidential election, has provoked heated debate in France by proposing the creation of a 'ministry for immigration and national identity'. For commentator Claude Weill, "there is no irrefutable definition of what it means to be French. … In France, whose population and relation to the world have been ceaselessly stirred by history, national identity is a shifting and plural reality. It is also highly relative. It is a questioning of the past, a subject for reflection for philosophers and citizens alike, an inexhaustible source of ideological confrontation. … It is not a given. Every individual has his way of living out national identity and that's as it should be because it belongs to everyone. It is not the role of a minister, much less of a political party, or the current majority to decree 'what it means to be French'." (22/03/2007)

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Migration, » Integration, » France
All available articles from » Claude Weill

Today, March 26th, is the legal deadline for an agreement on the terms of the final establishment of a power-sharing executive for Northern Ireland. The daily comments: "The British government has repeatedly made dire threats against Northern Ireland's politicians, warning that they and their constituents faced political, and indeed financial, ruin unless they made a deal by the deadline. No government will be formed today, as the Reverend Ian Paisley [Democratic Unionist Party leader] made clear at the weekend [asking for six week extension], yet the atmosphere in Belfast is not one of crisis. Things have not yet been sorted out completely, but the air contains many hopeful elements [Paisley and Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin leader, are due to meet today]. ... Both London and the republicans will therefore keep their eyes fixed on the bigger picture, which is the promise of power-sharing in May." (26/03/2007)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom

Estonia is doing well, writes Janek Mäggi: "The roads and schools are being renovated, the birth rate and incomes are on the rise, everyone in reasonable health has work and homeownership is no longer a luxury, but the well-deserved fruit of one's labour. But the flip-side, he points out, is that: "Estonians have run up billions of euros worth of debt which they will have to pay back in crowns, and the money has to be earned first. The best thing would be to sell more goods and services abroad, but instead our trade deficit is growing. Only the Latvians and the Bulgarians have larger trade deficits than we do... Our exports are mainly to EU countries, so it would make sense to introduce the euro. But at five percent our inflation is too high. If salaries increase prices also go up, and then salaries are increased again. No one here is satisfied with a wage increase of less than 10 percent a year any more." (26/03/2007)

» full article (external link, Estonian)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Labour market / Services, » Tax Policy, » Estonia

The Leipzig Book Fair, which takes place each spring, ended on Sunday with a record number of visitors and events. It is widely regarded as a "book fair for the public" and unlike the larger Frankfurt Book Fair, readings by authors are the focal point of the event. This year the spotlight was on Slovenia. Joachim Güntner learned something about the language of this small country: "The Slovenian language has survived three empires under which it was never the official language. It has been subjected to strong foreign influences the German language among others) yet has preserved its peculiarities. Like Russian, which has a 'small plural', Slovenian has the 'dual', a special grammatical form for saying 'we two' ('mi dva'). Does this make Slovenian a perfect language for lovers? According to Urska P. Cerne [translator and curator of the Slovenian contribution], Slovenian translators certainly have problems with 'anything that's impersonal', just as in German there are problems with conjunctive, passive and infinitive constructions." (26/03/2007)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Germany, » Slovenia
All available articles from » Joachim Güntner

To the 50 reasons to love the EU published in the British daily The Independent, Emilian Isaila adds another 20 from the Romanian perspective. These include: "1. Looking for a job has become easier because if you're healthy you can find one anywhere in Europe. 2. Individual rights and freedoms have improved greatly. This is an opportunity, especially if Romania's judicial system has treated you unfairly. 3. We no longer need a passport to travel to Bulgaria for a summer holiday!... 10. We no longer have to fear a war with Hungary, Russia or Bulgaria... 12. The communists will never return to power... 17. At last we'll have proper motorways!" (25/03/2007)

» full article (external link, Romanian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Social Policy / Employment, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Emilian Isaila