Josef Zieleniec, formerly Czech Foreign minister and now EMP, calls on the EU to show a united front against Russia. "Nothing less than the future of the political community of Europe is at stake in Samara. For centuries on end Russian rulers have regarded Central and Eastern Europe as their natural sphere of influence. Even today, this view is one of the cornerstones of Russian state thinking, and the EU membership of the new democracies hasn't changed this one bit... Russia systematically denies its former satellite states their right to sovereignty. ... It uses every opportunity to cut them off from the rest of the EU and play them off against the West European member states. The conflict over the removal of the monument in Estonia, the threats of military action in retaliation against the construction of the missile defence system, the blockade against meat imports from Poland, the repeated interruption of gas supplies as a political weapon - these are all recent examples." (16/05/2007)

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Uldis Smits doubts the EU-Russia summit will improve relations between the EU and Russia. He points out that they have reached an all-time low and that the dispute between Moscow and Estonia over the war monument in Tallinn is overshadowing the meeting. "By fanning hate against Estonia, Russia has inadvertently done the Baltic states a favour. The West European media have suddenly turned their attention to the events that took place in the 1940s. The conclusions of their historical analysis don't tally with Moscow's official ideology. The world regards the 'spontaneous protests' incited by the Kremlin as a deliberate, Moscow-backed campaign against the West. ... With Sarkozy, France now has a president whose own father fled Hungary to escape the Red Army and who makes no secret of his sympathies with the US. ... The exit from the political stage of members of the old guard of Kremlin allies such as Gerhard Schroeder, Silvio Berlusconi and Jacques Chirac is making it more difficult for Moscow to achieve its goals in Europe." (15/05/2007)

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Europe has yet to come up with a convincing response to "Russia's rough policies", writes Hansrudolf Kamer. He calls for EU foreign policy to take greater account of the conflicts between the countries of Eastern Europe and Russia. "The old Europe should be aware of the fact that the expansion of the EU to encompass former satellite states and members of the Soviet Union has strained relations with Moscow. The EU is not free to choose here, it is under obligation. It can't try to make amends with Russia without considering its new members. Prague, Warsaw and Tallinn, to name only a few, also have their say in determining the EU's policy towards the great power in the East. They won't let a new constitution take away or diminish this right. ... Up to now the European Union has been in the comfortable position of being able to make stipulations for new members. Now it must show greater and more visible solidarity with these members, particularly when there's trouble." (16/05/2007)

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Academics Bertrand Benoit and Richard Milne note that an argument about Russia between the Lithuanian ambassador and Germany's ambassador at a recent meeting in Brussels "called into question the ability of Germany, current holder of the EU presidency, to remain neutral in a whole range of disputes between Russia and its former Soviet-era satellites in eastern Europe. ... German business needs good relationships with a stable, if authoritarian, Russia and it wields considerable influence in Berlin. ... By sticking to its exclusive relationship with Moscow, however, some EU experts argue that Berlin is contributing to the division of Europe. Besides, they argue, Germany's interest - to persuade an increasingly affluent and assertive Russia to remain a reliable energy supplier and partner - would be better served by building a truly European policy towards Moscow." (16/05/2007)

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The French researcher Georges Mink explains why the question of 'decommunisation' still hasn't been definitely dealt with in certain former communist countries. "For some of the most zealous political actors, declaring a desire to get rid of the most immoral after-effects of communism is part of the rhetoric necessary to legitimate the opposite objective: to exploit it for as long as possible, because creating 'dissensus' in collective memory guarantees an advantageous position for its actors on the political scene. Archives that are difficult to access actually materialize suspicion that is carefully kept alive. They have an inexhaustible potential as hidden proof of the existence and preservation of the enemy. The leaks, more or less organised, lead to a belief that justice is being blocked by a network of this enemy's accomplices. ... In this atmosphere of general denunciation, we may well wonder about the degradation of the democratic system." (16/05/2007)

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On Thursday, May 17th, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), which split off from the former in 1917, will sign the document confirming their canonical reunification. German journalist Gernot Facius observes with concern the growing influence of the Orthodox Church in Europe, especially as Greece, Bulgaria and Romania already have predominantly orthodox populations. "Particularly regarding the difficult subject of human rights and religious freedom, the Moscow Patriarchate's views differ from those of the West. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights it sees the humanism of the Enlightenment at work, which undermines the theological humanism of Christianity and leads people 'away from God'. ... And much to the horror of Western observers of the Russian religious scene, the Metropolit [The Most Reverend Kyrill] identifies with the orthodox-patriotic state ideology that also pervades Vladimir Putin's speeches: the nation creates faith and religion. Is orthodox religion to be a national project? Is this religion as folklore for strengthening an identity that has become ill-defined? It's unthinkable that this concept of a tight bond between the nation and religion could be compatible with the Western tradition of separation of Church and State." (16/05/2007)

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"Farewell, Jacques Chirac", is the headline of the daily which offers a portrait of the French president who is giving up his seat to Nicolas Sarkozy this Wednesday, May 16th. "Although many French people consider Chirac is more a resident than a president of the Republic and criticise him for his political stasis, there have always been close ties between him and his compatriots. When Chirac tried to introduce reforms, the French protested on the streets. Chirac took a step backwards each time and France did the same. ... The Head of State and the population felt fine in this climate of reciprocal (mis)understanding and behaved in paradoxical ways with one another. It was a bit as if France were looking into a mirror with Chirac. ... He will only have marked history thanks to his opposition to the Anglo-American military venture in Iraq." (16/05/2007)

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A general election is to be held in Ireland on May 24th. The daily points to the importance of the "candidates' ability to handle Ireland's involvement and defend its interests in the European Union. ... Whereas Fine Gael [Centre-right, largest opposition party in Parliament] favours closer European integration, notably in defence and security, both Labour and the Greens want to see Ireland's neutrality constitutionally protected against any encroachment. Such tension should not be overlooked in the campaign. ... There are similar differences of emphasis between the parties on a social versus a liberal Europe, on transatlantic relations and on the EU's role in environmental protection and climate change. Such is the nature of modern governance that the EU dimension frequently constrains domestic policy and takes up a large proportion of ministerial time. Voters should be made more aware of this reality and need more information on it." (15/05/2007)

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Sweden's Defence Minister Mikael Odenberg wants to abolish compulsory military service in times of peace and has instead called for compulsory conscription in "times of unrest", when the country's defence policy requires such action. The Swedish daily remains unconvinced. "The current system of conscription is unfair and outdated; not everyone who wants to join is allowed to and not everyone who doesn't want to is allowed to stay out. It's not a good system. ... Nonetheless, Odenberg's proposal is unclear. When exactly do times of peace become times of unrest and who decides what's what? ... The security policy situation can change rapidly. Perhaps such a change is already in progress. Revanchism, super-power ambitions and nationalism are increasing in Russia - parallel to the strategic and economic value of the country's vast energy resources." (16/05/2007)

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According to political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu, the upcoming referendum on the dismissal of Romanian President Traian Basescu has renewed the Romanians' enthusiasm for politics. He points out that the fresh political impetus of Romanian citizens should be taken seriously and not dismissed as manufactured or a twist of fate. "You can't reduce politics to a purely rational act, just as people in general can't be reduced to the way they reason. Participating in demonstrations, just like participating in strikes or signing petitions, is by no means a perverted form of 'mature' political action. They are types of political action. ... Incidentally, these two variables - participating in demonstrations and voting on election day - are in direct proportion to each other. The presidential elections in the US and France have proven this." (16/05/2007)

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The columnist Kenneth Zammit Tabona considers that "the vast majority of Europeans, reared, as we are, in the protective shadow of the EU, are highly disinclined to be either anarchically Left or militantly Right; not that these people do not exist, as we know only too well, but, unless something drastic happens to upset the applecart, like uncontrolled immigration, they can actually be contained. ... People have it so good that there is nothing much to fight for anymore apart from controversial issues like gay marriage or partnership ... In Malta, however, there are a number of social issues that must be overcome before we are mature enough to graduate to gay marriage, the most pressing being the introduction of divorce ... . The government has no right to deny divorce to its citizens, especially while purporting to hide under ecclesiastical petticoats pour epater les bourgeois! We are a secular state not a religious one as far as I know." (15/05/2007)

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Banned in Spain since 2003 because of its links with the ETA (Basque separatist organisation), the Batasuna party is seeking to be indirectly present in the municipal elections that will be held in the Basque and Navarre regions on May 24th. As a result, several lists of candidates supported by Batasuna have been banned of the elections. The Spanish writer Fernando Savater responds by wondering what the limits of tolerance should be: "... Intolerance should be denounced as much as the intolerable and both should be fought democratically. The Swedish writer Lars Gustaffson has summed this up very sell: 'Tolerance towards intolerance creates intolerance. Intolerance of intolerance creates tolerance'. .. The real enemy of tolerance is fanaticism, not necessarily among those who are most convinced, but the among people who shut other people up in order to escape their own doubts." (11/05/2007)

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According to a survey published by the newspaper, twelve percent of Poles - in other words over three million people - will leave Poland to seek work abroad over the next year. Most of them want to go to Great Britain, Germany or Ireland. Piotr Gabryel comments: "This is not, in itself, a bad thing. On the contrary, it could even be good - however for that there would have to be movement in both directions. This would require that many Poles who have already left the country return and that foreigners move to Poland in droves. But unfortunately this is not the case. Polish politicians are losing the battle for the Poles. ... because they lack the vision, knowledge and courage to push through the reforms that would turn our country into a paradise for enterprising individuals... We need the kind of courage that the Irish had in the 1980s. ... They liberalised their economy to such an extent that many of those who had emigrated returned. Today, with their support, Ireland is winning the battle for workers and is on its way to becoming one of the wealthiest countries in the EU." (15/05/2007)

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Jean-Noël Cuénod comments on the media strategy of Nicolas Sarkozy, accused of censuring an article in the 'Journal du Dimanche' (JDD). "The new president of the Republic is personally acquainted with all of the decision makers of the French media sphere, as well as the journalists 'who count'. ... There is no doubt that Sarkozy wants to control his image and his messages, right down to the last pixel and comma. But the thing is that this Bonaparte of media battles may be a bit late on the scene. The latest turn of events shows this. The JDD ditches an article that says that Cecilia Sarkozy may not have voted [in the second round of the presidential elections] and a few days later the story is circulated by journalists on the Internet ! The result is that the media is seizing the information to make a big deal of it, blowing it up into dimensions that it wouldn't have had if the JDD had published the initial article in the first place." (16/05/2007)

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Silvio Berlusoni's Italian group Mediaset has bought The Dutch company Endemol that made its fortune by producing the first reality television shows such as Big Brother. For the journalist Massimo Gremellini, this acquisition is not going to improve the already very low intellectual level of television programmes offered by Mediaset. "It is always good news when an Italian company prospers abroad. But the good news stops there. This purchase is improving the finances of Mediaset, but not the quality of evenings in front of the TV. Modern television is based on a desire to radically cut production costs. The Berlusconisation of Endemol will only radicalise this poor diet, without increasing television's disdain for its viewers, simply because it couldn't possible get any worse". (15/05/2007)

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Fabienne Bradfer praises the Cannes Film Festival, which is opening for it's 60th year this Wednesday, May 16th. "If the festival brings together auteur cinema and big stars despite the fact that they don't necessarily feature on the same credits, it contributes enormously to the circulation of works. Indeed its prestige protects dissident pictures and gives a sort of momentary immunity to authors. Its aesthetic, political and economic dimensions are undeniable and are being reinforced with the new century. In an era of general submission to market strategy, the festival has managed to react against inevitable parasites (TV stars, football stars, top models etc.), in order to return to its essence, cinema, by defending its choices, its audacity, its alternative paths. The 2007 formula, prepared by the artistic director Thierry Frémaux, bodes well: new talent, regular big auteurs and Hollywood ." (15/05/2007)

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