"The temperature in the multiple disputes between Russia and Georgia has been rising for some time. In the past two weeks, though, it has approached boiling point," the newspaper writes in a leading article. Russia's diplomatic defeat over the independence of Kosovo "may be part of the genesis of the present fracas. Loss of empire is another. In smaller, weaker Georgia, Russia has no compunction about playing the colonial bully. Moscow also knows ... that the West feels no obligation to rush to [Georgia's] aid. ... These are perilous times. Russia's new President will be inaugurated next week. The temptation for the Kremlin to thrash out at such a time could be great. We join the EU in calling for moderation, and caution, on both sides." (02/05/2008)

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José Milhazes proposes a solution to the conflict between Russia and Georgia: "The separatists have the support not only of Russia, but also of the majority of the population in both regions. But everyone knows there is also practically unanimous opposition to the loss of these regions in the country. ... This is one more puzzle in one of the most complex regions in Europe. ... What international law will hold sway there: the right to self-determination or the principle of border inviolability? This conflict has much in common with that in Kosovo, but there are two differences: Russia is much stronger than Serbia when it comes to defending the interests and security of its citizens. And Russians make up 80 percent of the population in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. On the other hand, Georgia has the support of NATO, which wants to avoid a war with Russia but is also keen not to lose face. In my humble opinion, the solution could be giving Abkhazia and South Ossetia a status like that of Hongkong and Macau in China. (01/05/2008)

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According to Anna Łabuszewska of the Centre for Eastern Studies in Warsaw, Russia is testing out how it can prevent a former Soviet country from becoming a member of NATO. NATO plans to grant Georgia access to its Membership Action Plan (MAP) in December. "Moscow is now taking measures to prevent Georgia's integration into NATO. Its tactic is to expose Georgia as an instable country that consequently does not fulfil the criteria for candidate countries. Its strategic goal is to torpedo Tiflis' pro-Western course and regain its influence in the region. Georgia is regarded by Moscow as a training ground for methods aimed at preventing the accession of another post-Soviet state to NATO. The tricks that prove successful in the Caucasus can also be applied to Ukraine." (30/04/2008)

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All available articles from » Anna Łabuszewska

Malta joined the European Union four years ago. A leading article in the Malta Independent praises the "most important political move that the country made in recent history. ... But membership was not beneficial only from the political aspect; what was equally important is that through membership Malta's economy also stood to benefit." The switchover to the Euro particularly benefits the country, the paper writes, as "having a currency that is so strong and widely used gives Malta greater credibility. ... Since becoming an EU member, Malta has greatly benefited from the funds made available from the EU, and this will continue to happen in the years to come. ... Malta's image in the eyes of foreign investors has gained so much since the country joined the EU. ... Four years down the line, Malta's European Union membership can be described as a positive experience which has enabled the country to move ahead. There is no doubt that the fruits of this membership will continue to be reaped in the years to come." (02/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » Malta, » Europe

Four years on, Linas Balsys looks at the major EU enlargement in May 2004: "At the beginning, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were still known as the 'Baltic tigers' because they had the largest economic growth in the EU. But after just two years of membership inflation soared, particularly in Estonia and Latvia, and this has prevented the introduction of the Euro there until today. Lithuania tried its luck despite all the warnings of the European Commission, but its application was rejected. The most successful of the new member countries in this respect has been Slovenia, which really has fulfilled the criteria for the introduction of the Euro. ... For their part, Lithuania and other new EU states have entered the Schengen Zone and done away with passport controls on their borders." (02/05/2008)

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The International Charlemagne Prize of the city of Aachen was given to Angela Merkel on May 1, leading Nathalie Lacube to survey the state of women in politics. "Nicolas Sarkozy's touching words of praise to Ms Merkel on May 1 demonstrated more than just the revival of Franco-German friendship. Awarding this year's Charlemagne Prize to the chancellor was an act of recognition of the competence of a female state leader. ... The number of women ministers in the world is on the rise. In Spain female ministers outnumber the males. In Italy, Silvio Berlusconi - who no one suspects of feminism - could name four women ministers to his next government in the coming days. ... But if there are many stars in the galaxy of female heads of state, it's a different story in business. ... Nevertheless, 2008 could be the first year in history when a woman, Hillary Clinton, becomes president of the world's major superpower." (01/05/2008)

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All available articles from » Nathalie Lacube

Spanish Historian Francisco Veiga comments on the reactions of the EU states to Kosovo's declaration of independence: "What could have been an exercise in the fine art of diplomacy on the path to European integration has turned into a clumsy tug of war between hegemonial powers. This scenario reminds one all too painfully of the game played out between the great powers at the beginning of the 20th century, which also included the creation of a new state - Panama in 1903, which until then had been Columbian territory and was created with the aim of giving the US control over the canal - to serve US interests. ... The Kosovo issue also leaves the EU looking like a bunch of hegemonial powers that in the course of eastwards expansion are relaxing the membership criteria and thus causing confusion about which basic elements [the EU] is to consist of in future. Nation states based on ethnic criteria?" If so, the author warns, we should get used to the idea of a Europe of "great nations", "including a Greater Albania, a Greater Serbia and a Greater Bulgaria. This would mean renouncing the idea of a Europe of federal states." (02/05/2008)

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All available articles from » Francisco Veiga

The peace process in Northern Ireland can be a model for solving conflicts in other parts of the world, writes Jonathan Powell, long-standing chief of staff to Tony Blair. In an article entitled "What I learned in Belfast," Powell proposes dialogue with terrorists. "The main lesson is a simple one: the past intractability of a conflict is no guide to the future. ... There are other, more specific lessons. You cannot reach peace unless the key actors accept that a military victory is impossible. ... The one conclusion I have come to above all else ... is the importance of talking to your enemy. ... To argue that al Qaeda or the Taliban are different and that therefore you cannot talk to them is nonsense. Of course they are different, but terrorists are terrorists. What they do is evil, regardless of the cause. But you need to find a way to deal with them." (02/05/2008)

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All available articles from » Jonathan Powell

In his weblog Beppe Grillo, a well-known Italian comedian and leader of the "piss off" movement, describes the publishing of the declared incomes of Italian citizens on the Internet as an "infamous monument". The ministry of finance published the data online following a decision by former tax minister Vincenzo Visco. The data was removed just a few hours after its publishing. Grillo writes that "Visco must have got the idea from the 'Ndrangheta [a criminal gang in southern Italy], the Mafia and the Camorra. ... It makes kidnapping easier and enables criminal groups to adjust the amounts they demand in bribes and hush money to people's incomes. Organised crime no longer needs to carry out its own investigations; it can simply look up the information on the online database of the Italian National Tax Office. ... Tax evaders have nothing to fear; their data is not recorded. Only those who pay their taxes are being punished, and those who pay higher taxes will be robbed or kidnapped." (02/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Online media, » Crime and Law, » Tax Policy, » Italy
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The USA is annoyed at the South Stream agreement between Russia and Greece, writes the Greek newspaper Elefteros Tipos. "The Americans, who would like to hinder Russia's energy plans in Europe at all costs, have not concealed their displeasure now that the agreement has been signed. The American State Department formulated its objection in a 'non-paper' that has come to light in Athens. This text is very critical of the agreement, and invites Athens to continue giving top priority to the existing gas pipeline between Turkey, Greece and Italy. ... The State Department points out that the South Stream pipeline will make Greece even more dependent on gas supplies from a single firm." (02/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Economic Policy, » Greece, » Russia, » U.S.

"One assumed that de Gaulle and Mitterand at least wrote their own speeches, but when it comes to Nicolas Sarkozy everyone knows Henri Guaino is the man who pens his words - he's as well-known as a minister and omnipresent in public life. This year, no less than three "nègres", as the French call ghost writers, have published books about their voluntary slavery. ... Until recently ghost writers, like call girls, never revealed the names of those who used their services, but now the veils of secrecy are being lifted. ... Jack Lang and other ministers had their books written by ghost writers - which actually comes as a relief considering that the 'authors' have plenty of other matters to deal with. Nonetheless, these revelations come as a shock for the republic of intellectualism. Unlike the politicians, none of the ghost writers have turned out to be turncoats. ... In the underworld of politics you cannot work for both sides at the same time. But sometimes ghost writers end up in power anyway. Christine Albanel, who was always regarded as a nonentity, wrote Chirac's best speeches - and now she is Minister of Culture. And the poet Georges Pompidou did the same for Charles de Gaulle before he himself became president." (02/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Literature, » France
All available articles from » Jürg Altwegg

The paper notes that like in many other countries, in Denmark there is also vigorous debate about whether the influx of immigrants - in particular from Muslim countries - poses a threat to the country's own culture, arguing that it is pointless to try and define what is Danish culture and what is not: "It can make sense to have reservations regarding other traditions that are assimilated into Danish society. We have certain democratic principles that are important and which must be upheld. Nonetheless, globalisation does not mean that we are facing an attack on Danish culture. After all, we survived the influence of American culture. We are in the process of becoming true Europeans regarding our choice of food, music and politics, but we still eat our meat balls, sing the national hymn and hoist the Danish flag on birthdays. Just because culture evolves does not mean it is being destroyed." (02/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Cultural Policy, » Denmark
All available articles from » Ida Mejer Husted

Romania ranked 94th in the US organisation Freedom House's most recent survey on freedom of the press - behind Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia. Sabina Fati comments: "The report notes that in Romania a handful of media owners are trying to increase their power by buying up new television and radio broadcasters. However the creation of such trusts is not a positive trend, because they encourage self-censorship and are aimed at furthering the vested interests of the owners and advertising sponsors. Three so-called 'moguls' control most of the nation's media and this gives them a direct contact with the country's politics and economy: Dan Voiculescu, Dinu Patriciu and Sorin Ovidiu Vantu. They are not named openly, but one can assume from this context that they determine the freedom and quality of the country's media to a great extent. ... The only ones who could import a Western style would be foreign investors, but they are not exactly clamouring to enter a market that is controlled by interwoven interests." (02/05/2008)

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All available articles from » Sabina Fati

Giuliano Foschini reports in the magazine L'Espresso on an olive oil scandal. "A hundred tons of suspect oil have been brought onto the market. The criminal ring was discovered accidentally by the police when consumers in Turin reported expensive but unpalatable olive oil to the authorities. Investigations revealed that the labels showed names of non-existent southern-Italian agricultural cooperatives, principally from the regions of Apulia and Campania. ... 39 suspects have been arrested. They belong to four Mafia-type clans who have divided the territory among them. Cheap oil was dyed green with chlorophyll, then marketed as 'Olio Extra Vergine' for four times the price. The adulterated bottles were shipped to northern Italy, and from there to the rest of Europe and the USA." (02/05/2008)

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All available articles from » Giuliano Foschini

The newspaper reports on difficulties surrounding preparations for the Winter Olympics in the Russian city of Sochi in 2014: "Doubts are growing about whether the games can be pulled off. Shortcomings in planning and Infrastructure have resulted in serious concerns right up to the level of the International Olympic Committee that the site will not be ready in time. Reports have it that after recent inspections of the site, the Committee is considering a Plan B. There are insufficient roads, trains, housing, electricity and workers. ... In addition, planning has slowed almost to a halt. In mid-April, the head of the state organisation Olympstroj was fired after just a few months on the job, after he warned that costs would triple. His successor was the former mayor of the Black Sea resort, and experts doubt he can get the problems under control." (02/05/2008)

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All available articles from » Andreas Schnauder

Manchester United and FC Chelsea will be the first two English clubs to compete against other in the UEFA Champions League final. The fact that the final match is to be played in Moscow poses a considerable problem for English fans, as František Bouc explains: "Under British laws British companies are not allowed to sell tickets for football games online. But despite the ban fans can still buy them - through Internet companies based outside the UK - albeit for exorbitant prices. The most expensive tickets cost twenty times the official price, and that is likely to spiral further now that Chelsea has made it to the final. That is because Russia's jet set wants to see with their own eyes the team owned by their compatriot, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovitch." (02/05/2008)

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All available articles from » František Bouc