Olivier Brachet, director of the Forum Réfugiés, and journalist Alexandra Ouraeff call attention to the situation of refugees in Europe: "Today we are supposed to celebrate Europe, without calling the symbolic content of this celebration into question ... but we are not able to do this wholeheartedly. This is not because we doubt the fundamental project of the European organisation. The EU is intended to bring great improvements in the area of asylum-seekers and refugees, but the problem is that this is not the case. ... We want refugees within the EU's borders and beyond to be protected. The responsibility of the EU member states does not end at Europe's gates. We want the successful integration of refugees in Europe. And finally we want rejected asylum-seekers to be treated with dignity. ... We hope that ... the work already begun will raise the standards of the European Union instead of maintaining them constant. If it accomplishes this, we will be able to celebrate wholeheartedly." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Migration, » Minorities, » Europe
All available articles from » Olivier Brachet, » Alexandra Ouraeff

However frustrated we are by EU bureaucracy, Europe Day is a time for rejoicing because European unification has brought peace and prosperity, writes the paper: "People like to curse the EU, even people who like it, and with good reason. The European Parliament's continuous shuttling back and forth between Brussels and Strasbourg is a pure waste, for example, and agricultural regulations and subsidies are a heavy legacy from leaner times. But however annoyed we are by the bureaucracy in Brussels, and however incomprehensible the European Parliament's decision-making processes may be, the result is something wonderful. ... The EU is not perfect, and it never will be perfect. But Europe has never had a better alternative to war. That is why Europe Day is worth celebrating with flags and jubilation." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Sweden, » Europe

Luca Niculescu refers to a study put out by the Robert-Schuman-Stiftung on Europe Day: "In general, Europeans have a good opinion of Europe. Two thirds feel their attitude to the future of the EU is optimistic. ... But it is interesting that young people under 25 are far more optimistic than older adults. For the young, Europe represents a borderless territory for holidays, study and work, very much like in Cédric Klapisch's film 'Euro Pudding' Europe is a place to meet people, and makes life, studies and travel all the easier. It is also interesting that politics plays no role whatsoever for the young. But can the dreams of the so-called 'European generation' come true without politics? That is hard to believe." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » EU Policy, » Education, » France, » Europe, » Romania
All available articles from » Luca Niculescu

The newspaper asks on Europe Day why so many young people know so little about the EU: "If it upsets you that young people cannot find Brussels on the map, the information provided to youths by the Danish government and the EU should upset you even more. Public servants and politicians are terrible at conveying knowledge, and even worse at recognising this fact. ... Beer prices and cheaper mobile phone rates are an example of how the single European market can be presented to the young. ... The point is not to trivialise and oversimplify EU topics, but to make them comprehensible and interesting. That will prompt young people to deepen their knowledge of the EU and their understanding of its many nuances." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Denmark, » Europe
All available articles from » Daniel Kern, » Laurits Rasmussen

Attila Palócz Szabó writes about the great significance of Serbia's upcoming parliamentary elections. "A decisive issue in this Sunday's parliamentary elections will be the direction the country takes: Will it choose confrontation with the rest of the world, cut itself off and return to those dark times when the (now dead) dictator Slobodan Milosevic was in power? Or will the electorate vote for the European spirit and closer ties with the EU? In this context it seems somewhat strange to see how Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and his party, the Democratic Party of Serbia, have distanced themselves from the pro-Western democratic forces that swept him to power only eight years ago. To maintain his ruling position Kostunica is now forced to ally himself with those radicals who were once his bitter opponents." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » Domestic Policy, » Europe, » Serbia
All available articles from » Attila Palócz Szabó

Spain's Socialist government has endorsed the draft EU guidelines on a common deportation policy. Soledad Gallego-Díaz comments: "Racism is best prevented by sending the blacks packing. That is the quintessence of an argument commonly used until now by the European right. What is new is that the Left - terrified by the repercussions the immigration debate is having on their voters - is now using it as well, of course in their own way. Deportations should only take place for humanitarian reasons. Quite honestly, the worst thing about the draft deportation guidelines that the EU Commission sought to pass this week with the support of the Spanish government is the effrontery with which they try to pass it off as an improvement in immigrants' rights." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Migration, » Spain, » Europe
All available articles from » Soledad Gallego-Díaz

"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is losing his support and is once more coming under fire, this time in the dispute over a referendum on Scottish independence," Brane Kasteli writes, sketching the dilemma facing Brown. "The impression he makes as head of government is that of one who no longer holds the reigns of power, or worse. His indecision and lack of authority have him hurtling from one crisis to the next. ... Now yet another dispute has broken out over the referendum called by Wendy Alexander, head of the Scottish Labour Party, on Scottish independence." Kasteli comments that Brown, himself Scottish, "astonished everyone by not saying in parliament whether he would support a referendum or not. ... If he had spoken out in favour, he would have weakened the cohesion of the Union. ... If he had spoken out against it, he would have had to remove Wendy Alexander from office, which would have started the next party crisis." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Brane Kastelic

Jérôme Quiqueret describes the work of the French Mutual Aid Society in fighting poverty in Luxembourg: "The society can rely on the generosity of its members, the French state and French companies located in Luxembourg. ... Nevertheless, not everyone can be helped. ... The reasons for poverty vary: they can be social, economic or psychological. ... The aid society can help people return to France. And it offers the poor clothing to fend off critical looks, as well as games at Christmas. The French Mutual Aid Society society also has its hands full with the current housing crisis and the low welfare aid. ... It still relies on the cooperation of the neighbours of people in need ... but if that is denunciation, at least it is well meant." (08/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Social Policy / Employment, » Luxembourg
All available articles from » Jérome Quiqueret

The Economist comments that the political fallout from the rising costs of food has been "manageable - so far," recalling the warning of World Bank president Bob Zoellick: "He said 100 million people were being pushed into hunger and malnutrition - and 30-odd countries faced social upheaval unless food policy improved and the rich world got its act together to help. A month on, policy has not improved, and the rich world's response has mostly been muddled - yet surprisingly, poor countries have been able to contain the unrest, albeit at heavy cost. ... While donors squabble, poor countries face riots. But so far, these have had less political impact than many expected. Around 30 countries have suffered protests but only Haiti has seen its government fall." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Global

Writer Mircea Cartarescu sees a sharp division in his home country Romania: "The difference between these two Romanias - the one democratic, the other governed by powerful networks - is striking and shows that our democracy is not functioning properly. Like in Russia, a system of oligarchies is superimposed on our democratic system, and this system poses a threat to the well being of the general public. This is not only because the oligarchies are rich and have close ties with politicians, and it is also not just because owning the media allows them to wield influence. What is dangerous is the combination of these three levers of power, which makes them extremely powerful people and puts them and their clans practically beyond the reach of the law. Our country today is governed by an intertwined network of criminals, conmen and speculators who back in the dark years of the 1990s split up Romania and divided it among themselves. ... If we want to achieve true democracy, it is the duty of the citizens to control the spread of this villainous system." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Weltanschauung, » Romania
All available articles from » Mircea Cartarescu

Michael Kläsgen comments on public perception of the bribery affair surrounding the French corporate giant Alstom: "You have to look closely to see that Alstom is being investigated at all. ... The French, as meaningless as generalisations may be, apparently have a more relaxed attitude towards affairs, lies and deception, corruption and manipulation. One can only guess about where this serenity - or indifference - comes from. ... If you never reveal other people's secrets you'll never have to lose face yourself, an indispensable maxim runs. ... No wonder that on day two of the revelation, Alstom is still not in the pillory. ... There is no sign far and wide that any action will be taken to straighten things up. ... If a foreign paper hadn't reported on the case, the affair would never have come to light at all. Presumably the same goes for many other affairs." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Crime and Law, » Corporations, » France
All available articles from » Michael Kläsgen

In view of Slovakia's planned conversion to the euro next year, Anna Szabó expresses concern about Hungary's efforts to join the monetary union. "This year the disparity between Hungary and Slovakia will increase. You only need to compare Hungary's economic growth in the last quarter of 2007 with that of Slovakia in the same period to see this. The latter was an amazing 14 percent. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, we are on par with Iran and Pakistan in terms of financial risk. Meanwhile, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have all surpassed us. At present Hungary does not have a target date for introducing the euro. The decision-makers of this country do not even know when they will be able to set a target date. ... We have an inflation rate of six percent instead of the three percent specified by the EU, our budget deficit is twice as high as the maximum budget deficit [3 percent of the gross domestic product] and our base rate has risen. So much for the Maastricht Criteria - which we are far from fulfilling. This means we are still facing a long wait for the euro." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Hungary
All available articles from » Anna Szabó

In the conservative Spanish daily ABC, Fernando Fernández comments on the student protests against the privatisation of the country's higher education system: "Yesterday students protested against the harmonisation of education in Europe, which they claim is covert privatisation. Although they are entirely wrong about this, it is a good example of the errors of our country, in which a section of the Left still adheres to the myth of the state and in which it is not the quality of services or even access to those services that counts, but alone the fact that the state has a monopoly over them. On the other hand, the slogans gave no indication of concern about the fact that university degrees are decreasing in value - the gap between the salaries of those with school-leaving qualifications and those with academic degrees is dwindling - or that the number of unemployed university graduates is rising." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Education, » Cultural Policy, » Spain, » Europe
All available articles from » Fernando Fernández

Paolo Mauri writes an obituary to Italian writer Luigi Malerba, who died aged 81 in Rome yesterday. "Luigi Malerba's literary career began in 1963 with the publishing of his volume of stories 'La scoperta dell'alfabeto', ... dry, surreal and imaginative. ... Malerba loved the quiet comedy of Buster Keaton and the character of the bold and melancholic knight Don Quixote. One day he took Pinocchio and put him in the fairytale of Puss in Boots. The stories melt into a wonderful tale about Pinocchio in Boots. ... His last novel 'Il circolo di Granada' is a melancholic and grotesque tale of infidelity and accusations - a manipulation of the genre of the novel. He planned to publish the best essays in the column 'Diary of Disappointments', which was under his charge for years. I am sure that Gigi, as his friends called him, will be disappointed that his death has prevented him from realising his many projects." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Literature, » Italy
All available articles from » Paolo Mauri

In his blog for the Dutch weekly Elsevier, editor Simon Rozendaal writes that journalists are too uncritical regarding non-governmental organisations (NGOs): "I remember a documentary ... about Brent Spar, the oil rig Shell wanted to sink into the sea. The report made it clear that Greenpeace was bigger and more professional than Shell. Naturally I am also aware that Greenpeace does not make billions in profits like Shell does, but this conflict, like many other social issues, was really a public relations battle. ... This is all the more the case because journalists simply assume, without asking any questions, that little Greenpeace is right and big Shell is wrong. Moreover, journalists always sympathise with non-profit organisations. There is a deep-rooted distrust of companies that make profits and have shareholders. ... Is this independent journalism?" (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » Environmental Policy, » Audiovisual Media, » Print media, » Online media, » Media policy, » Social movements, » Netherlands
All available articles from » Simon Rozendaal

Chinese torch-carriers carried the Olympic torch to the top of Mount Everest yesterday. Ewa Siedlecka criticises this initiative: "The torch was carried to the top of Chomolungma - the holy mountain of the Tibetans - not as a symbol of the Olympic spirit but as a symbol of the triumph of the Chinese government. China's government has proved its power to a world that grumbles endlessly about human rights abuses. ... The only type of pressure that could have been applied effectively - political and economic pressure - was never used. China's powerful elite has succeeded in making the global economy dependent on it and now wields an instrument of extortion with which it has defeated both the US and the European Union. ... China has beaten the West with its own weapons, which just a few years ago were used to force democracy onto Eastern Europe. This is not just a paradox. It is symbolic." (09/05/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Sport, » Economic Policy, » Europe, » U.S., » China
All available articles from » Ewa Siedlecka