The clear winner of the Euro 2012 football championship is Uefa, the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes, warning against further commercialisation of the event: "The sale of the marketing rights and tickets brought in revenues of more than 1.3 billion euros. And business is only going to grow: starting with the Euro 2016 in France, 24 countries will participate in the group stage of the tournament. The fact that this will lower the sporting quality of the event is accepted in return for the expected higher profits. But the financial success also has its ugly side. ... The few hotels available in Ukraine were blocked by Uefa for their so-called 'families' - or members and business partners - and only Uefa's drivers had free access to what was supposed to be public parking at the stadiums. ... It will only become clear in a number of years whether the two host countries count among those who earned money on the European Championship, once the billions of euros in investments in the stadiums and infrastructure have stood the test of time." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Deportes, » Economía, » Polonia, » Ucrania, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Peter Heß
Cobertura de debates » Kick-off in Eastern Europe

European football championships don't really bring the countries that co-host them together, writes the liberal-conservative daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung, arguing that the Uefa simply used the competition to stage a commercial mega event: "That Poland and Ukraine would host the championship together as a call for the two countries to draw closer to each other remained an empty promise. Little of this could be seen. What took place in Poland had nothing to do with what went on in Ukraine. Admittedly this is nothing new, but it was much more apparent than for instance in 2008 when Switzerland and Austria did their European championship in Geneva and Klagenfurt: in cool Gdańsk the whole Euro experience was a different one to in hot Donezk almost 2,000 kilometres away. 'Creating history together' - the Euro trademark slogan mercilessly exposes the hollow core not just as a co-event: writing history together, but according to the terms dictated by the Uefa trademark." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Deportes, » Polonia, » Ucrania, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Stephan Ramming
Cobertura de debates » Kick-off in Eastern Europe

In a survey conducted by the liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza, 90 percent of the Poles included rated the Euro 2012 as "excellent". This survey can't be taken seriously because the respondents were carried away by a prevailing mood without thinking about the cost of the event, the conservative daily Rzeczpospolita notes ironically: "Of course there is no doubt that the enthusiasm expressed here is the product of careful consideration. The respondents no doubt really are so happy with the Euro 2012 yet at the same time know exactly how much the city of Warsaw spent on organising the event - not to mention the entire state. They're also no doubt aware that the closure of more schools and the axing of kindergarten places, as well as higher prices for public transport and parking spaces that are bound to come soon will mainly be due to the costs incurred by this undying event."   (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Deportes, » Economía, » Polonia
Todos los textos disponible de » Łukasz Warzecha
Cobertura de debates » Kick-off in Eastern Europe

After the Euro 2012 final in which Spain beat Italy, the Internet portal Irytas.lt is delighted that the tournament has dispelled Northern European prejudices about the South: "The stereotype of the lazy Southern European usually flourishes in the summertime when the Northern Europeans, exhausted by their mind-constricing principle of order, travel to the Mediterranean  on holiday. ... Last week you didn't need to go anywhere. The Mediterranean pushed its way right into the homes of the Northern Europeans via their television screens. Night after night the waves of the European Football Championship saturated their homes with Southern Europeans and their mentality, which, as it turns out, is superior to that of the North. ... If we look at the results of the European and world championships over the past 10 to 15 years, we see the Italians' washing hanging out to dry, the Spanish siesta, the Greek philosophy and the French brioches. We see indebted Southern Europe and its motto for survival, 'Life is beautiful!', to which so many who live north of Munich are allergic." (02/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Deportes, » Sudeste de Europa, » Europa del Norte
Todos los textos disponible de » Paulius Jurkevičius
Cobertura de debates » Kick-off in Eastern Europe

One day after Cyprus took over the EU Council presidency representatives of the troika made up of the EU, IMF and ECB travelled to the Mediterranean island to analyse its finances and assess how much money Nicosia will require from the euro bailout fund. The conservative daily Simerini looks at the chances that this visit offers: "The daily life of the Cypriots will change. The current situation resembles that of a patient who has suffered an accident and is now being x-rayed. He is still dazed from the accident. Slowly the impact is becoming apparent. ... The sooner we understand what state the economy is in the more quickly and efficiently we can rebuild it by introducing reform and an economic model that helps it to regain its balance and competitiveness. Under these circumstances the troika and the austerity programme are not a punishment but a chance to rebuild the economy and the state." (02/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política interior, » Chipre, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Giannos Charalampidis
Cobertura de debates » Salidas a la crisis de endeudamiento

The Finnish government announced on Monday that it plans to veto the purchase of government bonds by the ESM European bailout fund agreed at last week's EU summit. The Dutch government also expressed criticism of the move. The reservations of the two countries show that the resolutions reached at the summit are not ready to be put into practice, the left-liberal daily La Repubblica writes: "Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen's threat not to approve the strategy for sinking borrowing costs needn't be taken literally. But it makes clear how hotly disputed the details of the bailout mechanism will be. ... For example the contents of the memorandum which the debtor countries must sign in exchange for the purchase of their bonds haven't yet been clarified. Nor is it clear whether these purchases will be a one-off or a permanent measure. Neither has the role of the ECB as the 'agent' of the ESM been defined. All these apparent technicalities are nonetheless vital details and must be dealt with at the summit of the Euro Group ministers on July 9. It's foreseeable that Germany will play a key role here. And it could be that Berlin is the addressee of the messages from Finland and the Netherlands." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política financiera, » Finlandia, » Holanda
Todos los textos disponible de » Andrea Bonanni
Cobertura de debates » Salidas a la crisis de endeudamiento, » The row over debt mutualisation

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced further drastic austerity measures for the coming weeks on Monday. In his blog Ignacio Escolar harshly criticises a head of government whom he says conducts his policies virtually in secret, seldom explaining them to the media: "So we can expect further cuts in July - creeping up on us in mid-summer. Probably they will be passed in the final cabinet meeting of the month, on the last Friday before August while the Olympic Games are beginning and half the country is on holiday. Without a parliamentary session or a debate on the state of the nation. Perhaps they will be announced in a press release, or a press conference held by Rajoy's deputy Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría at which, as usual, Rajoy himself won't be present. With a little luck we may see Rajoy before September in another interview  - on the Olympic Games - provided we make it to one of the finals. So far the prime minister has given four interviews. ... Two on his policies and two on football." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política financiera, » Deportes, » España
Todos los textos disponible de » Ignacio Escolar

Fifty years ago, in July 1962, the Belgian colonies Rwanda and Burundi declared their independence, like the Congo two years before them. The left-liberal daily Le Soir writes that the Belgians are partially responsible for these countries' present troubles: "Why have these countries fared so badly in terms of human development, democracy and neighbourly relations? To answer that question we must widen our perspective. It is the Belgians, and they alone, who since the beginning of the last century have modelled the policies of these countries. They have imposed an ethnic reading of the social differences that existed between the Hutus and Tutsis, confused democracy with the law (or dictatorship?) of the numerical majority, and divided long-established peoples, societies with complex structures. ... In the 1960s Belgium also showed that it would not hesitate to resort to violence or even crimes in its sphere of influence. ... It is perhaps time to recognise that right from the beginning of their independence the three countries (Congo, Rwanda, Burundi) that Belgium once ruled were in a poor position." (02/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Historia, » Cultura conmemorativa, » Bélgica, » África
Todos los textos disponible de » Colette Braeckman

Only a drastic devaluation of the euro can help Europe overcome its debt crisis, Bruce Krasting argues on the economics blog Business Insider commenting on last week's EU summit. He contends that both the crisis countries and Germany would profit from such a move: "There is one currency option left. Devalue the Euro by 20++%. This would make a difference. It would go a long way towards stabilizing the real economies of Europe. It would create inflation, something that is sorely needed to devalue the real size of Europe's debts. Germany would agree to this as it preserves their export-competitive position within the EU, and improves it outside of the EU. The technocrats in Brussels would love it; it's the only thing left that would preserve the monetary union." (01/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política financiera, » Alemania, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Bruce Krasting
Cobertura de debates » Salidas a la crisis de endeudamiento

France's new government needs to fill a gap of around 40 billion euros in its budget to avoid being forced to submit to international austerity obligations. This was the conclusion arrived at in a report by the audit office commissioned by President François Hollande shortly after he took office. Now Hollande must start using the red ink and make some cuts, writes the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung: "After the victory in the French presidential elections the Socialist put on a good show for the people at first. He partially re-introduced retirement at 60, increased social benefits, announced the creation of new teaching jobs and agitated all Europe with his calls for growth. ... Now the free programme is over. ... If he wants to strengthen France he must demand just as many reforms as his conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy. This will provoke a revolt among the radical Left and the trade unions. Then it will be time for Hollande to demonstrate his staying power. At the same time he must convince the French that they aren't making sacrifices for Angela Merkel or the financial markets. They are making them for their country and their children." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política interior, » Política financiera, » Francia
Todos los textos disponible de » Stefan Ulrich

In the scandal over British bank Barclays' attempts at rigging interest rates the bank's chief executive Bob Diamond has resigned with immediate effect today, Tuesday. He follows in the footsteps of bank chairman Marcus Agium, who resigned on Monday. The whole affair is proof that it's high time to increase bank supervision, the liberal daily Aamulehti admonishes: "Last week the British and US authorities fined Barclays 453 million dollars, or approximately 360 million euros, because of the [inter-bank interest rate] Libor scandal. The activities of several other banks are now also being investigated. The affair is very unpleasant for both the UK and the bank supervising authorities in general. How can such a thing happen at the centre of the global financial markets without the supervisors noticing? This incident makes any claims that there's no need for stricter bank supervision redundant." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Bancos, » Gran Bretaña, » Europa, » EE.UU., » Global

The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced on Monday that it would produce the A320 in the US state of Alabama as of 2015. Construction at the new location is already planned to start next year. For Airbus a foothold in North America is a matter of survival, writes the business paper Les Echos: "Much will be said against this shift in production site. But Airbus must start manufacturing within the dollar zone. Being totally dependent on euro-based production costs in a greenback aeronautics market is risky indeed. Airbus needs to boost its presence in the US, both directly and indirectly through its suppliers. The jobs at Airbus aren't threatened by workers in China or the US, but by the challenges involved in developing new aircraft, the bickering between the Germans and the French and the ego battles between managers." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Empresa, » Industria, » Alemania, » Francia, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » David Barroux

The pilots of Portugal's state-owned airline TAP plan to strike this Thursday. They want a pay rise and the right to a say on the planned privatisation of the company. In his blog A Tempo e a Demodo Henrique Raposo makes fun of the pilots: "These poor devils, who earn just 8,000 euros a month, are striking against the neo-fascist policies of the government. That makes sense. Indeed these workers of the lower tax brackets must raise their voices. Deeply moved by their precarious working conditions, society immediately expressed its solidarity. Thousands of jobless people are rushing to the social insurance office to donate part of their unemployment benefit. And a supermarket chain well known for its guerilla strategies has launched a food collection for these martyrs. ... Caritas is busy preparing a donation of fine clothes for the opera. Armani and Prada have also been contacted. They have all generously announced that they will donate their summer 2011 collections to the penniless pilots." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Asuntos de trabajo, » Economía, » Sociedad, » Portugal
Todos los textos disponible de » Henrique Raposo

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, a controversial figure, to lead the Vatican's doctrinal office, the Vatican announced on Monday. This choice has once again shattered any hopes of reforms in the Catholic Church, the left-liberal daily Der Standard writes: "The Rome-loyal Church is delighted to welcome the dogmatic professor while the circles calling for reform are crying out in fury. Curiously they are on the same side as the ultra-conservative Pius Brothers here: they fulminate against the 'stubborn beliefs' of the 'devilish Council Church'. Anyone who had hoped that the American William Joseph Levada would be replaced with a pro-reform clergyman will of course be disappointed. But it should be clear: precisely when it comes to appointing the guardian of the Church's religious doctrine a new era is not about to dawn. Even when it comes to the lower ranks of the church hierarchy, that long anticipated new era has yet to arrive." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Religión, » Vaticano
Todos los textos disponible de » Gianluca Wallisch

Romania's Culture Minister Puiu Haşotti forbade scientists last week from analysing DNA samples of Wallachian princes of the 14th and 15th century. The researchers suspect that the princes descend from an Asian Turkic people. That however would contradict the national legend according to which the Romanians descend from a Romanic people. The daily Gândul has nothing but scorn for the minister's decision: "It all has a ring of Kazakh despotism to it, not of European science. ... But why aren't we allowed to exhume the true story? It's quite simple: ... Because all we have left is our national pride. Everything else has been privatised. With our pride we justify our mistakes from time to time. In fact we don't want to live without the glamorous, falsified version of history. Because it eases our conscience after every catastrophe. ... Without this Dacian Romanicisation we would have to face up to the challenges of today's Romania." (03/07/2012)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política Cultural, » Historia, » Cultura conmemorativa, » Rumania
Todos los textos disponible de » Lucian Mîndruţă