"In its first ten years, the European Central Bank (ECB) has benefited from the lack of a common public opinion in the Babylonian Eurozone. Yet that may quickly become its downfall", writes the Financial Times Deutschland. "Even ten years after the introduction of the euro, there is not so much as a trace of cross-border public opinion in the Eurozone - aside from the (few) experts - that could exert pressure on Europe's central bankers. True, recent surveys show that a good 53 percent of - otherwise enlightened - Germans are convinced that the euro is responsible for price rises in recent years. However they do not see the European Central Bank as the culprit. Until now the bank has benefited in this environment from the fact that the diverging interests of the many governments tend to cancel each other out. But the ECB could face isolation should these interests one day overlap." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política financiera, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Thomas Fricke

The euro is not to blame for everything, and particularly not for the rising prices, the Greek daily writes. "Germany and France also use the euro, but a cup of coffee there costs less than it does in Greece. ... The strong euro has ... protected ... the Greeks from the worst repercussions of the doubling in the price of oil and food. Low interest rates ... have enabled people to take out a loan and buy a house or a new car. At the same time real income in Greece has gone up by around ten percent (whereas in Germany it has gone down by ten percent). ... The money of consumers has played an important role in driving growth, but it has also boosted imports. ... Products are more expensive now because there are people who are willing to pay the price. The end result is that those who have money have reached their limits while those who have to live on low incomes are having great difficulties." (01/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política financiera, » Economía política, » Grecia, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Nikos Konstandaras

"There are moments when one should stop and look back at what has been achieved. Those who have worked on concretising ... a dream - namely the birth of a currency that is managed by an internationally recognised institution - know this. Within a decade - the blink of an eye in historical terms - all the negative predictions have been proved false. The euro has made such triumphal progress that it has prompted discussion about the possible decline of the dollar, the star of the global monetary system. [In the meantime] the European Central Bank has made its mark as a powerful institution." (30/05/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política financiera, » Economía política, » Francia, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Françoise Crouïgneau

"Ten years ago the decision was made on which countries were suitable to be part of the Eurozone. Finland was one of those eleven countries. ... In Frankfurt, the home of the European Central Bank, the representatives of the euro countries can merrily toast the success of the euro. ... Meanwhile, inflation, which is being accelerated above all by the climb in food prices, has become the key problem of economic policy. ... The strong euro initially cushioned the impact of high prices, but now European consumers are feeling the consequences of soaring prices on the global market in their pockets. ... Another problem for the Eurozone is that not all member countries are able to bring their economies up to scratch quickly enough. ... It is particularly important for the former socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe to get into shape for the euro. To become members they must sort out their budgetary policies." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política financiera, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Matti Piirainen

The newspaper asks why almost no one in Spain is interested in the election of the new EU President: "The election must balance complex power relations, between large and small countries, between the North and the South, and between the old West and the new East. And one of the people who is most experienced in dealing with such complex variables is [former Spanish Prime Minister] Felipe González. It is astonishing that in Spain, which owes so much to Europe and which can do so much for it, hardly anyone talks or writes about this issue. A Spaniard could become President of Europe yet we ignore this major occasion, getting sidetracked by bagatelles instead." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Constitución de la UE, » España, » Europa

The Second Chamber of the Dutch parliament is expected to approve the Treaty of Lisbon by a great majority this week. The Dutch government wants to use the opportunity to introduce a law under which in future the parliament would have no voting rights on questions pertaining to the police force, immigration and the judiciary. The political magazine Elsevier warns about the dangers of limiting the influence of parliament in favour of the ministers: "The Second Chamber should use the vote on the Lisbon Treaty to demand voting rights in all areas, not just judiciary and police matters. However, it will not do so. But the least the Second Chamber can do is to torpedo the Cabinet's plans to deprive the parliament, which represents the people, of a fundamental right. If the Second Chamber does nothing to prevent this seizure of power now, it will once more be too late." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Constitución de la UE, » Política interior, » Holanda

A few weeks ago a marriage was annulled in France on the grounds that the bride was no longer a virgin. Jean-Marcel Bouguereau, editor in chief of Le Nouvel Observateur, criticises the ruling: "This did not take place in Sudan, Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, but in Lille, in our lovely secular France. ... Since when do French judges consider virginity an 'indispensable attribute'? Judges must respect the constitutional principles of non-discrimination and equality of the sexes. How could they make such a ruling? What a step backwards! Is this judgement not a further step ... in the direction of institutionalising cultural relativism? ... Of course ... the judgement must be revoked as soon as possible. ... Because if it is upheld, which seems unbelievable, it could be used as a means of intimidation by Muslim fiancés or by members of any other religion which holds that newly-wedded brides must be virgins." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Religión, » Integración, » Minorías, » Francia
Todos los textos disponible de » Jean-Marcel Bouguereau

The newspaper Romania Liberal writes about the results of the local elections and the consequences for the country's European policy: "Another election without voters. The citizens have turned their backs on dirty Romanian politics. ... In addition to managing local budgets, the election winners will administrate the fantastic sum of 20 billion euros in EU funding. This money is intended to help the citizens, many of whom however no longer care about the future. ... Starting on June 1 we have witnessed a de facto transfer of power between the parliament and the district assembly. Their individual election means that the heads of the district assemblies as well as the mayors are now unimpeachable. The 60 senators and members of parliament who ran for election on local lists clearly understood that as ordinary parliamentarians they would not have such an important status. ... They are giving up their cosy seats ..., to become leaders of opinion. ... Because they manage such huge sums of money, they will wield much more influence, also at a national level." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política de la UE, » Política interior, » Rumania
Todos los textos disponible de » Simona Popescu

The newspaper asks in its weekend edition whether Europe - proud home of serial monogamy and patchwork families - should not also accept polygamous Muslim marriages. The debate was kindled by the asylum application of an Iraqi whose life in Iraq came under threat as a result of his work for the Danish army. He then came to Denmark - where polygamy is forbidden - with his two wives and three children. "What difference is there really between individuals that separate from their spouses to live in multi-family dwellings with new partners and new children and the Iraqi translator who decided this week to sue for the right to have two wives? ... Allowing homosexual marriages was the first step away from the conventional Western family. ... Is it fitting that the state should prevent adults from choosing polygamy or polyandry as an individual way of life, provided they do not exert pressure or marry minors? Homosexual marriage is not permitted in all countries, and in many places it is even vilified. In taking this step, Denmark demonstrated its tolerance and the will to accept even non-traditional families." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Integración, » Minorías, » Desarrollo demográfico, » Ideología, » Dinamarca

The Portuguese daily Diário Económico comments on Amnesty International's annual human rights report: "Violations against human rights are spreading. ... Despite the ominous outlook human rights are no longer the favourite cause of the civilised Western world. Human rights ... were merely an instrument in the Cold War. The West used them as a weapon against the communist countries but does not employ them against 'friendly' dictatorships. Moreover, not just political rights are being violated, but above all economic and social rights. No one seems to notice that the right to 'work for fair pay' or the right to healthcare or education are being violated - not even Amnesty International." (01/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Migración, » Ideología, » Global
Todos los textos disponible de » João Paulo Guerra

In the first issue of the new monthly magazine Standpoint, Geoffrey Owen argues that the UK sets a global example regarding "whether or not countries should let foreigners buy up their national companies. ... While other countries are becoming increasingly protective, the British are quite happy to see a stream of leading industrial firms pass into foreign control. ... The contrast with France is particularly striking. ... Other countries are moving in the same direction. There has long been a protectionist strand in the US ... Other countries, notably Germany and Japan, are uneasy about the activities of foreign investors. ... There may be rare cases where a government needs to intervene for reasons of national security, but Britain gains far more than it loses from being an open economy. Foreign investment brings capital and management into the country, and puts competitive pressure on domestic firms." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Comercio, » Empresa, » Gran Bretaña, » Europa, » Global
Todos los textos disponible de » Geoffrey Owen

Matjaž Gantar, chairman of the Slovenian holding company KD Group, supports the introduction of classes given in English at Slovenian universities, arguing it would open them up to foreign professors and students "because it is a world language and represents the greatest hurdle for many Slovenians. This change must, however, be followed by the liberalisation of the university system, a corresponding immigration policy, new fiscal legislation and more flexible labour laws. Yet as incredible as it may seem, people's main problem with this move appears to be the English language itself, allegedly because they want to protect the Slovenian language - which of course is nonsense. We (Slovenians) are sometimes so proud and self-satisfied that we act against our own interests. ... I think it is important to preserve the Slovenian language, but for a degree course in economics or electrical engineering the content is more important than the medium." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Política Cultural, » Ciencia / Investigación, » Eslovenia
Todos los textos disponible de » Matjaž Gantar

"Marketing secrets" abound in our times, but one of the most effective seems to be storytelling, writes the newspaper. "Anyone who strives to be successful today in business or politics must master the art of narration. In countries like the US, no important social player has failed to use narrative methods. ... The personal stories that give life to the election campaigns of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain are like three film plots, followed breathlessly by millions of people. ... According to Swiss journalist Jack Pillet, this phenomenon results from the oversaturation of modern media consumers. They have no time for droning intellectual debates, what they want is a story that sparks their imagination." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Relaciones internacionales, » Cultura cotidiana, » Global, » Bulgaria

Notwithstanding fierce opposition from Slovakian newspaper publishers, the controversial new press law backed by Robert Fico's government entered force yesterday. According to the centre-right liberal Prague daily, "Slovak journalists fear they may now have to dance to the politicians' tune. The right to correct articles not only applies to incorrect or imprecise texts, but also to those in which the information is correct. The worst scenario would be newspapers full of lengthy treatises by politicians. There is also concern that under pressure from politicians, journalists will be forced to exercise self-censorship." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Medios de comunicación impresos, » Medios de comunicación online, » Política de los medios de comunicación, » Eslovaquia
Todos los textos disponible de » Magdalena Sodomková

The Polish government wants to ban parents from beating their children. Ewa Siedlecka regrets that this announcement by right-wing liberal Prime Minister Donald Tusk is meeting with opposition. "Defenders of spanking are already ridiculing Tusk ... because he did not speak of punishment, but of a ban without sanctions to back it up (the law on domestic violence is said to forbid the corporal punishment of children by their parents). They complain that Tusk is interfering with the divine right of parents. We live in a country in which vegetarians' right to raise their children without meat is limited. Children are taken away from parents of poor families. The defenders of spanking have no problem with all that. ... Tusk deserves particular respect because he admits to having [spanked] his son, an act he is now ashamed of." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Polonia
Todos los textos disponible de » Ewa Siedlecka

With an eye to the upcoming UEFA European 2008 Championships, the left-wing liberal daily writes about the financial side of the mass sport football: "In view of the fact that football has become a religion, so to speak, we should not commit blasphemy. It moves the souls of countless people. ... Nowadays people are always stressing that football is a business - big business, for sure. UEFA expects to make 1.25 billion euros from the Championship games that begin next Saturday. 84 percent of that gigantic sum will come from television and advertising rights, while only seven percent will result from ticket sales. ... Incidentally, the financial aspect played a role back in 1960 when the first European championships were held in France. After the final, the captain of the USSR team was allowed to hold the coveted Henri Delaunay Trophy aloft. Do you know what his name was? Netto." (02/06/2008)

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Más de la revista de prensa sobre el tema » Movimientos sociales, » Deportes, » Europa
Todos los textos disponible de » Iván Hegyi