The editorialist Gérard Dupuy considers that "for France, the 'al-qaedisation' of Algerian Islamist terrorism cannot reinforce the diffuse threat that is already threatening it. It has already been subjected to certain collateral exactions of Algerian terrorism and it is still considered a potential target by Al-Qaeda. There is no magic solution. The humble police prevention that has so far given positive results should be held in place. ... If the terrorist bombings in Algeria have any effect on the French election campaign, it will only be very mechanical, playing into the hands of the likes of Sarkozy and Le Pen who have used fear as one of their favourite topics. This is why reactions have been tempered, everybody being aware of the fallibility of the safety net. To exaggerate the threat would be to act as terrorists want us to, without doing anything at all to stop them." (13/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, francuski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Francja, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Gérard Dupuy

"Spain is a very vulnerable country today", writes the analyst Rafael Bardaji, an expert in international relations. "It is very vulnerable for two reasons: Firstly, because it remains in the line of fire of international jihadism, and secondly because the government hasn't prepared itself enough to face up to this permanent threat and has not educated the population in order to resist it. On the contrary, in the eyes of our enemies, we are weaker than ever at the moment. Al-Qaeda is not an inoffensive organisation that is contented to instil fear by brandishing ominous names. It has demonstrated on several occasions that it intends to act and that, when it can it does so without showing the least compassion. ... Spain is vulnerable and it will become more so every day under this government. It is this weakness that most spurs the terrorists. Mr Rodriguez Zapatero has forced us down on our knees in the face of terror." (13/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, hiszpański)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Europa, » Afryka Północna
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Rafael Bardají

Thomas Hauschild, an ethnologist from Tübingen who conducts research at the Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin, interprets the terrorist attacks in Algiers as the fruit of a new collaboration between Al-Qaeda and the Algerian terrorist network GIA. In his opinion, the West has "overlooked the expansion of the fighting zone to the European Mediterranean region". "In the initial phase Al-Qaeda relied entirely on the naked language of terror. There were no announcements or explanations. Today they inform us in detailed communiqués about the meaning and purpose of their attacks. The Al-Qaeda network has developed into an alternative public sphere in which people are constantly forming an opinion about the West and trying to communicate with it. A year ago, a German-language website started to broadcast the long-winded addresses of mass murderers, and there was no attempt to stop this. And yet there is no public debate about these addresses and provocations in the West." Hauschild ends with an appeal to the European public, both Christian and Muslim: "Only a self-aware new 'we' made up of the immigrant and the native population, Christians, Muslims and true 'infidels', can find the right answers to the questions Al-Queda is asking us." (13/04/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Religia, » Integracja, » Światopogląd, » Europa, » Cały świat, » Afryka Północna
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Thomas Hauschild

The daily has printed the article published by the Telos agency in which the Dutch professor of political science Jos de Beus analyses how the Netherlands can get out of the deadlock caused by the 'no' vote against the constitutional treaty. He considers that, under pressure from European leaders, the new government "may be forced to renounce a second referendum, thus ignoring electoral promises, an advice of the Council of Government (a high state organ), the rebellious mood of opposition parties and passionate minorities in their own camp, and the mainstream view of public opinion leaders. …This is a risky strategy of ramming constitutional change through national parliament. It certainly is prudent to tell ordinary citizens in the Netherlands that there is no alternative to orderly Dutch retreat and acceptance of the burden of enlargement (loss of independence and power sharing with about thirty states). But such wisdom requires a courageous European dream of statesmen. That dream has gone during the ongoing crisis of Dutch identity and the emerging pursuit of a sense of security by means of status quo foreign policy.” (13/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, francuski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka UE, » Konstytucja UE, » Holandia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Jos de Beus

In an interview conducted by Laetitia Van Eeckhout, the American historian Nancy Green, director of studies at EHESS (School of Advanced Social Science Studies) considers that it is worthwhile "looking at how nations have defined themselves by their attitude towards those who leave them. Animated these days by big debates on immigration, Europe is forgetting that it was a land of massive emigration in the 19th century and right through to the middle of the 20th century. The massive phenomena of departure that it experienced then is not so different from the flux that is occurring today ... Yet the migratory phenomenon and the concept of nation are closely linked. Are those who emigrated still part of a nation ? Are they considered as traitors, or as ambassadors ? ... In general, there has always been a tension between laxity and anxiety on the part of states torn between a negative and a positive vision of emigration." (13/04/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Le Monde)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Migracja, » Integracja, » Historia, » Francja, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Nancy Green, » Laetitia Van Eeckhout

Following last week's reshuffle in the Romanian government, for the third time in seven months the country has a new defence minister. Journalist Bogdan Chirieac is less than optimistic about the Romanian army, which recently purchased overpriced and outdated military technology from abroad and can't even put it to good use: "Teodor Melescanus was appointed in the presence of the prime minister but in the absence of the president. This means the country's defence policy will continue to be the lonely child of a broken family. The Romanian army has been mired in a serious crisis for decades. The army has suffered from a continuous lack of funding. However, what's worse is that when it did have money it was spent on 'glittery trinkets', in the manner of African dictatorships. Romania is the second poorest NATO member after Bulgaria, yet over the past decade it has spent billions of euros on unsuitable military equipment that hasn't increased its defence capabilities one iota... Although Romanian soldiers are held in high esteem by our American and British allies, the army leadership still has a Third-World mentality, buying useless old iron and paying its weight in gold." (12/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, rumuński)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Rumunia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Bogdan Chirieac

David Borman looks back on the historic agreement concluded on March 26th in Northern Ireland. "An undeniable miracle took place at Stormont Castle in Northern Ireland before television cameras. All the criteria of a miracle were indeed there: proof of the kingdom of God on earth with the reunion side by side, at the same table, of the most obdurate protestant on the planet, the reverend Ian Paisley, and his arch enemy, the ambiguous, socialist-terrorist-republican Gerry Adams. ... A miracle, because, though everything has been done to bring them together these last years, the two of them have every reason to remain separate: the thirty deadly years of the 'troubles' for which they bare a heavy burden, two completely opposed programmes (staying part of the United Kingdom for Paisley and reunion with the Republic of Ireland for Adams) plus their religions as well as their relation to religion. But the miracle did indeed take place: they have committed themselves to defending their causes via democracy from now on, accepting to participate together in an executive for Northern Ireland." (12/04/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Le Jeudi)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Wielka Brytania, » Irlandia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » David Broman

Poland's economy is booming: its GDP increased by 5.8 percent in 2006, and experts predict a further seven percent rise for 2007. Adam Grzeszak attributes the boom to Poland's EU accession three years ago. "The greatest boost is coming from the European market - there are no customs, no trade barriers and no restrictions. The fears of some politicians that the EU only needed Poland as a customer for its products were unfounded. The opposite has turned out to be the case - the countries of the EU are waiting for our products, our services and our workers. Exports are growing much faster than imports. This is boosting the economy, creating jobs, accelerating investments and increasing consumption. Poland's participation in the single market is also attracting foreign investors." (11/04/2007)

» Dalsze informacje (Link zewnętrzny, polski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Handel, » Przedsiębiorczość, » Polska, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Adam Grzeszak

"The Czech Republic has been an EU member state for almost three years now," Tereza Capkova notes. She points out that in that time the views of the old EU states on Czech workers who want freedom of movement have changed radically. "Although only three countries - Ireland, Great Britain and Sweden - opened their job markets to Czech citizens on 1 May 2004, last year Finland, Portugal, Greece and Spain followed suit. Today, the Czechs can seek work in almost twenty European states without a special permit... Among those countries which don't yet allow this is their neighbour, Germany. Not even seasonal workers are given easier access. They are allowed to work a maximum of four months a year there, and even for that they are required to obtain a work permit from the competent authorities. Yet of all the countries in the EU, Germany is the one that has most job vacancies." (13/04/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Pražský deník)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Rozszerzenie UE, » Polityka UE, » Niemcy, » Czechy, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Tereza Capkova

Germany's CDU minister for economic affairs, Michael Glos, has spoken out in favour of free movement of workers within the EU. This represents a break with Germany's policy up to now. Rouven Schellenberger comments: "The German economy for example is now doing so well that soon it won't be able to cope without the help of top professionals from abroad.... But in fact there is hardly any other debate that demonstrates more clearly the difficulties German politicians across the political spectrum are having with globalisation: the world is welcome to spend its money here, but it must earn it elsewhere. Germany was one of the few EU states that postponed the free access of workers from the new member states to its labour market for a further three years. This move was meant to assuage the fears of the trade unions and step up the pressure on companies that were unwilling to take on trainees. But above all it was bad news for the German companies that are desperately looking for skilled workers. And it was certainly bad news for Europe, too." (13/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, niemiecki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Niemcy, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Rouven Schellenberger

"For seven years, the EU has been huffing and puffing about the charges mobile phone operators have been levying on customers who use their phones in other European countries. Now the European Parliament's Industry Committee has voted overwhelmingly in favour of compulsory limits on the charges imposed on 'roaming' customers," writes the daily. "MEPs are also demanding that phone companies send automatic text messages detailing rates to each user. The full EU parliament will vote on the proposed regulation next month. EU ministers will then be asked to give their final approval in June. ... The reality is that the operators have been taking advantage of their customers, who are often simply glad that their phone works abroad at all. What, some people are wont to ask, has the EU ever done for us ? Soon anyone who uses a mobile phone on the Continent will have a simple and powerful answer to that question." (13/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka UE, » Europa

"Last month, the biggest German daily, the 'Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung', published an article in which Bogdan Musial, a Polish historian, revealed renowned Polish-British sociologist Zygmunt Bauman, one of the prophets of postmodernism and author of sociological bestsellers, once worked as an agent for the Stalinist military secret service", notes Andreas Hess, a senior lecturer in sociology. "It should not come as a surprise that Bauman's hidden past is so passionately debated in continental Europe. Despite their adversarial history, Germans and Poles are very critical when revelations come out about the fascist and communist pasts of their intellectuals.The public attitude in continental Europe differs considerably from countries such as Britain and Ireland which were never under the spell of either fascism or Stalinism. Here in Ireland, it is still possible to read the lamentations of an unreconstructed communist like the historian Eric Hobsbawm who celebrated the Stalinist line taken during the Spanish Civil War - and to let him get away with it." (13/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Historia, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Andreas Hess

Art critic Jackie Wullschlager considers that Chinese art is being paraded round the world like a 'performing monkey'. "Mahjong, the un-rivalled private collection of the former Swiss ambassador Uli Sigg, toured to Hamburg this year and is now en route to the Salzburg Festival and Rio de Janeiro. Charles Saatchi replies with a Chinese exhibition in the summer, while the collector Frank Cohen's show of Chinese paintings opened last week. Meanwhile in Liverpool, 'The Real Thing', Tate's first show of 21st-century Chinese work, claims an authenticity and scope unmatched so far in a British survey. ... Ai's floating spiral glass chandelier 'Working Progress (Fountain of Light)' lures you across the dockside [to the Tate]. A luminous reworking of Vladimir Tatlin's 'Monument to the Third International', it is playful, beautiful, pulsing with energy and ambivalence: at once a monument to China's advance as an industrial powerhouse, an ironic take on communist utopias, and a postmodern Tower of Babel." (13/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Wystawy / Muzea, » Wielka Brytania, » Azja, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Jackie Wullschlager

"Even Mozart was probably Hungarian," Hungarians say jokingly about themselves, whenever they start listing famous people with Hungarian forebears. The small town of Budakeszi takes pride in former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, and the village of Alattyán, where Nicolas Sarkozy's grandfather was born, now wants to lay claim to the French presidential candidate, even though the only Hungarian thing about him is his name. László Szőcs teases his fellow countrymen: "Sarkozy was born in Paris, can't speak a word of Hungarian, and has hardly any contact with his Hungarian father, so what makes him Hungarian? His blood? In France, this sort of thing would only occur to a right-wing populist. According to Le Pen, Sarkozy should have made his career in Hungary... We should resign ourselves to the fact that Sarkozy, should he win the presidential elections, won't be giving the European Union a 'Hungarian accent'. He couldn't care less about the territories that Hungary lost through the Treaty of Trianon in 1920, and he won't be extending the Paris metro to the Hungarian village of Alattyán either." (12/04/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, węgierski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka UE, » Migracja, » Francja, » Węgry
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » László Szőcs

The Slovenian architect Joze Plecnik shaped the face of the city of Llubljana like no other architect in the past century. Now the Slovenian media is discussing whether the Church should beatify Plecnik. Tanja Jaklic asked a number of architects for their opinion and quotes architect Jovo Grobovsek: "'This would make the research and classification of his architectural masterpieces within the world of architecture more difficult, thus blurring his artistic profile. The public would cease to see him as a free thinker and instead regard him as someone who pursued clearly defined goals.' Commenting on the subject Architect Miha Desman said: 'The Church can attempt to claim Plecnik and his work for itself. There's no doubt he was devout. But above all he was an artist. His life's work was dedicated to architecture, not to his faith.'" (12/04/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Delo)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Architektura / Miasta, » Religia, » Historia, » Światopogląd, » Słowenia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Tanja Jaklic