"Belgrade has opened a dangerous new front in the struggle over the province's future", notes Simon Tisdall. "Twelve years after a war that cost 100,000 lives ... the Bosnian nightmare is returning to haunt the chancelleries of Europe Serbia's Russian-backed nationalist Prime minister, Vojislav Kostunica, spelled it out last week: 'Preserving Kosovo and the Serb Republic [the north-eastern half of Bosnia-Herzegovina] are now the most important goals of our state and national policy.' Recent developments in Kosovo and Bosnia posed 'an open threat to the essential interests of the Serb people'. Disturbed by scary echoes of Slobodan Milosevic's 'Greater Serbia' policy, western diplomats are scrambling to hold the line with Belgrade. ... Adding to the urgency, the mandate for the EU's peacekeeping force in Bosnia expires on November 21." (13/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Serbia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Simon Tisdall

For Chris Patten, co-president of the International Crisis Group (ICG) and former European Commissioner for External Relations, "after December 10th, [deadline fixed by the UN for an agreement between Serbs and Kosovars], the die will be cast. At the beginning of 2008, we will probably see a unilateral declaration of independence in Pristina. It will be recognised by twenty-two EU members ... but not by four or five other European countries. This division in the heart of Europe is very worrying. ... Romantic tendencies and irrational fears aside, post December 10th remains hazy. Yes it would have been ideal if the UN Security Council had approved the Ahtisaari plan, but alas this is not the case. To avoid growing instability on its borders, the EU has no other choice than to accept the inevitable declaration of Pristina's independence and prepare to deal with the new European member." (15/11/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Le Temps)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Polityka UE, » Europa Środkowa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Chris Patten

Jean-Arnault Dérens, Chief Editor of the French website 'Le Courrier des Balkans' (The Balkan Mail), underlines Kosovo's deplorable economic situation, while "economic and social issues have been remarkably absent from the election campaign, which has been dominated by the question of Kosovo's 'final status'. Most of the Albanian parties are happy to repeat that independence will resolve all of the problems. ... The eventual independence will not sort everything out. On the contrary, one of the first treaties independent Kosovo will have to sign will be a readmission agreement, allowing the expedition from western countries of migrants in illegal situations. ... In these conditions, Kosovo represents a real 'social time bomb', which may well explode all the sooner if the emigration 'pressure valve' is shut off again." (16/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, francuski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Polityka UE, » Europa Środkowa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Jean-Arnault Dérens

Borut Grgic, director of the Institute for Strategic Studies in Ljubljana, emphasises Slovenia's importance for Kosovo. "Slovenia must make a resolute effort to reduce Russia's counterproductive influence in the region. To this end, next year Slovenia [which will hold the rotating EU presidency] should make it clear to Russia that it should not interfere in the region's politics. The Balkans are an EU problem. The sooner Europe offers the region a timetable for EU membership, the sooner Russia will back down. ... Kosovo holds its elections this weekend. Until now the election campaign has been democratic and there's no reason to suppose that it will end otherwise. This example of democracy in the Balkans could be one of Europe's shining moments in the region. Now Slovenia must ensure that Europe consolidates this success." (16/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, słoweński)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Słowenia, » Rosja, » Europa, » Serbia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Borut Grgic

Tzvetan Todorov, the French philosopher of Bulgarian origin is opposed to the Manichean vision of nations who need to find 'enemies' to assert themselves. "Reducing international relations to the concept of 'allies or enemies' by no means guarantees the victory of the ideals defended. The terrorist attacks against the United States justify, according to the US government, systematic torture in Abou Ghraib prison and the Guantanamo camp, along with the abandoning of the principles that the legally constituted state is based upon. But this attitude leads enemies to consider the perpetration of further, even more deadly terrorist acts as legitimate. Thus each allows the other to have a clear conscience. ... Every population has a multiple and malleable identity. But wars oblige them to limit themselves to a single dimension, to become entirely engaged in a struggle aimed at vanquishing the enemy." (13/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, hiszpański)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Polityka bezpieczeństwa / Kryzys / Wojna, » Cały świat
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Tzvetan Todorov

Wolfgang Böhm weighs up the pros and cons of holding a referendum on the new EU reform treaty. "With one exception - majority voting on justice and internal issues - the new EU treaty won't bring any major changes regarding the transfer of sovereign rights to the Community. All the other arguments in favour of a referendum are humbug: a military union is as unlikely as a Union that can impose nuclear power on us or otherwise have us entirely at its mercy. ... Juristically speaking, there's a lot to be said against holding a referendum, but this doesn't mean the current debate should be stifled. At some point it becomes necessary to deal with the emotional issues, as well as the legal issues. And this is precisely the point: if the government blocks open debate about the need for a referendum it will further damage the European Union's already tarnished image in Austria, because then it would be leaving the way clear for those who are trying to exploit this debate for nationalist, anti-EU ends." (16/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, niemiecki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka UE, » Konstytucja UE, » Austria, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Wolfgang Böhm

Svetoslav Terziev comments on a debate about the Roma which took place in the European Parliament this week. "The conclusion was that the Roma should remain where they are and the EU should restrict itself to providing funding. Between 2004 and 2006, 60 million euros were spent on the integration of Roma in Bulgaria and Romania, where 40 percent of all Roma in the EU live, whereas 275 million were spent on the rest of Europe's Roma population. These are not great sums - but they demonstrate where most of the EU funding is going: to those countries where the living standard is highest. For a people with Nomadic roots it has therefore become only natural to move from the East to the West. After all, the representatives of the 'settled' peoples are doing the same thing, so why should the Roma be deprived of this right? Europe must understand that the Roma are now EU citizens like the rest of us. ... We can't confine them to the giant ghettoes of Bulgaria and Romania because that contradicts their nomadic culture - and also the EU's basic principle of non-discrimination." (16/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, bułgarski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka UE, » Bułgaria
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Swetoslaw Terziew

"Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty", the far-right faction in the European Parliament, collapsed on Wednesday to the applause of the rest of the parliamentarians. Oana Popescu comments: "The MEPs' delight at getting rid of their unpopular colleagues may be short-lived. The disintegration of the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty faction by no means indicates the rise of an anti-nationalist trend or a turning away from xenophobia and intolerance among the European public. The right-wing extremists will give themselves a new image. Their transformation will be particularly perfidious if it is concealed behind the mask of legitimacy. ... The most recent anti-Romanian and anti-Roma hysteria in Italy and the aggressive and blatantly xenophobic remarks made by elected politicians have not met with condemnation in Europe." (16/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, rumuński)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka UE, » Integracja, » Ruchy społeczne, » Włochy, » Rumunia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Oana Popescu

A 16 year old teenager was killed in Madrid on November 11th during violent confrontations between young anti-fascist youths and a group of young neo-fascists. The daily calls for a reinforced combat against the far-right. "One of the particularities of Spain's political map is the absence of a structured far-right represented in Parliament. Racist groups, xenophobic or tempted by totalitarianism, that have acquired a certain calibre in other European countries, notably in the ballot boxes, are marginalised on the system's fringe here. These are minority groups who thankfully only have a relatively limited impact. However, right-wing extremists tend to show up opportunely on certain occasions. ... And our governments, as well as our tribunals, should gather forces to prevent the development of such movements. For, as well as creating a breach in our political landscape, they represent a defiance of our values and our social peace." (16/11/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, La Vanguardia)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka wewnętrzna, » Hiszpania

Stephan Hebel explains what is really at stake in the strike of German train drivers, namely "the question of how much value is (still) placed on skilled work in today's internationally networked, service-oriented society". He points out that the demands on train drivers have risen considerably: "In accordance with his strict shift schedule, the train driver must always arrive punctually because Porsche no longer keeps the countless components in stock but now produces them on a 'just in time' basis, and therefore depends on efficient logistics at dozens of different points. From the manager who is rushing to keep his appointment with a Chinese businessman at Frankfurt Airport to the carmaker in Leipzig, Germany, renowned for its quality products, depends on service providers like the Deutsche Bahn. This has radically changed many job profiles, including that of the train driver, and the pressure at work certainly won't have decreased under these circumstances. Therefore it's precisely because they've recognised the challenges of globalisation that the train drivers want more money - not because they yearn for a return to the times when railway officials were poorly paid but enjoyed life-long job security." (16/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, niemiecki)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Niemcy
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Stephan Hebel

Denis Sieffert, the weekly's editor in chief, links various protest movements round Europe to the necessity of a referendum on the European Constitution Treaty. "The construction of a Europe governed exclusively by management and profit imperatives has over time become the model for all political and social policies. According to barely divergent agendas, all European member states are passing liberal counter-reforms in the same grinding movement. The Alignment of European partners is the main argument for the increase of working hours. Same causes, same effects: the German railway workers ... are on strike like their French colleagues. ... Insisting on a referendum goes hand in hand with opposition to these neo-liberal policies which are making so many workers take to the streets." (15/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, francuski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Ruchy społeczne, » Niemcy, » Francja, » Europa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Denis Sieffert

The Maltese daily fears for the editorial independence of the national TV. "It all started after the Labour Party requested the PBS [Public Broadcasting Services] national editorial board to give it a remedy following the November 5 edition of Bondiplus [a prime time discussion program]. The editorial board, in agreement with the registered editor, conceded a two-minute slot at the beginning of the November 12 edition of the same programme. However, the board of directors ... declared the decision of the same registered editor and the editorial board as null and void ... . Where will such interference stop? Will the news bulletins be the next victim following current affairs programmes? Interference in editorial decisions is characteristic of political media organisations or in unabashedly commercial ones. The public broadcaster should follow none of the perversities of such organisations. Its editorial content should be managed in line with the basic ethos of the station enshrined in the National Broadcasting Policy." (15/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Media audiowizualne, » Malta

The differences between the living standards of Latvia and Ireland are considerable, Normunds Grostins observes. He points out that Ireland has made rapid progress over the past 20 years, above all thanks to assistance from the EU. "On Latvia's accession to the EU, Einars Repse, Prime Minister at the time, and his Foreign Minister Sandra Kalniete promised the country's growth would be similar to Ireland's. But they made no reference to the long crises and the years of mass immigration Ireland endured. Nor was any mention made of the advantages Ireland has over Latvia. Ireland is not a member of NATO but a neutral state. Its military spending is therefore considerably lower than ours, leaving more money for social programmes. Latvians living there in turn benefit from such programmes." (15/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, łotewski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Polityka UE, » Polityka gospodarcza, » Irlandia, » Łotwa
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Normunds Grostins

The Irish daily sheds light on ghostwriting: "It's publishing's dirty little secret. The autobiographies purportedly written by celebrities from the worlds of business, entertainment and sport are more often than not worded by faceless hacks who only see a small portion of the hefty advance. ... Sometimes the person who coaxed the words out of such high-profile figures either doesn't get mentioned at all or is merely listed in the acknowledgements. Welcome to the world of the ghostwriter, an art that has recently come into the public eye thanks to Robert Harris's latest novel, The Ghost, which concerns a journalist writing a former prime minister's life story. One publishing insider suggests that there are few celebrities who literally write their own autobiographies - maybe less than 20 % - but the book world is often reluctant to let readers in on the fact." (15/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, angielski)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Literatura, » Cały świat

On the occasion of the opening of the Danish Book Fair the newspaper takes a look at the Danish book market. It notes a positive trend: new genres like interview books, portraits of politicians, autobiographies and historical accounts are not only providing a welcome alternative to the traditional novel, but also encouraging political debate. "The paradoxical thing about reading is that we regard time as the most important currency of our era, yet books demand our full attention. We change their form, make them more easily accessible to eyes and ears and produce them in all possible variations, but it always takes time to become engrossed in a good story. Books are more time-consuming and demanding, but often also more satisfying. In 2007, the book is a highly developed cultural product that occupies a central position in social discussion." (16/11/2007)

» Artykuł (Link zewnętrzny, duński)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Literatura, » Dania

Wolfgang Koydl was on the first Eurostar to travel the new high-speed line between London and Paris. "Starting this week, the British can now arrive 20 minutes earlier in Paris or Brussels. No one asked them whether they really wanted to be transported so speedily to the capital of the European Union they regard with such suspicion, but at least the same applies the other way round: Brits visiting the Continent can be back home quicker. ... In England you won't get any further than Wolverhampton or Nottingham in the same time - provided there are no leaves on the tracks, the switches don't get stuck or the train driver doesn't miss his shift. ... It was a moving moment when the first Eurostar glided from the platform as if pulled by a magic force. Such things may seem commonplace to train passengers on the Continent, but in Great Britain the departure of most trains is still accompanied by much whistling, shouting and joggling before the journey along the rattling tracks begins." (16/11/2007)

» Strona www (Link zewnętrzny, Süddeutsche Zeitung)
Więcej z przeglądu prasy na temat » Stosunki międzynarodowe, » Infrastruktura / Komunikacja, » Francja, » Wielka Brytania, » Belgia
Wszystkie dostępne teksty » Wolfgang Koydl