Where Europe ends
Brussels, the heart of Europe, is an often used slogan in the 'Europe, DC'. But where is the heart of Europe? Could it be in Lithuania? The Economist reports on a new film, partly produced with EU funding, that asks where Europe ends. It "shows the effect of the European Union’s expansion in dividing Europe", The Economist says.
Romanian scholar and activist Alina Mungiu Pippidi has created with “Where Europe Ends” a new film that provokes many questions. As Professor of Democracy Studies at Hertie School of Governance in Berlin and journalist, she is in a good position to spark the debate and 'kick us all a conscience'.
The Economist says it should be compulsory viewing for anyone who works in a consulate or visa office dealing with people from what one might call “left-behind” Europe.
Maybe we should go a step further and make it part of the curriculum of all last year secondary school students in the EU. Are they to be the citizens of Europe who must move the Union 'to the next level'? Then they should be aware of the unbalance in wealth and possibilities in 'our Europe' and think about the price to be paid by one and all. How can we create a proper antidote for physical decay and human dislocation, without becoming paternalistic or installing 'neo communism'? It will remain a difficult exercise. But at least the question should be asked. The film 'Where Europe Ends' could be a beginning of the debate. To be aware of a question is the first step to possibly answer it.
EU Observer: may the source be with you
The EU observer, an online initiative started in 2000 by Danish journalist Lisbeth Kirk is an interesting read for all who follow the EU. Debate is needed more then ever to fuel the EU democracy and keep society, politicians and citizens alike, vigilant and involved in the debate on and development of European affairs.
Wikipedia says on the EU Observer it has a clear emphasis on human rights, transparency, anti-corruption, environmentalism and the democratisation of the European Union, which marks it out from its competitors such as the European Voice, Euractiv, Europolitique and The Parliament magazine.
It is a truly useful reference tool, a place to go when you want to know what's going on where in Europe's decision rooms. And more and more also to find out who thinks, feels and says what about this lively household.
A series of independent blogs are worthwile to take a peek at, from varied followers of EU affairs.
- NeighbourhoodBy Nicu Popescu
- Europe not EUBy Bruno Waterfield
- Europa-Transparent By Hajo Friedrich
- Behind the ScenesBy Honor Mahony
- Brussels and beyondBy Ole Ryborg
- A View from the Outfieldby Peter Sain ley Berry
- Vive l’EuropeBy Tobias Gräs
- Poland in the EUBy Dominika Pszczolkowska
- Merchant of VeniceBy Roberto Foa
- Belarus ReloadedBy Maryna Rakhlei
- State of the UnionBy Jamie Smyth
- The DiggerBy Stephen Gardner
- WatchdogBy Brigitte Alfter
- GeopoliticsBy Alexandros Petersen
- Ukraine and Post-Soviet Space By Olena Prystayko
- Safer CitiesBy Gemma Galdon Clavell
- Feeding the habitBy Nick Jacobs
You can be positive, doubtful, critical or even negative on European affairs, but at least speak up based on insight, with facts and figures. Ce qui se conçoit bien, s'énonce clairement… the better an idea is conceived, the clearer it will be expressed!
Bulgaria’s nominee flunks EU test
Rumiana Jeleva, Bulgaria's foreign minister and candidate Commissioner, withdrew her candidacy after criticism on her financial dealings and her competence. Ms Jeleva faced repeated questions about these matters, forcing her to withdraw her nomination.
This is a new setback for Barrosso on his way to Barrosso II. He had backed up this candidate, as did the Bulgarian government, leaving them both embarrassed, the New York Times reports. The new Bulgarian nominee is Kristalina Georgieva, a former World Bank vice-president. She will have to undergo a hearing of her own, making the date for the confirmation of the new Commission on February 9 difficult to reach.
Barroso who was eager to start will also have to await the outcome of second grillings for two candidates, Neelie Kroes and Olli Rehn, who are also under fire and have to go back on the grill for some more heat. They respectively apply for the job of digital economy Commissioner and for economic and monetary affairs, but they're not home yet.
The debate shows the Parliament wants to confirm its role and indicated a democratic high standard. At he same time, the political inner fights and competition could harm the democratic if criticism is more inspired by political enemy games then content.
Van Rompuy rings a bell and makes a wish
The brand new President of Europe has started work today by ringing the bell at the Brussels stock exchange, as part of his first official work visit as new leader of Europe. A very symbolic place to start: a lot of his worries and headaches will come from the economic markets. Haiku Herman wished for a better year then the financial annus horribilis 2009 and who could disagree with him…
Serbia makes historic EU membership bid
Serbia applied for European Union membership today. With this move, it wants to set a step in gaining credibility and economic strenght, after the devastating war of which it still carries the scars. President Boris Tadic submitted the Serbian application to the current Eu president Sweden.
"We are now in the 10th year of democratic life, 10 years after the war ended, 10 years after our isolation ended. In these 10 years, our main goal has been to bring Serbia into the European Union," Tadic said. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt says "It marks a new beginning for Serbia… I am confident that Serbia can and will meet the conditions for membership," he told a news conference.
Tadic said his country had undertaken major political and economic reforms that his country would continue its efforts to arrest all those who were indicted for war crimes. At the end of the day you can be sure that we are doing everything we can to arrest them," he said.
The EU recently unblocked a trade deal with Serbia and lifted the visa requirements for Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, allowing their citizens to travel freely to the 27-nation bloc. But ratification of Serbia's Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the bloc is on hold, at the insistence of The Netherlands, until Mladic has been extradited to the Hague tribunal.
Of the former Yugoslav republics, only Slovenia joined the European Union. Croatia, which became a member of NATO this year, hopes to conclude its EU entry talks in 2010 and join the bloc in 2012. Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro have already applied for membership but have yet to start talks. War is over, but it takes more then a decade to clean up the debris and build a new land. Bricks and stone are one thing, hearts and minds another thing.
Microsoft and EU Commission make peace
Neelie Kroes said she had an early Christmas present for hundreds of Millions of Eu citizens: Europeans will get to pick their browser after Microsoft agreed to offer Internet users a choice to avoid fresh fines. "Millions of European consumers will benefit from this decision by having a free choice about which web browser they use.", Kroes said.
Microsoft’s Windows operating system runs more than 90 percent of all computers in the world, so this is an important breakthrough. But also, the fact that the browser wars are over, might open the road for a new era in European technology, where the European household and the American software giant could be partners in building the new digital agenda. So the early Christmas present announced by Neelie Kroes today could result in a much bigger gift to the citizens: a more open, creative, dynamic web and telecom environment for all!
1st European blogger webmeeting, one voice?
On December 3rd 2009 the first online European blogger meeting took place via Skype. Have you even been in a Skype meeting with a large group? It's like ice skating blindfolded over a half frozen lake. Don't talk with two people at the same time by the way, or your comments get lost in cyberspace.
Joe Litobarski started the idea for the web meeting; two dozen bloggers joined in the conversation. Not a giant wave – no google pun intended – but still, a nice turnup. There are people just waiting for a “European public space” to be created–as long as it is also a fun and interesting place to inhabit.
Valéry-Xavier Lentz stressed that being with a limited group of “bloggers” in reality should be considered more as a community involving both bloggers and readers/ commenters.
Nosemonkey was blunt in summing up his view on the problem of EU blogging: "The EU is boring and we all speak different languages".
Nice nose, dear monkey, but I disagree. Although we speak different languages and have multiple dialects, we DO speak the same language, when it comes to expressing the stories close to our heart and our home, our feelings on democracy, security, health, love, respect etc. And these issues and ideas are far from boring. Despite our differences, we 'Europeans' have an international heart, when it comes to work and play, from football, rugby, bicycle racing, to dance and music, film, literature, travel, food and drink, etc. . Making laws and regulations of course is not always 'hot' and exciting, but still, it is part of a wonderful, complex reality in the making. The Copenhagen Summit for instance has stirred up emotions on the "30 percent vow" throughout the whole EU. And all speak the language of concern, the wish to act and move forward wisely. Bloggingportal.eu was suggested as a natural forum at the blogger meet. Hopefully it will stir debate on how it's not easy being green.
Barroso II portfolios announced
After the buzz and negociations of the last weeks on ‘who will get what’ the President of the European Commission announced his proposal for his Commission team.
On the website of the Swedish European presidency Barroso is quoted:
“I am pleased to be able to present this new Commission and want to thank the Member States for their excellent nominations. I welcome back thirteen of the old Commissioners and think we have achieved a good mix of skills, experience and gender”, said José Manuel Barroso when he announced the new Commission.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, representing the Swedish EU Presidency, commented on Mr Barroso’s choice of Commission.
“I welcome President Barroso’s proposed new Commission. It is well composed and balanced, with clear divisions of responsibility within the Commission. Now the European Parliament will hear the proposed Commissioners. I am looking forward to this and I hope the Parliament will give its support to the proposal.” “I am very pleased that the proposal so clearly reflects the new role of the EU, which the Lisbon Treaty will bring, both in Europe and in the world. Now it is important that the new Commission can quickly begin its work to meet the challenges still facing the EU.”
Barroso nominated Connie Hedegard, Denmark’s climate minister, in charge of hosting the December UN climate conference in Copenhagen.
Other notable nominations include Joaquin Almunia as the European Union’s antitrust chief, Neelie Kroes, current antitrust chief as EU’s digital agenda commissioner and Karel De Gucht who will manage the trade portfolio.
Simon Taylor at the European Voice heads his article with ‘Big posts for large countries’. France secured the portfolio of internal market for Michel Barnier. who will also be responsibility for financial services. The ‘Voice’ also states the Liberals get their “reward’: Liberals get influential portfolios. Liberal Guy Verhofstadt in a VRT radio interview was pleased and stressed the importance of the fact that ‘all European economical issues will be in the hands of Liberals’.
Before the new Commission can take up its work, the European Parliament must approve the Commission as a whole. These “exam sessions’ might give some unexpected fireworks… to be continued.
Neelie Kroes to spice up European ICT
Kroes is held in high regard in Brussels for her work as competition commissioner in the outgoing Commission. She would have liked to continue in that capacity, but it is known that Commission president José Manuel Barroso is not in favour of commissioners succeeding themselves.
The NRC calls it a step down for this experienced liberal politician. We believe it will be an interesting challenge nevertheless, since there remain many monopolies in member states in the telecom domain. Her experience in the competition regulation will no doubt be of great value in tackling the issues ahead successfully.
Prime minister of the Netherlands Jan Peter Balkenende told public broadcaster NOS:
“She will have a portfolio that’s important for the future of Europe; she will be dealing with e-commerce, digitalisation, mobile telephony, broadband, all kinds of things that have to do with the new technological reality”.
Kroes (68) belongs to the right-wing liberal party VVD, which is currently in the opposition. Two weeks ago she complained that “party politics” were standing in the way of her being nominated for a second term as commissioner.
Two cheers for the EU
On the Open Europe blog, a cynical comment was posted on last weeks EU summit and the choice of UK’s Catherine Ashton as EU Foreign Minister.
They quote Sarkozy to illustrate what they feel is a lack of democratic openness in the EU household.
Asked why Cathy Ashton got the job of EU Foreign Minister, Sarkozy is clear that this was about rewarding her for pushing the Lisbon Treaty through Parliament and seeing off calls for a referendum:
“She played an essential role in getting the Lisbon Treaty through the House of Lords, which wasn’t nothing, you will agree. She is one of the British political figures – though it’s in no way up to me to judge – who most strongly promoted the Lisbon Treaty issue. I’ve also had occasion to express my gratitude to Gordon Brown for the responsibilities he shouldered, but right the way through the Lisbon process – and you know how fiercely it was discussed in the United Kingdom, it isn’t a secret for anyone – she was constantly in favour of it, she supported him courageously. And, after all, we were very happy to find British political women and men to get it through when a section of the British political class was asking for a referendum, as you know as well as I do.”
No doubt the blog has a point. But Europe is a process in the making, with good and less “open” days, pushing the Open Europe team to further unhappiness. Being a critic and cynic is easier than being a builder. Europe needs to be more open and precise in its policies and budgets, very true. And there are abundant examples of projects and budgets gone wrong. No doubt.
But Europe remains a valuable proposition and many try to construct valuable initiatives in building a better Europe and a better world. The processes and spending need to be followed and monitored up close, and think tanks like this one do have a valuable role to play here. But if you start out as “anti-block” and start every though with “NothankEU”, all you think, say and do is contaminated by this island attitude. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, Two cheers for the EU, not Three. But two anyway!