Germany more Deutschland, less Europe?
Germany is becoming more Deutschland and less Europe again, it seems.
Angela Merkel is facing all kinds of criticism in her quest to keep the European family together and solvent. The Chancellor faces a tough agenda: tackle the financial crisis, prevent a coalition collaps and replace the German president. The price she pays for her European efforts is high. Loss of home voters and sliding confidence in her local market go together with growing criticism from other European countries on Berlin.
And the German captain does not like it. The Guardian heads with "Germany signals end of Love Affair". Ian Traynor writes the change in Berlin is a tectonic shift in the EU– from pushing Europe forward to balking at the sacrifices Germany has to make. France and Germany are not the united front they appeared to be. Merkel is said to imitate Sarkozy mockingly, while the French Chef is said to boast to his team how he has bested the German Chancellor.
Merkel yesterday went to visit the German soccer team, in preparation for the world cup. To show them support of course. No doubt at the same time to signal she still is first German and then European. Because this is her struggle too. She needs to balance the interest of her market as the central economic power in Europe with that of another power, the EU. And she needs to keep credibility high at home while doing so. Ian Traynor has a point when he says better communications offer the solution to that problem. The message should be loud and clear for all Germans that Europe is good for them. Angela should stress that Germany, as Europe's biggest exporter, benefits the most from a single and strong Europe. But the opposition has a field day. It is easier in politics to criticise 'the outside world' and preach nationalism, than to see that a bigger union of powers, even with major issues to solve, is the best choice.
"In the history of the European Union, " said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform thinktank in The Guardian, "I've never seen Germany so isolated before." This is not a good state of affairs. Germany should never be an outsider of debate and negociations in Europe. The logic for the German market also applies for Europe as a whole: Germany is both Deutschland and Europe, supporting one is supporting the other.
Belgium, new promotion as the Heart of Europe
Promoting a country for investors is a complex challenge.
The business logic must be sound. It has to dazzle the commercial minds. You have to woe the number crunchers and financial managers. The human resources angle needs to be covered fully and even transport and logistics must be checked.
But, the personal side in telling the story will tip you over. What really makes the difference is to bring across the emotion of belonging, pride and excitement. The music carries you; the faces of the people looking at you make you feel part of the story. Their quotes are like signed guarantee statements. And then you will say: "This is where I want to live and raise a family. Where I want to let my kids go to school. Where I will be happy." So every image and every line of copy writing must lead to that conclusion.
Promoting a country is an art. Of course it is offers cliches. But they are part of what sells, at least if they are based on facts. Just sorry they forgot to mention Antwerp is the second-biggest harbor in Europe. Nevertheless, heads off to the creators of this promotional film. Or as the Flemish would say in Belgium; "Chapeau!"
Comment reproduced with permission of www.firstbase.be
Can Lady Ashton get a break?
Lady Ashton, Europe's first foreign policy chief is in for some nasty weather. While the storm Xynthia raided Europe over the weekend, Lady Ashton is facing her own hurricanes in Brussels and in the international arena. As part of typical EU political deal making, the former leader of the House of Lords got a job she was neither hoping nor lobbying for. What for some seemed the best Commission post, now might turn into the worst. 100 days down the road, Ashton opposition seems to be growing.
Of course, it is easier to criticize then to help out or give credit. Jean Quatremer of leftwing paper La Libération in a sharp article cut to pieces the new chief of foreign policy, calling her "Lady Qui?" As always, this well informed journalist and popular blogger-twitterer has a point, and more then one. As do the other knife throwers who see Catherine as a main training aim on the EU target wheel. And yes, foreign affairs requires to travel a lot and be in the field where it matters.
In the Guardian today Ian Traynor writes the first 100 days on the job have not been an easy road trip for Lady Ashton. Not only is her task immense (or impossible). She does not have the ideal track record or reputation to fit the job description in the eyes of the critics. And to top this all, she has to set up and manage one of the most profound institutional changes in the EU of the last years, without the necessary machine to perform the task.
In the last 10 days, 3 key decisions made in her organization further raised the pressure on the Lady: the Portuguese right hand of Barosso was appointed as EU Ambassador to Washington without consulting the member states and a Lithuanian with UK support became envoy to Afghanistan. Her absence at a Nato-EU defense minister meeting in Majorca added to further Brussels and international scepticism.
Can the Lady get a break? This is what her vision documents for the EEAS, the European External Action Service, seem to ask. As critical as anyone can or should be, the fact remains that building Europe is not done by only criticizing it and its leaders, but by showing an open mind and a will to help it build. Don't ask what Europe can do for your country, ask what your country can do for Europe, you might paraphrase the Kennedy catch phrase.
Debate is needed, very much so. But let's make it a civilized sport. Play the ball, not the other player. The image of those who execute dirty tackles is always more damaged then those who are on the receiving end. And the whole European political game looses more credibility. The Farage attempt of comment on President Van Rompuy is a good example of this. The President did not dignify the attack with a direct response, but this sunday in a TV interview on Belgian VRT TV program 'de zevende dag" called it 'pittyful'.
What happened to the flair of British phlegm? Where is the legendary fair play and the fine art of British understatement? William Osler describes phlegm as "coolness and presence of mind under all circumstances, calmness amid storm, clearness of judgment in moments of grave peril, immobility, impassiveness." We wish it in strong doses to Lady Ashton and also to those who wish to disagree with her.
Iceland, new media safe haven?
Björk, Iceland's sirene.
Will her country lure media to her shores with their Song of Freedom?
Iceland for decades was the cold and far away place on the map of Europe. Besides alternative rockband the Sugarcubes, Björk and Sigur Ros, only the handball and soccer team seemed to warm the hearts of people around the globe. The country recently implemented free trade in the European Economic area, diversifying from agriculture and fishing to new economy, finance and industry. But with the financial downfall and the Kaupthing bank disaster, the Nordic country was put to shame as a "foolish little nation" and its positive image was destroyed.
A new and bright initiative might be an original and welcome step towards a better, more positive view on the Snow Land, as its first name was. The Icelandic Modern Media Initiative creates "A vision of Iceland as a haven for journalists". The plan that will be debated in parliament this week wants to make Iceland a world leader in journalism protection. The initiators of the whistle blowing website Wikileaks.org assisted in the creation of the initiative.
If accepted, this idea will be a strong counter potion for the negative and secretive image Iceland has brought upon itself, with its shady bank affairs. The concept is simple as the egg of Columbus. Where companies relocate to the Cayman Islands or Switserland for legal shields for their bank accounts, media could do the same for their publications and/ or servers.
The proposal is a bright move: while creating a much needed new economical climate change (taking some Ice out of the Iceland), it brings an image boost toward open and responsible government and management. Two birds with one stone! This initiative merits at least close attention of media managers across the globe. If it is accepted, it will create a real safe haven for those in media who wish to speak up and are under attack by forces wishing to silence them.
Eva Jolie, MEP introduces the project on the special website of the Incelandic Modern Media Initiative:
I am proud to advise the Icelandic Modern Media Initiative's proposal to create a global safe haven for investigative journalism. I believe this proposal is a strong way of encouraging integrity and responsive government around the world, including in Iceland. In my work investigating corruption I have seen how important it is to have have robust mechanisms to get information out to the public. Iceland, with its fresh perspectives and courageous, independent people seems to be the perfect place to initiate such an effort towards global transparency and justice.
—Eva Joly MEP
Greece starts marathon of change
If the Greeks do not regain the markets’ confidence, they may fail to refinance the €20 billion ($28 billion) debt due in April and May. And more billions to come in the months after. But besides this immediate crisis, Greece is running a marathon to restore their financial balance and credibility, The Economist indicates. To make things worse, they carry with them the weight of two centuries of default and fiscal trouble. Although all eyes are on Greece today, several other EU countries face these challenges, with Spain and Portugal leading the list.
One Greek commenter on this sharp article in The Economist, who calls himself 'Scepsis', wrote that this is truly an embarrassing time to be Greek and that it is difficult to argue that Greece is worthy of being called European. In his view Greece needs severe structural changes in labour laws, education, health, transparency, reduction in the rampant corruption (a major disincentive to foreign investment), tax evasion etc etc as well as a general change in attitude… Either they wake up, or the future looks really bleak…
The sorry state of Greece is a test not only for the country's policy makers but also for Europe.In 1985, Brussels already bailed out Papandreou 'senior', but the country did not change its attitude and policies at the root. Now the son and political heir George Papandreou indicates he will act firmly, Europe must and no doubt will be more vigilant this time around. The stakes are high indeed, as Papandreou said in a television address. The government has no choice other than to act with force to prevent the country of “falling over a cliff”. George Papandreou, who was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and went to high school in the US and in Sweden and studied at Amhurst, Stockholm University, LSE and Harvard seems the man who could lead his country out of the slum, but he will need the support of all, his adversaries included, to succeed.
The European Commission accepted Greece’s “stability and development” plan; later this month the European finance ministers are likely to approve it as well. Still, reducing the deficit from 12.7% of GDP to below 3% in 2012 seems an impossible journey. Besides severe austerity measures and drastic changes in the economy, the country truly will have to reinvent itself and run a marathon of change. Greek farmers today scaled back their protest, but at the same time Greece’s largest union announced plans to hold a general strike later this month. There is a lot of work to be done in facing the facts and getting all in on positive action, even when painful. Communication and permanent updating of the credibility effort will be key to a recovery. Europe should also step in and speak up. With a clear and loud voice. The credibility crisis is international, as stock markets today indicate loss in confidence yet again. The fear exists that this Greek financial virus can touch markets everywhere, in Europe and far beyond, reaching Australia.
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!
HaikuHerman.eu
Marketing with a 'clin d'oeil'… A translation service wants to catch the eye of international clients in an original way… they created a haiku-website where the Haiku-making head of the EU tribe seems to create your Japanese wisdom poem on demand…
You fill in a web address and the site makes an automated haiku. When the thought mechanism gets stuck, it proposes a haiku in Dutch.
For www.eurolynx.eu, I received the haiku below, well adapted to the view from my window…
Wintery and white
I'm in love with the snowflakes
A fleeting romance
The Local Touch
Are we at EuroLynx different from other PR networks?
We think we are. Because all the agencies involved are owner-managed, have a similar size, and share a common approach to program management.
This gives clients the best of both worlds: a strong local presence, which can be replicated in terms of pr standards and performance throughout Europe and the world, with quality agencies in every region. By offering a central point of coordination and real local experts who live and breathe what happens in their environment, we enable clients to run very cost effective PR campaigns on an international level and to achieve excellent results in all of their target markets.
Every client is unique and different. Our services are therefore tailored to the needs and business objectives of our clients.
But every client is the same. We are in a people business, where personal contact, openness and honesty and respect make a difference and are understood by all.