Much ado about nothing

48 Pages·2015·40.98 MB·English

NE01:NE01 5/23/2009 6:14 PM Page 1
THE EUROPEAN WEEKLY
NEWEUROPE
www.neurope.eu
th
17 Year, Number 835 - May 24 - 30, 2009, € 3.50
KASSANDRA THE UNION EU WORLD
Not exactly a Vision Quest EU meets Great Wall Ahmadinejad’s campaign parade starts with a
nPage 48 of China nPage 10 long-range missile nPage 47
What else is New(s)?
This Week’s Features
Page 2 ENERGY
ARTS & CULTURE FOCUS
Nord Stream: A glimmer of hope
Athens Epidaurus The Shrinking Auto Industry
Festival nPage 36 nPages 11, 12, 37 & 38 in EU-Russia dark Page 43
Much ado about nothing
E U and Russia negotiators
EU, Russia agree to disagree on energy, Georgia, Eastern Partnership failed to reach an agree-
ment on an energy pact
between the two powers, follow-
ing a two-day summit on May 21-
22 in Khabarovsk in Russia’s Far
East. But Czech President Vaclav
Klaus, whose country now holds
the rotating EU presidency, put a
positive spin on the outcome of
the summit, saying: "This meeting
has strengthened mutual trust,
which is important." Russia invit-
ed the EU leaders to Khabarovsk
near the border with China, seven
time zones east of Moscow, to
appreciate the country's vastness
and the distances over which
Russia's oil and gas were being
transported. As expected, rela-
tions had soured when Moscow
cut off gas supplies to Europe in a
standoff with Ukraine, and in
relation to Russia's conflict with
Georgia. Little progress was made
on energy issues. Russian Presi-
dent Dmitry Medvedev reiterated
calls for a new energy charter,
saying he hoped the EU leaders
would consider Russia's ideas
regarding a new legal basis for
dealing with oil and gas. The EU
MLIN leaders said they were ready to
OSTI/KRE lbisutte nin tsois ttehde pthroepreo swaal sfr onmo rReuasssoina
OL RIA NOV tMoe drvipe deuvp othne Mexaiys tin2g2 pcaocnt-.
MITRY ASTAKHOV/PO dtsUiteenamstioe nnswe. dihKt alEhadU u stms hosoeauv igdehfs ot tt rhomte os e tErrrue ernaSogsoptsvheuieaernnet
ANA/EPA/D RPaurstsniae rshiopv eirn itiaittisv e. BEaustt ehrne
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L), Czech President Vaclav Klaus (C), and EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier failed to assuage Medvedev's
Solana speak at the EU-Russia summit in Khabarovsk, Russia, May 21, 2009 suspicions.
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NEW EUROPE
Editor Notes
[email protected]
FEATURES
Less is More (more or less):
There’s a new media universe,
but a lot of different stars
A tale of low voter turnout in
Dr. Karol Jakubowicz
a new communication era Page 5
P
It’s all about the votes…
erhaps what is perceived as one of
Tracing England’s roots in Europe goes
the most disappointing trends in That being said, the European Parliament,
back to the beginning of time
European Union history is the and Commission have been trying very
decreasing turnout in the European elec- hard to communicate Europe. From youth Bashir Khanbhai
tions. What started as a passionate Europe campaigns running in MTV, to pan-Euro-
Page 6
in 1979, with a 63% voter turnout steadily pean campaigns featuring Lions, plugs, and
decreased to a (theoretically) disappointing windmills.
45.5% in 2004. And they have been doing all this in an effort
This is nothing more than a triumph of the to change the voting turnout trend from neg- Obama and the new Commission:
European Union. Because what lies at the ative to positive; or, more realistically, to
Save Darfur by saving Sudan?
foundation of the EU is a sense of security; increase the projected voter turnout.
a feeling of safety, against another great In my opinion the new tools at the disposal of Dr. Greg Austin
war. This is what (initially) brought us the Institutions and candidates will pay off. At
Page 7
together. this stage, a 2-3 percent difference is a huge
And it is with this in mind, that we come to payoff! The question is, what are these people
today’s paradox of voting turnout. It is this going to vote for? The anti-
added safety and security from war that has European sentiment is being
put a smile on Europeans’ faces, and let heavily propagated through
them be relaxed for decades. In fact, the EU these platforms, as is the
has been so successful, that people have the extreme right, drawing people
utmost trust in its functions; to the point who would otherwise not vote,
where they simply do not need to vote. to cast their ballot.
As trust increases, voting, magically
From low voter turnout - to
decreases.
extreme representation
Or not…
The New Era of Communication And so, the fear of a low voter
There is indeed a massive effort to get Euro- turnout has been replaced by
peans to go to the polls in June. We have since the fear of extremes entering,
the latest Presidential elections of the USA and being represented (dispro-
entered a new era of campaigning. And we portionately) in the European
are not disillusioned; MEPs (prospective and Parliament.
current) are not on twitter because they enjoy Democratic process is about the
tweeting. They do not have face book pages proportionate representation of
to find old friends and share photos (hopeful- the citizens. Perhaps the
ly one or two do discover the additional uses extremes have been under-rep-
of the platform). resented so far. Or perhaps -
“It’s all about the money … dum dum dee dee just perhaps - citizens are sick
dum dum”. of hearing the same old stories
It’s simply about campaigning. New social of maladministration, of ineffi-
media tools are cheap (free) and highly effec- cient and unproductive gover-
tive campaigning tools. It’s faster than tour- nance, and the every day nature
ing the country (which of course is a must as that scandals have attained.
well), and more effective than spreading flyers Two weeks to go, and I for one,
and posters with your face everywhere am more fearful than excited.
(another necessary - not so environmentally Let’s hope that this time is
friendly evil). made good use of.
Follow New Europe’s editor on twitter @Neurope
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FOREIGN RELATIONS
Peace comes with development NE Notebook
dollars, not battalions of soldiers
Governments plan new
By Jeffrey D. Sachs environment for banks
A
merican foreign policy
has failed in recent The heads of the major central banks and the ministers of
years mainly because economics in leading countries, after declaring some
the United States relied on mili- three weeks ago the end of the crisis was nearing, and
tary force to address problems proclaiming prospects for growth even within this year,
that demand development are now becoming more cautious about the economic
assistance and diplomacy. conjuncture. Their worries are now turning to the day
Young men become fighters in after the crisis, when the first signs of recovery become
places like Sudan, Somalia, Pak- tangible. In such an environment, those who drove us to
istan, and Afghanistan because the worst economic crisis of the last 60 years will again
they lack gainful employment. become powerful. It is characteristic that, according to
Extreme ideologies influence the Wall Street Journal,only a handful of CEOs have lost
people when they can’t feed their jobs and run no danger in the forthcoming general
tahceceirs fsa tmo ifliaems,i layn pdl awnhneinng l alecakd osf toJeffrey D. Sachs OUN SHIAB aIns ssehmobrtl,i etsh oef cmoahjoorrt sb aonf kms aannda goetrhse ar nfidn aenccoianlo fmirmistss. who
an unwanted population explosion. President Barack Obamahas MAY underestimated every kind of danger in order to produce
ritayi siend U hSo ppoelsic fyo ar rae ndeowm sintraattienggy t, hbeu fto sroc efas ro tfh ceh faonrgcee.s of continu- ANA/EPA/HU hafigoho t sihno trht-eteirr mpo spirtoiofnitss. aAncdtu aglelyt, htheeft yfl igbhotn uosfe tsh ere smtoacink
The first rule in assessing a government’s real strategy is to US soldiers attend a ceremony at their military base in volatile Kan- exchanges over the past two months presents a good
follow the money. America vastly overspends on the military dahar, southern Afghanistan, May 15, 2009 as the US House of background for the major banks to place fresh issues of
compared with other areas of government. Obama’s projected Representatives approved USD 95 billion more for the wars in Iraq stocks or bonds to cover their capital needs and start
budgets do not change that. For the coming 2010 fiscal year, and Afghanistan and the US has said it would send thousands of “pretending”they are in a position to repay the state sub-
Obama’s budget calls for USD 755 billion in military spending, an extra troops sidies they received, even though they were a step away
amount that exceeds US budget spending in all other areas from total collapse.
except so-called “mandatory”spending on social security, health fighters under such conditions. On top of that,the world financial markets retain their liq-
care, interest payments on the national debt, and a few other The problem is that a US military response is essentially uidity in the same old way, meaning that China and Japan
items. Indeed, US military spending exceeds the sum of federal useless under these conditions, and can easily inflame the situ- still buy American state bonds and other debt. Only
budgetary outlays for education, agriculture, climate change, ation rather than resolve it. Among other problems, the US Moscow announced that Russia has diverged its foreign
environmental protection, ocean protection, energy systems, relies heavily on drones and bombers, leading to a high civilian reserves, now holding now more Euro than dollars. So,
homeland security, low-income housing, national parks and death toll, which is inflaming public attitudes against the US. coming closer to the next day after the crisis, the psychol-
national land management, the judicial system, international After one recent disaster, in which more than 100 civilians died, ogy will return to more controllable levels, and the cries
development, diplomatic operations, highways, public transport, the Pentagon immediately insisted that such bombing opera- for changes in the institutional environment of the finan-
veterans affairs, space exploration and science, civilian research tions would continue. A recent survey showed overwhelming cial sector will subside. Besides that, the banks, many of
and development, civil engineering for waterways, dams, Pakistani opposition to US military incursions into their country. which have now housed under the same roof their retail
bridges, sewerage and waste treatment, community develop- and the investment functions, will appear more powerful
COPS OF THE WORLD
ment, and many other areas. than before and oppose government policies establishing
Obama is doubling down in Afghanistan, by raising the num- new controls and restrictions in the financial markets.
GUNS, NOT BUTTER
ber of US troops from 38,000 to 68,000, and perhaps more later. It is highly possible that after some months the imposition
This preponderance of military spending applies to all 10 There are also risks that the US will get involved much more of new controls and checks in the banking sector will be
years of Obama’s medium-term scenario. By 2019, total mili- heavily in the fighting in Pakistan. The new US commanding gen- rather an impossible task, more so if the crisis has given
tary spending is projected to be USD 8.2 trillion, exceeding by eral in Afghanistan is reportedly a specialist in “counter-insur- its place to a growth phase albeit anemic. In view of this
two trillion the budgeted outlays for all non-mandatory budget gency,”which could well involve surreptitious engagement by US possible evolution of things, governments and central
spending. US military spending is equally remarkable when operatives in Pakistan. If so, the results could prove catastrophic, banks are now promoting their plans to impose more
viewed from an international perspective. According to the leading to a spreading war in an unstable country of 180 million restrictions and controls on financial markets. It becomes
Swedish International Peace Research Institute, total military people. What is disconcerting, however, is not only the relentless clear, however, that those plans are facing opposition
spending in constant 2005 dollars reached roughly USD 1.4 tril- financing and spread of war, but also the lack of an alternative US which every day becomesmore powerful. Managers and
lion in 2007. In other words, the US spends roughly the same strategy. Obama and his top advisers have spoken regularly CEOs of major banks have not lost their jobs and are there
amount spent by the rest of the world combined –a pattern about the need to address the underlying sources of conflict, to protect what they know best - to make money out of
that the Obama administration shows no signs of ending. The including poverty and unemployment. A few billion dollars has other people’s markets and businesses. And this,despite
policy decisions of recent months offer little more hope for a been recommended to fund economic aid for Afghanistan and the fact that the financial industry still needs full state
fundamental change in US foreign policy direction. While the Pakistan. But this remains a small amount compared to military support. Only two weeks ago a number of insurance
US has signed an agreement with Iraq to leave by the end of outlays, and an overarching framework to support economic firms, not AIG, received USD 22 billion in capital injections
2011, there is talk in the Pentagon that US “non-combat” development is missing. and government guarantees. AIG is already being
troops will remain in the country for years or decades to come. Before investing hundreds of billions of dollars more in failing financed and supported in every way by the American
It is easy to see how the persistence of instability in Iraq, Iran- military operations, the Obama administration should re-think government.
ian influence, and al-Qaeda’s presence will lead American pol- its policy and lay out a viable strategy to US citizens and the There is no question then that this “game”of support and
icymakers to take the “safe” route of continued military world. It’s high time for a strategy of peace through sustainable emancipation between governments and major banks
involvement. Some opponents of the Iraq War, including me, development – including investments in health, education, liveli- will continue for some time. For the time being, central
believe that a fundamental – and deeply misguided – objective hoods, water and sanitation, and irrigation – in today’s hotspots, banks and state budgets are willing to maintain the liq-
of the war from the outset has been to create a long-term mil- starting with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Such a strategy cannot uidity of the banking sector at any cost. From their part,
itary base (or bases) in Iraq, ostensibly to protect oil routes and simply emerge as a byproduct of US military campaigns. Rather, banks are pushing upwards their stocks in bourses in
oil concessions. As the examples of Iran and Saudi Arabia show, it will have to be developed proactively, with a sense of urgency order to attract new private capital and emancipate
however, such a long-term presence sooner or later creates an and in close partnership with the affected countries and the com- themselves from the government hook. The EU however
explosive backlash. munities within them. A shift in focus to economic development is more eager to apply the new rules and the European
The worries are even worse in Afghanistan and Pakistan. will save a vast number of lives and convert the unthinkably large Commission released a proposal to the leaders of the
NATO’s war with the Talibanin Afghanistan is going badly, so economic costs of war into economic benefits through develop- Union for central control of the EU banking sector,
much so that the commanding US general was sacked this ment. Obama must act before today’s crisis explodes into an through a new Committee under the European Central
month. The Taliban is also extending its reach into neighbor- even larger disaster. Bank. If this proposal gets the green light in the next EU
ing Pakistan. Both Afghanistan and the neighbouring Summit in June, banks will find themselves under tight
provinces of Pakistan are impoverished regions, with vast Jeffrey D. Sachsis Professor of Economics and Director of the Earth Institute control, but mainland Europe cannot do it alone. The
unemployment, bulging youth populations, prolonged at Columbia University. He is also a Special Adviser to United Nations Secretary- same controls should be applied by London and Washing-
droughts, widespread hunger, and pervasive economic depri- General on the Millennium Development Goals. Copyright: Project Syndicate, ton, if those controls are to be effective.
vation. It is easy for the Taliban and al-Qaeda to mobilise 2009.www.project-syndicate.org
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T he S hooting Gallery
Banks down so long,
it looks like up now
After downgrading the creditworthiness of Japan and Britain – and trying to salvage their
battered reputation- credit rating agencies now say that it is the turn of the US’ Standard
& Poor’sto focus on US fiscal deficits, which are being inflated by the efforts of Washing-
ton to support the liquidity of the American banking system. The other major creditwor-
thiness evaluator, Moody’s, said that the situation in the US is not worrisome but it cannot
guarantee that its evaluation for the US will not change. In view of this, the dollar fell
sharply against the Euro to 1.40, the highest level in four months. The state of things in the
money market has taken many steps backward, returning to December 2008, when
nobody knew if the American banks would survive. It goes without saying that the banks
are the most valuable assets for any developed western economy. The real reason why
Standard & Poor’s is warring over the fiscal deficits of the United States government is relat-
ed to the ability of Washington to continue supporting the American banks. True, the Bank
of Americamanaged to successfully place a share issue worth USD 14.5 billion on Wall
Street, thus financing itself with real private money. US banks now even talk about the
prospect of paying back to the government what they have borrowed over the past 20
months. The question is,however,to find out how much truth is there. In reality,the Amer-
ican government is still able to support the US banking system through borrowed money
fromChina. Beijing is still the largest buyer of American state bonds. Even more interest- GULT
iisnsgulye,. C Inh isnheosert ,s tthatee C fhininaensceia al reen sttitilile tsh ear lea ragmesot nAgmste trhicea nla srogevestr einigvne sdteobrst pina ptheirs hBo old Aer ss hoaurte- WIG VER
safoildrreeea igtdhnye ra eUnsSne,or bvueunstc haerodew tnh loaowtn mg b woeriinell g tt hhtuiasrn lna hesadt?l fi nRotufo si tsEsiua a,r pothp. orItou ixsgi mhn onatto eytl eyat sh c aaleflffa laur etwrnihltl iaaotsn tt hdheoe l olCaihlr srin iwcehos ecrto, hhu aonsf- ANA/EPA/HER A protest in Belgium against bullfighting turned ugly when out-of-work Spanish bullfighters showed up and
tries of the Gulf are to do with their own reserves. Last week,the prospect for the creation attacked the crowd
of a common currency in the Persian Gulf counties was ruined by the insistence of Saudi
Arabia to have control of it. On top of this,Riyadh said that Saudi Arabia will not change NE
the parity of the riyal to the dollar. There is no better support for the dollar than the guar-
antee to keep steady its buying power in the oil market. Coming to this side of the Atlantic
15 YEARS AGO
Ocean, Britain is having difficult times after its creditworthiness was downgraded by Stan-
dard & Poor’s. Even more worrisome is the decision by the government not to disclose the
outcome of the “crash test”performed on the British banks. Despite those problems how-
ever, the pound jumped to 1.5947 to the dollar. This is a clear sign that the US economy is
now under scrutiny in each and every international market. As for the Euro,we have
already noted that European money has hit a four-month high with the American money.
The Eurozone is also losing ground in the real economy front,but not as much as the US.
In Germany, which is seeing difficult times with its industrial exports, Berlin has announced
its plans to the solve problem of toxic assetsstill held by the country’s banks by creating a
so-called “bad bank,”a term that could have applied to most of them. It is not yet clear if
this policy is to yield good results, but compared to others (US, Britain) German banks are
faring much better. In France there are no pressing problems in the banking sector and
Paris is only quibbling over the real economy, where the country is doing much better than
Germany. So, summing the present conjuncture in the international economy,one may
say that developments in the US is still the issue to follow.
NEW EUROPE
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EU EDITORIAL BUREAU Managing Director: Sali Berishawas bubbling with hope. Ironically, in 1994, he was president of Albania and said at that time that his country had good will to
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MEDIA
There’s a new media universe, but a lot of different stars
By Dr. Karol Jakubowicz
B
ecause of the economic crisis, and also has for some years now
because of competition for audiences and been updating its standard-
advertising from the Internet and other media, setting texts to make them
American newspaper giants from the Los Angeles relevant in the new techno-
Times to the Chicago Tribune, the Seattle Post-Intelli- logical circumstanc es. How-
gencer and the Christian Science Monitor have ever, a more general appro-
announced they are either bankrupt, merged with dis- ach is needed. To discuss
tant sister papers or ended their print editions entirely. these new deve lopm ents in
The Internet is said to be “killing” the newspaper the way citizens can acce ss
industry, but at the same time it is making available to (but also create and share)
Karol Jakubowicz
everyone entire archives of such newspapers as The information today, the Coun-
Times, The Guardian, The Economist and The Observ- cil is holding a ministerial conference in Reykjavik on
er, with millions of articles from hundreds of years of May28-29. The conference will debate these new
newspaper writing easily available to everyone. Televi- notions of media and what kind of response govern-
siaoonirvlocdeenl uDra davtuhianntecidlgah l ab rtnashleetde wdii oneIs n cpdataariegdepri enteui,ser seb tdi dnuea gtf n Vo hdnora melskmw sb ako rsrdaba nieisnlc-ettbrh ihobteeaoudslket olispoou. hsnTtto h icpnneilrtya co.9t u f0Btolea-oryltmeoeiovkasnisr-, ANA/EPA/TANNEN MAURY mdsmbuooeecdmhdnie it aaosss, f m mewoxuruhp ssertwte t phdshuseeeitrovt heiennelx o airpspn lta gdisnco pigenve fertcoeorirfng mipcum rlanaoettetniieoowtcnsn t .rs, eBa icfgne anudynelo a acnitnepidotspe nsqlraysunr tetyaoo,st t ifnopiroeenrnoewas- -l
sion to reach the readers it has lost: its video reports A news ticker near the Chicago Tribune Tower spells out the bad news for the company, December 8, tect hum an rights, the conference will be a first step
can be watched on the Internet, on an iPod or on dig- 2008, as The Tribune Company, owners of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun and towards the development of a new concept of public
ital TV. We are witnessing accelerated evolution of the other newspapers and radio and television stations, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection policy in the field of the media and new communica-
media, due in part to convergence and the appear- tion services. A concept that will be adequate to the
ance of media as well as “media-like” content coming essential to put in place a new type of editorial com- intermediation (when millions of new information and new social communication environment emerging to-
from a variety of sources on ever new platforms. Tra- mittee that can act as a ‘filter.’The submitted informa- content creators can reach receivers directly), but also day, and will ensure that individual and societal needs
ditional broadcast and print media are still pre-domi- tion is thus moderated to avoid any political or ideo- of new intermediation: with new filters between the will continue to be met and human rights will contin-
nant, but they are weakening.The convergence of all logical drift. … Each moderator has to vote individually two. It is an exciting new world,) but also a terra incog- ue to be safeguarded in the new media universe.
media is producing new digital multimedia. They can on the articles based on their relevancy to the news nita, where our traditional ways of obtaining informa-
communicate globally, but also address each person and their originality.” AgoraVox publishes around 75 tion and understanding of the world around us are Dr. Karol Jakubowicz is an international expert in broadcasting
separately with personalised, localised content (e.g. percent of all submitted articles, clearly performing a supplemented or replaced by entirely new ones. We and new communication services, advising international bodies
weather forecasts for each locality.) They can be one- traditional gate-keeping role. Many blogs are mainly do not know if they deserve our trust, but we find such as the Council of Europe and UNESCO. He will be the
way or interactive. Content can be available to audi- personal and only 34 percent of US bloggers consider them everywhere and so we have to learn how to use keynote speaker at the upcoming Council of Europe ministerial
ences or be on-demand. Reception can be simultane- their blogs a form of journalism, where they collect, them. International bodies such as the Council of conference to be held in Iceland on May 28-29. He worked as a
ous, delayed or on the move. analyse, interpret or comment on current events to Europehave a long tradition of setting standards for journalist and executive in the Polish press, radio and television for
That is the first “new notion” of media: all media on wide audiences and in this way perform the very same protecting freedom of speech. The Council of Europe many years and headed many journalist organisations there
one platform, available via broadband networks. Older social function usually associated with institutionalised
media will not disappear, but may re-emerge in media.Some are serious journalistic endeavours: the
changed form, as another source of content available popular American blog Huffington Post, which has
on broadband Internet and other broadband net- had many scoops and has broken many important
works. At the same time, patterns of media use are news stories, is bankrolling a group of investigative
changing. Young people especially are moving away journalists to look at stories about the nation’s econo-
from traditional radio and television and actively look- my. This will help keep in work professional investiga-
ing for specific content on multiple platforms, such as tive reporters who were laid-off by crisis-stricken
TV, games console, radio, PC, mobile phone and MP3 newspapers. Finally, let us mention a third new notion
players. Change in media is not only technology-dri- of media: media-like activities performed by new inter-
ven. Social change is another powerful factor. General mediaries (search engines, Internet service providers
democratisation and rising affluence in European soci- or content aggregators.) Search engines are informa-
eties have levelled social divisions and stratification. tion services of enormous importance. They also
Many individuals claim access to creative and cultural assume direct journalistic functions, as in the case of
opportunities and are no longer willing to be passive. Google News, a computer-generated news site,
Also important is individualisation and fragmentation updated every 15 minutes, that aggregates headlines
of society. The old collective experience created by the from more than 4,500 English-language news sources
mass media is giving way to many group and individ- worldwide, groups similar stories together and dis-
ual interests, feeding an interest in thematic services plays them according to each reader’s personalised
and personalised content available via the Internet. interests. The articles are selected and ranked by com-
All this is creating a second new notion of media: con- puters that evaluate, among other things, how often
tent produced outside professional media organisa- and on what sites a story appears online, but also on
tions, coming from millions of new authors and con- the basis of freshness, location, relevance and diversi-
tent-creators. Many resemble news media: serve the ty. Media-like activities are also undertaken by Internet
same purpose (provision of information and opinion), service-providers, user-generated content sites, web-
have an editorial policy, involve an editorial process, are site administrators, i.e. all those who mediate between
disseminated periodically and abide by at least some the provider and receiver of content and may have the
normative, ethical, professional and legal standards ability to act as gate-keepers and potentially interfere
similar to those of a traditional media operation. The with the flow of information. Terms of Service and
most typical form is online citizen journalism, including Acceptable Use Policies between Internet Service
blogs. A good example is AgoraVox, a website that Providers and users contain a vast array of rules per-
describes itself as “The first online newspaper in taining to content and expression on the Internet. This
Europe written by citizens.” Whereas traditional media invests ISPs with an almost regulatory function and
bring down the information from the top to the bot- gives ISP rules a media law-like effect. US-based ISPs
tom (“one to many” principle,) AgoraVox makes it are very particular about intellectual property rights
move along in a transversal way (“many to many”prin- and privacy, whereas Europe-based ISPs tend to
ciple). This is thanks to a very motley team of citizen restrict more areas of content and behaviour and to
authors, constituted with very various profiles. It has a forbid anonymity.
“never-seen-before editorial policy and editorial com- Website administrators moderate content to remove
mittee” which it describes thus: “The objective of the illegal or what they consider inappropriate content,
AgoraVox editorial policy is to publish verifiable news again performing a gate-keeping function that is not
related to objective events or facts, as far as possible covered by any legal regulation.
unpublished ones. For this reason, we believe it is With all this, we are entering a new world: one of dis-
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Tracing England’s roots in Europe goes
back to the beginning of time
By Bashir Khanbhai
I
f our planet was born 24 hours ago, then life began eight
hours ago; fish appeared in the oceans 45 minutes ago; our
ancestors in Africa lived as naked bipedals side-by-side with
apes 30 seconds ago and human civilisation, as we know it,
began only 0.75 seconds ago. The events of the last 100 years,
including the foundation of the European Union, happened only
milliseconds ago. For too long,British politicians in fringe political
parties have claimed that Britain is of European origin but it is not
“in”Europe. This perception of Britain as detached from Europe
icWIssa lerhhdsais,et)td oSi.srt iect phneho enonsr eiOgnipnse po.e fIn tBh srehiitomounelsdr? (bTBehr yeca hOna lrlSiegynikngeses do(,f T rthihdeei c BuBlloreiodtid sah no,)df a tdnhides- .europarl.europa.eu Bashir Khanbha
academics at Oxford and London University have published sci-
entific evidence suggesting that most ancient Britons descended died in World War II. It
fEtsrhegoeqymypu te mtinahintegl y rBa,a nattehsddqe Bu tPeeohsr otb iheneen rn iIchobiuraetnnrhitsaee nrcrna pg mSeapetnha itnienosr, ueBwrlrasih tafaorrisonoem u ionn w nd5o n,10r 5ta0h,n00 cB0AeC0fsr,t iBocfoCarls .l w o wSwhueeebrnde- mdsitcyisaa pfriomrleareedcdve ae,d nr i dmwm sphhaoeanvnmey t rewidsmoh h eoaudrtmeo a.ma nniIdct- OFFICIAL HANDOUT
bThy ep eRoopmlea fnr ormul eB eolfg iBurmita, iFnla (n5d0erBsC, Gtaou 3l 5a0ndA IDta)l yi.m pacted on its blioonms bosf binunrnotc eton t dceivaitlhia nms.il- ANA/EPA/
genetic pool, politics, society and religion. Subsequent invasions Many Europeans, includ- US President Barack Obama (L) and his wife Michelle (2nd L) meet Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II (C) and the
of Britain by the Danes, Norwegians, Swedish, Anglos and Saxons ing acclaimed scientists, Duke of Edinburgh (R) at a private meeting, April 1, 2009 at Buckingham Palace in London, England
from Germany and the French made Britain truly European well musicians, artists and engi-
before the EU was even conceived.William, the Duke of Nor- neers emigrated to the US and Canada. European industry and prevented
mandy, invaded Britain in 1066. French was the language of the commerce were destroyed. -Free and fair trade beyond the EU would have helped lift the liv-
English royal court for more than 300 years. In 1717, Prince The Iron Curtain imposed misery and hardship on Europeans as ing standards of poor countries
George of Hanoverwas invited by the British parliament to be they became victims of years of political hostility, military rivalry -Competition and subsidiarity would be the hallmarks of the EU
King. He spoke very little English and preferred his own country and espionage between the US and Russia. Millions of Euro- economy
and culture. His son was crowned King George IIin 1727, who, peans struggled to build their homes and find employment Sadly, the European Commission continues to be the weakest
supported by his Prime Minister, Sir Robert Walpole, helped cre- under Russian communism and dictatorship that denied them institution of the EU. European technocrats – not reject and re-
ate a new working relationship between King and parliament democracy and freedom. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisa- cycled politicians appointed by political parties - should manage
that survives to this day. His son, King George III, led Britain to tion(NATO) was founded in 1949. It is a wide and deep military a transparent and accountable civil service responding to the
war with the French and Americans and loss of its colonies. alliance linking major European nations with the United States needs of the European citizens. Private sector discipline and
and Canada. It is an organisation where all member nations direct public access to the Commission and European Parliament
THE THIN BLOOD LINE share sovereignty, influence and responsibility. The former Dan- should drive the EU.
Queen Victoria’s mother was German. Victoria chose to marry ish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, is the incoming Sec- Political parties must not use the party list for nominations to the
her German cousin Albert. German was their language of choice retary General of NATO. Americans provide the hardware while European parliament to park their redundant politicians, faithful
in private. Albert’s influence was significant. Their numerous chil- Europeans manage the software. NATO is costly but it does offer senior staff and their financial sponsors. European citizens have
dren married European princes and princesses. Queen Elizabeth excellent security. It guarantees peace and prosperity for all been deprived of selecting and electing industrialists, entrepre-
II is related to most European monarchs.Over the last 15,000 nations in the European Union and beyond. neurs and experienced civilians who are unwilling to be puppets
years, the Basques from Spain, Belgians, Flemish, Gauls, Romans, of political parties but who are willing to serve their community,
Scandinavians, Anglo-Saxons from Germany,and the French set- WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN region, nation and Europe.
tled in Britain. In the last 100 years, thousands of Italians, Greeks, Germany and France helped create the European Coal & Steel The EU can offer freedom, prosperity and peace more effective-
Poles, Hungarians, Russians and others came to Britain as they Community to strengthen European alliance and prevent war. In ly at a lower cost if it uses extensively information technology,
fled from persecution in their own countries. Virtually every fam- 1955, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and Holland including e-government. Public access would be deeper and
ily in Britain can trace their European roots. That makes Britain convened in Rome to sign the Treaty of Rome that laid the foun- wider. Performance and cost of Commission officials and parlia-
more European than any other country in the EU. dation of today’s European Union. Britain was invited to attend mentarians would be exposed and assessed. European citizens
Despite a common human origin, an historic genetic union, and be a founder member. Britain declined without any debate will demand equal efficiency from their own national govern-
through invasion, settlement, centuries of trade with Europe and in Westminster. This was an historic mistake and a lost opportu- ments and would be delighted to participate in European elec-
a shared Christian faith, some people in Britain remain sceptical nity to lead Europe. tions as they would have a direct stake in its success!
of Europe. Europeans have been at war with each other for 2000 British membership in 1955 could have helped to create:-
years. Wars for territory and trade as well as religious persecution -The European Commission as a true civil service – transparent, Bashir Khanbhai is a former Member of the European Parliament from the Unit-
forced many Europeans to cross national boundaries in search of accountable and subservient to Parliament ed Kingdom. His background is in industry, especially pharmaceutical, plastic, tim-
work and peace. World War I (1914-1918) resulted in death, -Faster enlargement of the EU would have facilitated an earlier ber and tourism, as well as financial services and politics in Europe. He has pub-
poverty and homelessness for millions of families. lifting of the Iron Curtain lished many articles on International development aid, health and biotechnology,
Sixty million people worldwide, including 20 million Russians, -Tragedies in Czechoslovakia and the Balkans would have been and EU business and communication technology
Subsidiarity is de-central to your well-being, but good for you
GOVERNMENT
The Assembly of European Regions, which represents 260 regions, one- decentralisation, using 185 observable aspects including political decen- By Andy Carling
third of them outside the European Union, has just released the results of tralisation and functional decentralisation, in which 42 policy fields were
a four-year study into the economic effects of devolving decision making examined. These figures were calculated to produce a Decentralisation their regional circumstances better than a national authority, they can be
to the regions in a report entitled From Subsidiarity to Success. The con- Index, where the Swiss scored highest, followed by Germany and Belgium. more efficient in many areas.
clusions are that decentralisation does lead to a significant increase in eco- Bulgaria was the most centralised state, followed by the Baltic States. “Centralism hammers development of countries at the cost of its citizens,”
nomic performance. “These findings are set to open a crucial debate, par- Some of these more centralised did have high economic growth, but BAK said Klaus Klipp, secretary general of the AER, describing the conclusions.
ticularly among policy makers in highly-centralised countries, as Europe was at pains to point out that states would have had higher growth if they Urs Muller, head of the study group explained, “It is not just anecdotal, it
struggles to reverse the effects of the global economic downturn”said were more decentralised.Another caveat was that the survey found that, is now a scientifically proven fact and we hope that it will give regional
Michelle Sabban, president of AER. The survey looked at all the larger EU although there may be an optimum level of decentralisation, this would politicians more leverage when dealing with national decision-makers.”
states as wellas non-EU states, such as Switzerland, Norway and non- be different in each policy field.Despite that, they expressed some factors This independent study confirms what AER always thought, Sabban said.
European nations such as the United States, Canada and New Zealand, to that explain the advantages of a less central authority. The main reason is “These results prove definitively what AER has always known: that the
get a mix of centralised states, such as the new member states and more effectiveness; regions know best the preferences of their citizens and the economies of regions with greater competences are performing better as
decentralised nations, such as Switzerland. Looking at several aspects of economic contours of their own areas. Secondly, because regions know a result, than those of centralised countries,” she said.
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Google Earth, Google Ocean, Google
INTERNET
EWI is a New Europe content partner
Street View … Google Global
By Andy Carling
behind the scenes,Google has been building up a
paying client base amongst business for their enter-
GNAK prise level support. However, Gmail is still in fourth CONFLICTS
ONG SAN prelamcea,in b etihgihntd-l ipHpoetdm aaibl,o AuOt Lh, oawnd m Yaanhyo ou, sbeurst tthheeyy Obama and the new
ANA/EPA/NAR hlbioaenvtae. ,G, faoivlotehg oyleeu aigsrh es qiatu fitsae lerly sl atrieumtnicacethen,d tc altaobi mobueint agwr tohhuya nGtd mt h3ae0iyl m isst iiinll-l Commission: Save
Google has had to backtrack on its motto of
have some functions they would like to add before
resisting evil by allowing censorship by China leaving the beta stage. They won’t say what these Darfur by saving Sudan?
and here, by Thailand
features are though. There are growing concerns
In Brussels, Internet search giant Google over the company, whose motto is Don’t Be Evil,
By Dr. Greg Austin
announced “an exciting new product”to celebrate and about the sheer amount of data that passes U
the fifth anniversary of its web-based Gmail. This through its hands. In January,2006 they agreed to S President Barack Obamapromised ners and collaborative strategies that will act
was revealed to be that Google Labs is now avail- censor search results in China on behalf of the gov- “unstinting resolve” to end the vio- as “force multipliers.” Funding resources are
able in 47 languages. This feature allows Google to ernment, a decision that alarmed many. When lence in Darfur. To honour his also constrained. All available assets at the
launch highly experimental add-ons to its email ser- asked if Gmail and Google Docs would be safe for a
promise, Obama will need help from Brus- disposal of international actors need to be
vice, such as ‘ail Goggles that acts as an online Chinese dissident to use, if there were any circum-
sels where a new European Commission will applied judiciously and in highly coordinat-
breathalyser by offering a series of calculations that stances when they would hand over data to the
be installed in office on July 1. As troubled as ed, carefully prioritised manner.
have to be completed correctly before an email can authorities,Google spokesman, Bill Echikson, said
be sent, or features to check if an attachment has that they valued users privacy and that trust was Sudan is, it is a country of proud, dignified, At home in the United States, the Save Dar-
been forgotten. This step strengthens Google’s vital to their business and that they abide by the law capable and (some) wealthy people who can fur campaign has been hugely successful and
ambitions to challenge Microsoft and Yahoo as at the same, without explaining the paradox or con- – who must – solve their problems and who is a model to all with humanitarian instincts.
providers of not just email, but software. Connect- tradiction. The query, “In this case, would that be can play an influential role in African affairs. The new question for Save Darfur is whether
ed to Gmail is Google Docs, a basic replacement for Chinese law or US law?”returned zero results as
The Sudanese people are the ultimate guar- they need to save Sudan as well if their cam-
Microsoft Office, but based on Google’s servers and Echikson said he didn’t know. Google faces further
antors of peace and prosperity in Sudan. paign is to have any lasting effect. Renewed
accessed through a web browser. This also allows questions from Consumer Affairs Commissioner
External actors committed to peace have war between north and south on Sudan will
several people to work on a central document Meglena Kunevaon its use of personal data for
rather than emailing endless updates to each other. their use of targeted advertising and the Commis- limited influence. The political process and only bring greater death and disaster in Dar-
Although the public is welcome to the free service, sion will be looking for answers. political order in Sudan must therefore fur. On the international stage, the European
empower Sudanese actors. Time is short for Union at the political level and its European
Sudan. It faces armed conflict in several Commission at the economic level, will be
regions, humanitarian crisis in Darfur, and principal partners for Gration. Europe is the
large numbers of its own displaced people largest aid donou to Sudan. But Gration will
inside the borders of neighboring countries. not be looking for business as usual from
While keeping an eye to the longer term, them. He will be hoping that a shared com-
Obama needs to show results in time to mitment and a shared sense of urgency will
shape the environment for the 2010 elec- lead to more visible results in a short time
tions in Sudan and a 2011 referendum on frame.
possible secession of Southern Sudan. Sudan has to be higher priority for Europe if
On May 4, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, Pri- it genuinely wants to capitalis on the Obama
mate of the Episcopal Church of Sudan, advantage in Africa in general, and more
made a “passionate and heartfelt appeal” in specifically in Sudan, one of the continent’s
a letter to the international community to two most serious war zones.
help prevent renewed war in Southern In crafting more ambitious, results-oriented
Sudan. He reported active rearmament by policies in Sudan, Europe will need to be part
militias and incitement to further ethnic vio- of an equally revitalized multinational effort.
lence foster by certain factions trying to Gration will visit China this week carrying
derail the 2005 Comprehensive Peace agree- innovative ideas for change. The oil compa-
ment, the 2010 elections and the 2011 ref- nies in Sudan from China, India and Malaysia
erendum. will need to step up and accept higher levels
Senior officials in the United States have of taxation on their earnings. Neighbous like
warned that the “Nile will run with blood” if Saudi Arabia and Egypt will need to think
there is not a dramatic turn-around soon. creatively for new measures as well.
Obama is moving decisively. He has appoint- There is almost no one inside or outside
ed a new Special Envoy for Sudan, former Sudan who does not want peace and pros-
United States Air Force General Scott Gra- perity for the country. Will Europe and other
tion, to force the pace on international responsible countries rise to the Scott Gra-
action. Gration speaks Swahili fluently, hav- tion challenge and seize the Obama moment
ing grown up in Africa. He was an early to help the Sudanese save themselves –
member of Obama’s campaign team. For before it is too late.
Gration, as for Obama, the commitment to
save Sudan is felt personally. Dr. Greg Austinis Vice President at the EastWest
Gration knows that the United States gov- Institute and Director ofEWI’sGlobal Security Program
ernment cannot help the Sudanese people and Policy Innovation, with 30 years experience in interna-
tional affairs, including senior posts in academia and gov-
without reframing current approaches on
ernment. He has also held senior posts at the Internation-
several levels. The number of stakeholders in al Crisis Group and the Foreign Policy Centre London. He is
Sudan itself, in the United States and inter- the Founding Chair of the Asian Century Institute in Lon-
nationally, is massive. He needs many part- don and author of several highly reviewed books on inter-
national security, especially on Asia.
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EU says Malawi elections weren’t
Polish president says the
Euro isn’t for his country
really fair, but were free
As more countries are considering trying to get into the
Eurozone and use the Euro as their currency to stave off
any future problems or recessions, Poland doesn’t want it. M
Polish President Lech Kaczynskihas interrogated the gov- alawi President Bingu wa Mutharikawon re-election in
ernment’s handling of the economic crisis and warned polling his rival said was rigged, but which European Union
against adoption of the Euro. Poland’s economic growth observers said were generally fair, but fell far short of inter-
will slow or stop entirely, while the effects of the global national standards, including a biased media, and unfair use of gov-
economic crisis could be “very serious,”Kaczynski said, in ernment trucks by the ruling party.Despite the flaws, the EU election
the first presidential speech of its kind in more than a observation mission (EUEOM) found the elections had “so far been
decade. But “the people and institutions”responsible for conducted in an environment in which the fundamental freedoms
Poland’s economic growth did not “appreciate the seri- and rights of assembly, expression and movement have been gen-
ousness of the situation,”Kaczynski said in a strike at polit- erally respected.” But, “despite this the elections fell short of fully
ical rival Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The time has come meeting Malawi’s commitments to international and regional stan-
to ask fundamental questions on the economy, and what dards for elections as a number of key problem areas exposed struc-
the government will do on the crisis and growing budget tural and regulatory weaknesses,” the report continued.
hole, Kaczynski said. But it would be “risky”to switch to The assessments meant that the elections were free enough for
the Euro currency during a financial crisis, Kaczynski said Africa, but wouldn’t have been tolerated in a European or other
referring to Tusk’s plans on entering ERM-2, the prepara- developed country, similar to claims made by the opposition. The EU
tory stage to switching to the European single currency. has had a 30-year history of cooperation with Malawi, a landlocked
Tusk surprised many analysts by saying Poland would country in southeastern Africa that has been reaching out for west-
adopt the Euro currency by 2012. However officials have ern assistance for decades.
sfIiManiadMn rcIeGiacRle cnArtTilsyIiOs .t Nhe date could be too ambitious amid the eabnruaddt Tgimoehntae n siEsua Uipgn epf ramoo rmnet unw 2mt 0iotb0hfe 2 nfr-oa2 oct0uuf0 rsa7a rol eg rnaae vssp,eo ui uMnbrclcialcuel asfdi,wni ntarig a3n n0acseg0p r mmiocruiatlll nitaouannrgde eE ,im unfrofeoroan adstnt, rsdeued cccutouucorraipte-y-, ANA/EPA/JUSTIN LANE
Switzerland will not impose tion, health and gender equality, good governance and civic educa- Bingu Wa Mutharika, President of Malawi, speaking before the
tion, economic policy development and institutional capacity on United Nations at UN headquarters in New York City, September
quotas on Europeans economic management issues, and the private sector and trade. 19, 2005, has won re-election despite claims the vote was not fair
Mutharika won in an election widely viewed as a test of
The Swiss government, always reluctant to open its bor- Malawi’s political stability, garnering 2.7 million votes to 1.2 million corruption drive. Muluzi is one of the UDF officials to have been
ders in a country which has tough immigration rules, has for his closest rival, John Tembo, who said he was not satisfied with charged with corruption. Tembo alleged his party agents were
decided not to invoke a safeguard clause in the Schengen the way the election was conducted even if the EU was, and said he barred from watching the count in some party strongholds that were
agreement, which would have let the Alpine country limit would challenge the results in court. The margin was so great that subsequently won by the DPP and that ballot boxes in some places
the number of European workers allowed in. The conserv- Mutharika’s supporters were celebrating before it was announced. were not sealed. The electoral commission said it was investigating
ative Justice Minister Evelyn Widmer-Schlumpfhad pro- Two-term former president Bakili Muluzi did not run for presi- the complaints.The MCP also accused the electoral commission of
posed limitations a week earlier, citing rising unemploy- dent. He was barred from seeking a third term, but his United failing to ensure that ballot boxes were properly sealed. The com-
ment in Switzerland, akin to western European fears about Democratic Frontformed a coalition with Tembo’s Malawi Con- mission said it was investigating the complaints.
a flood of so-called Polish plumber workers taking jobs, a gress Partyto oppose Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Mutharika, 75, an economist by training, is credited with boost-
fear that didn’t really materialize. About 3.5 percent of the Party. In a radio address to the nation, Muluzi said he had phoned ing growth and improving food security in the famine-prone country
Swiss population is currently unemployed. While this is the Mutharika to congratulate him.“As a former president of this coun- of 13 million people over his five years in office. Tembo, 77, is a vet-
highest rate in three years it is below European averages. try I have a duty to be exemplary. For the sake of peace we have to eran member of the MCP, the party of autocratic, first president
The other ministers moved against the proposal at a meet- forget the past and move forward,” he said. Hastings Kamuzu Banda.
ing of the Federal Council, Switzerland’s executive branch. Muluzi and Mutharika have been bitter rivals since Mutharika It was feared that a contested outcome could lead to a repeat of
There was concern of tensions with other nations if the dumped the UDF after winning the presidency on the party’s ticket the violence that erupted after the last elections in 2004, which were
Swiss would invoke the safeguard. In 2007, Switzerland lift- in 2004. Mutharika accused the party of trying to frustrate his anti- also marred by irregularities.
ed its quotas for members of the first 15 European Union
members and Cyprus and Malta. It could have used the
SPACE EXPLORATION Now the EU has a new team of astronauts coming
clause in its agreement for up to two years.
MEDIA
“We are at a turning point in ESA’s human spaceflight activities,”ESA
Poles furious at EU Director General Jean-Jacques Dordainsaid. “We are now entering a
new phase of utilisation of the unique capabilities offered by the ISS and
YouTube video omission preparation for international exploration of the Moon and beyond,”he
said. The selection of the six new astronauts was made by taking into
A video clip from the European Commission was meant to account flight opportunities planned by the ESA and also those pro-
educate thousands on YouTube about the fall of Commu- grammed in the Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian
nism, but it left many angry in Poland as they complained OUT Space Agency(ASI) and NASA, the American space agency that was
tyianhengead itrr hst h ceooe ffu aLfnilirlb stoertfy rd tthhey!ame db Bo rebocrerulaiegntnhi cW t i eginalne loslc,o trsiemtordniek. se T6 tsh3h ie,na0 t v0t hbi0der eovnoiue- gCw1hz9eet8 rcfs9rh eb-o2eys0d ln0ooa9vmra:r k a2tito0a- ANA/EPA/NASA HAND cbawolesnhiondo gpu iissclco taiiten sqng, ut saiaus tlcmisfhi oei sadrs s tifoe itgnchhh ettno eti cref iiapxam nitlohs’s,te . f ooPHnueulrayb ok bwef l teoihs m Seap nataenecsw,e tM pTEeiuilloalreonts p wcnoehaaptoneiv h.ae Ias nCts r arofildsontdwaoiutfnoito srhne ae ttrtloeii-,
the former Soviet bloc. But in Poland the video brought fury NASA photo from an STS-125 crew member aboard the Space copters for the British Army, while the team’s other Italian, Parmitano,
as viewers asked, “Where is Lech Walesa?,” and “Who Shuttle Atlantis showing this image of the Hubble Space Telescope was trained at the Italian Air Force Academy. “This new phase required
made this (expletive)?”Walesa, the former shipyard trade as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation, May 19, 2009, the recruitment of young talent able to draw on the experience gained
unionist, is widely regarded as perhaps the most important having been linked together for nearly a week by the existing astronauts,”Dordain said. “They all represent the gen-
figure in bringing the downfall of Communism. Many Poles eration that will move from low Earth orbit to the Moon.”ESA said that
said the video focused too much on Germany and failed to With space missions going on without it, the European Space Agency to qualify to become an astronaut, candidates should “be knowledge-
show historic figures like former Solidarity union leader Lech wants to catch up with other countries and has unveiled a team of six able in the scientific disciplines and should have demonstrated out-
Walesa and John Paul II. The only Polish protest banner that astronauts to begin training for ventures to the International Space Sta- standing abilities in appropriate fields,”including having logged a mini-
appeared in the video said, “Gazeta Polska,”critics said, tion (ISS) “and beyond,”the Paris-based agency said. The new space mum of 1,000 hours piloting various high-performance aircraft. Pes-
which was founded in 1993 some four years after Commu- travelers are Samantha Cristoforettiand Luca Parmitanofrom Italy, quet called the profession of astronaut a “dream job as well as a pro-
nism fell. The European Commission said it would “take a German Alexander Gerst, Dane Andreas Mogensen, Briton Timothy fession with an objective, to achieve scientific advances.” “I am not sure
look”at the clip and change any parts if they came from the Peakeand Frenchman Thomas Pesquet. The six were chosen from a which is scarier, sitting in from of a roomful of journalists, or sitting on
1990s, but declined to say if Poland would be given more pool of 8,413 applicants in a Europe-wide process that began last year, top of a rocket one day and blasting off into space,” said Mogensen,
video time. and are the first new recruits to join the European Astronaut Corps since when asked if he had the jitters after being selected. The six astronauts
1992 under the second-ever astronaut selection carried out by the ESA. will begin 18 months of basic training in September.
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Unfriendly skies for EU airlines,
British Airways posts record losses
I
t’s not just the automobile industry in the European Union that of GBP 26 million (29.4 million Euro) in the year ahead. Further cuts
is hanging on for survival. The worldwide recession has travelers in the 40,000-strong workforce could not be ruled out and capacity
staying home instead of flying too, putting off summer vacations would be reduced by four per cent by parking up to 16 aircraft over
and looking for cheaper alternatives, and that has translated into the winter months, the airline said.
record losses for British Airways(BA) and troubled times for other “The prolonged nature of the global downturn makes this the harsh-
EU airlines. BA nosedived into the red last year as high fuel costs, est trading environment we have ever faced and, with no immediate
falling passenger numbers and a weak pound conspired to it posting improvement visible, market conditions remain challenging,”Walsh
a record pre-tax loss of GBP 401 million pounds (454.8 million Euro) said. BA, which shed more than 2,500 jobs since last summer, said it
- its biggest since privatisation in 1987. was in talks with the trade unions about “pay and productivity
BA shares tumbled by up to 10 per cent to around 150 pence on the changes.”The total number of passengers fell by 4.3 per cent to 33.1
London Stock Exchange Friday after BA chief Willie Walshsaid he million in the year up to the end of March, with demand for global
fteToixhoreenec ssau.a itBrwilvAin en ew bo, io wlilnm nhuoimcsteh ebs dr eepi apaptioaedyr toiimenudgtp ,aa rWo dhvieaevalimsdlhtehe snynad tpi d tirn.ho ifscit hy oaeflal eGr naBgnPidn 9 gt2 h2me mraeri klwleioitl nl cb o(e1n .n0do4i- ANA/EPA/ANDY RAIN bUpmorneetirmhog neiut rwhm etea rclUekla sSc s owsDn itettrihapn vauSeripntl magbi naeto’dns ltay Isb fshoeeirrts i.as T B irtaAasnn ,a dswpp pAholmiriccthaae ttriihooicannas n fabo nAer deiar nnlit nthiin-eets r p,u Erssuota rtiiodrmap cmtethaeuandt-
billion Euro) for the previous financial year, said fuel costs of GBP A British Airways aircraft at Heathrow Airport in London, in 2007, nity. Czech Airlines, the national carrier currently in the midst of a pri-
three billion (3.4 billion Euro,)a 4.3percent drop in passenger num- before the worldwide recession put a collar around airline travel, vatisation process, has posted a first-quarter loss owing to an
bers and a weak pound contributed to the losses incurred in the year leading the company to now announce its biggest loss ever since “unprecedented”drop in passengers, the company said. The airline
ending on March 31. The airline, which buys its fuel in dollars, has going private 22 years ago reported a loss before tax of 1.318 billion koruny (USD 67.9 million)
been hit badly by the combination of last summer’s high oil price and in the first three months of 2009, compared to 844 million koruny
the pound’s unfavourable exchange rate versus the dollar. BA said it cent decline in the number of business class passengers, considered (USD 43.5 million) in the same period the previous year. The poor
made an operating loss of GBP 220 million (249.5 million Euro,) to be the airline’s “real earners.” result in the first quarter, which is normally a weak season for airlines,
greater than the 150 million (170.1 million Euro) expected. Revenues Fuel bills soared by 44.5 percent in the reporting year, but some relief were caused by a 12-per-cent year-on-year drop in the number of
increased to almost GBP nine billion (10.2 billion Euro) in the report- was expected in the current financial year when BA hopes to cut fuel passengers, the company said. The carrier said it expected its loss
ing period. Analysts said BA, which is struggling to keep up with com- costs by about GBP 400 million (453.8 million Euro.) Nonetheless, before tax to reach 361 million koruny (USD 18.5 million) in 2009 as
petition from budget airlines, was particularly hard hit by a 13 per there are tough times ahead, as the airline aims to make cost savings the global economic crisis has deepened the industry’s woes.
EU
New Europe, in cooperation with Attentio, is
tracking news and social media trends leading up
Election to the European Elections. Below, we see the
different European Parliament groups' exposure in
mass media, and blogs, while on the right we see
Beat
*The proximity of the topic
what themes are more closely tied to the different
spheres to the political
political groups (in blogs), finaly below that we see
group spheres shows how
the relative exposure of the European Parliament. often they are found
together in news reports
Political Groups
SUMMARY
The landscape has not changed in the news coverage of European parties
in the last week, with the mass media showing a clear preference in
coverage of the European People’s Party over any other party. This is also
mirrored in the blogosphere. In news media, the Socialist group is
suprisingly far behind; disproportionately to what voting polls would have
us expect.
In terms of the topicson the political group agendas, we see that the EPP
has shifted their focus from Economy, Environment, Energy, to Economy,
Environment and immigration instead. The PES has shifted alignment in
themes, now closer to Energy than anything else, while ALDE has a new-
found focus on corruption.
Finally, as we approach the European elections, see on the right that more
and more blogs are dealing with issues related to the European elections,
suggesting increased activatation of citizens and societal groups.
NE10:NE10.qxd 5/23/2009 3:19 PM Page 10
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DIPLOMACY
No winds of change for the
EU-China Stalemate Summit
T
he European Union and China hoped to record, Beijing’s policies towards Sudan’s Darfur
mend fences at their summit in Prague, but region and Myanmar. A spate of trade squabbles
deadlocked on virtually every major point have also rankled relations between the two
of disagreement and wound up issuing a vague major trading powers and China essentially told
statement that they would continue to work the EU to butt out of its affairs.
together – without saying how – to fight climate It’s only because of the worldwide recession that
change, the world’s financial crisis and diminishing the two sides came back to the table because EU
trade, but remained at odds over human rights, consumer demand for Chinese goods, which crit-
China’s record of theft of intellectual property, and ics maintain are shoddy and sometimes even dan-
most political matters. The meeting was meant to gerous, have begun to decline, leaving China with-
highlight reconciliation, but the sides failed to out its second biggest trading market outside the
agree on common language on any of the key United States. But without any agreements, the
points dividing them, failing to bridge differences two sides were left to issue platitudinous state-
on areas that included Myanmar, North Korea, Tai- ments that revealed nothing. “During the summit
wan, climate change, trade liberalisation and we exchanged views on how to tackle the interna-
minority rights. tional financial crisis ... we both recognise that it is
Ctitnoiohg eni nxCaaplh ’saai nnsP adwr i m“ienpltler oaa Mscc tihinicnataiensl trgcenoinrao glW pi siestersuna ep tJsiooi.a sn“bi”Ttaihoionens astm esokaoendsd t oi nitfmh tpeepur onsErhaU--- ANA/EPA/FILIP SINGER iswfmetoorperrmonldrc teeaa.cnno“tdIn tf ooismmr iumaicsk p ertoeo cs owsouivbore lrerkcy of,t”oonrWgt raeibe tchnuoe tutiroo,p nltldoe atoroi fdn ceeao wnou usn etct arotihrenleys-
tant thing is to stick to the principles of mutual Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao (L) and Czech President Vaclav Klaus during a press conference or group of big powers to resolve all global issues.
respect and not interfere in each others internal after the summit the EU-China Summit at Prague Castle in Prague, May 20, 2009 Multipolarity or multilateralism represent the larg-
affairs,”the Chinese premier told a news confer- er trend. Some say that world affairs will be man-
ence after the summit. He also called on the 27- 2008in the French city of Lyon, for five months to posed a lengthy draft of their common position, aged solely by China and the United States. I think
member bloc “to ensure that our bilateral rela- protest a meeting by French President Nicolas which showed “significant differences” on the that view is baseless and wrong.”
tionship will not be adversely affected by individ- Sarkozy, then the holder of the EU presidency, controversial topics, diplomats close to the prepa-
MONEY IN THE BALANCE
ual incidents.”China delayed the annual summit, with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai rations said.
originally planned to take place on December 1, Lama. Ahead of the summit, each side had pro- In two hours of talks, EU leaders and the Chinese As usual, the real talks were about money and
premier failed to overcome those variances. And there’s a lot of it when it comes to EU-China trade.
while the EU’s draft stretched to 10 pages and the EU exports to China rose to 78 billion Euro in 2008
NEW EUROPE
Chinese to seven, the two sides issued a one-page from 26 billion Euro in 2000, while imports from
joint statement, in which they boiled down chap- China rose from 75 billion Euro to 248 billion Euro
ters on problem areas to one vague paragraph. over the same period, representing nearly one-
The EU failed to persuade China to put pressure on third of a trillion Euro that keeps them talking,
SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Myanmar’s military junta to start talks with pro- even with inseparable political differences. But
democracy forces and release opposition leader Wen said that he had traveled 10 hours to the
Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been on trial for Czech capital for a two-hour summit and was
Annual subscription fee (52 issues) EU € 350, Others € 395 allegedly breaching the terms of her six-year returning straight away showed China’s commit-
detention. Contrary to the EU’s wishes, the sum- ment to wipe the slate clean with Europe.“I’ve
mit also failed to condemn North Korea’s April 5 come with sincerity, confidence and a sense of
MAILING & INVOICING DETAILS
missile test and urge it to resume international responsibility. These are words from my heart,”he
Name: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - talks on halting its nuclear programme, as China said alongside Czech President Vaclav Klaus -
brushed aside all EU requests. whose country holds the EU presidency -and Bar-
Position: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
roso. Only three memorandums of understanding
Company: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A SCHISM covering small and medium size business, science
Address: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Regarding Tibet, the bloc wanted China to commit and clean energy were signed by the leaders, who
to “freedom of speech and the rights of ethnic sparred on a number of key issues such as trade,
City: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Post Code: - - - - - - - - - - - -
minorities,” a wording China would not accept. human rights and notably climate change.
Country: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -VAT No. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The two sides also could not agree on their
GLOBAL COOLING
Tel.: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Fax: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - approach to global warming in the run-up to a
United Nationsconference to be held in Decem- There was hope there would at least be some nar-
E-mail Address: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ber in Copenhagen, which should produce a glob- rowing of the gap on fighting global warming and
al deal on curbing the climate change to be in force climate change but there was no real resolution,
from 2013. While China wanted the EU to urge as China insists on being able to pollute as much as
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developed countries to help the developing ones western countries have, even as it is now one of
with cutting emissions of planet-warming green- the world’s biggest emitter of carbon gases.
Check to New Europe enclosed / Please charge my credit card:
house gases, the bloc wanted China to “step up its Instead, they put off any decision until yet another
VISA Eurocard Diners Master AmEx efforts”to tackle global warming. “All the major meeting later in the year in Beijing, repeating a
Number: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - economies have now to put their position on the pattern of talks that reach no outcome except a
table. ... I am sure that China will also engage fully,” decision to hold more talks. That meeting in China
CVC No: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
European Commission President Jose Manuel will come just weeks before more talks in Copen-
(The 3 digit number on the back of the credit card) Barrososaid later, trying to put a good face on the hagen aimed at reaching a global climate deal to
failed talks. Beijing was unsuccessful in persuading succeed the UN’s Kyoto protocol from 2012, giving
Expiration Date: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
the EU to quickly recognise China as a “full market the sides almost no time to reach a decision on a
Card Holder: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - economy,”a step which would carry wide benefits problem that has evaded an agreement for years.
Date: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Signature: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - for trade and investment in the country. “We hope “Building on our Climate Change Partnership
that the EU will recognise China’s market econo- which we agreed in 2005, the EU and China can
my status and lift its arms embargo against China make a difference on the road to ‘seal the deal’in
Fax to + 32 2 5390339 as early as possible,”the Chinese premier said. Copenhagen by the end of the year,”Barroso said,
or mail to Avenue de Tervuren 96, The list of disagreements was a lot longer than any without giving any details beyond hope. He urged
5
1040 Brussels, Belgium 3 attempts at agreement as the EU and China have all major economies, including China to disclose
8
widely-varying points of view on human rights their negotiating positions before Copenhagen.