Portraits - Babel in Brussels (.en)

Miha Mohorič and ‘the kids from the street’

By Bibbi Abruzzini

Slovenian film-maker Miha Mohorič is one of the 719,547 tourists who visited Nepal last year. He decided to document the daily life of street children in overpopulated Kathmandu. The population of Nepal is 29 million, over 30,000 are street children.

Monday, February 20 2012 By Nathalie - Portraits

Lessons in Living Literature

By Luiza Cosma

Cafebabel's Luiza Cosma went to Passa Porta to speak to one of the most acclaimed contemporary Romanian writers. Gabriela Adamesteanu has had two novels translated into several languages, and has been extremely well received at international level. A novelist who resisted communist censorship who is also, or perhaps, above all, a mother.

Friday, November 4 2011 By rosie rose - Portraits

The piano lesson

by Aurélie Pirkenne, translated by Eirini Michailidou

Lidia Geringer Ex General Director of the Philarmonic Orchestra of Wroclaw and experienced pianist, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg is not, as her extended name could let you think, a colourless royalty of the old Europe. On the contrary; with a friendly smile on her face, this 50-year-old Polish lady is a MEP for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats and loves her job as much as music. Here comes her portrait.

Friday, May 27 2011 By blog.bruxelles - Portraits

A pirate in Brussels!

by Samia Stambouli, translated by Cora Van den Bossche

Christian Engstrom He caused sensation upon his arrival at the European Parliament in June 2009. Christian Engström, Swedish deputy member of the Swedish Pirate Party, fights for internet users’ right to freedom. Portrait.

Friday, May 13 2011 By blog.bruxelles - Portraits

Paul Peigné, the most European of head chefs

by Aurélie Feller, translated by Catherine Castledine

chef coq Spanish, Italians, Estonians, Danish, Germans…every day, between 4000 and 6000 busy people have lunch at the European Parliament. And they all want to eat something they like. Paul Peigné, chief executive of the Parliament’s enormous kitchens, works hard to bring the tastes of all 27 nationalities to the table.

Friday, April 15 2011 By blog.bruxelles - Portraits

One man, 25% of the vote

By Alice Préat, translated by Lucija Barbarić

A candidate in the European elections who borrows money from his mother to finance his campaign, and ends up just below the most influential political party in the country; this is not an every day occurrence. Indrek Tarand, Estonian deputy in the European Parliament, obtained more than a quarter of the total votes in his country even though he wasn't supported by any other political party and had no more than 2 000 euro at his disposal.

Wednesday, April 13 2011 By alice - Portraits

The dissenting farmer

By Edgar Makanga, translated by Joan Manuel Lanfranco Pari

Jose Bove A member of the French political party Europe Écologie, José Bové has sat in the European Parliament since June 2009 as a member of the Greens/European Free Alliance party. A veteran of civil disobedience and political struggle, the former leader of France’s Farmers Confederation is nevertheless a convinced European. Read this portrait of the 57-year-old.

Monday, April 4 2011 By blog.bruxelles - Portraits

Nationalist, Zinneke, struggling ecologist adolescent becomes MEP

by Sylvain Lecomte, translated by Catherine Castledine

Bart Staes, a Flemish politician from the transnational Green Party, has spent his entire career at the European Parliament. After 28 years and just three terms of office, he’s far from worn out. A fascinating meeting with a passionate MEP, a devoted European and perfect model for environmental regionalism.

Wednesday, March 30 2011 By cath - Portraits

The Ladies’ Darling

by Boris De Vaere, translated by Madalina Matei

Surrounded by his female colleagues, Marc Tarabella is, indeed, one of the lucky European Parliament’s elected ones. The Belgian MEP joined, in 2009, the “Commission for Women” which nowadays has only four men. For his second mandate he particularly wished to increase the male proportion in this Commission, which had but two men during the previous legislature. A choice that he, of course, does not regret.