Babel in Brussels (.en)

Merkel wants to go forward - and blocks

Thursday, December 8 2011 By kit | Galaxy Europe

Photo: Davide Martinotti

Prior to the informal meeting, few heads of state were talkative. Angela Merkel then made a spontaneous statement about the evening’s proceedings...

A European summit under high tension

By kit | Galaxy Europe

This post is also available in: French

By Aurélie Feller
Photo: Davide Martinotti

At 7:30 p.m. the 27 Heads of State will begin their discussion during an extended working dinner that is likely to be tense! The leaders have the obligation to produce results on the issue of economic governance, as the whole of Europe is now under the watchful eye of Standard and Poor’s rating agency. They will also have to figure out how to put aside their contrasting points-of-view of recent months in order to move forward. For many people, and as Nicolas Sarkozy reiterated this afternoon, this summit is the last opportunity!

"Financial anarchic-capitalism?": a pedagogical interview before the next summit

Tuesday, December 6 2011 By kit | Galaxy Europe

By Cristina Mariani

o.o.jpg After the last Eurogroup meeting, on 30th December, Commissioner Olli Rehn, in charge of Economic and Monetary Affairs, warned Eurozone governors to complete the crisis response of the European Union within a 10-days period of time, or they will have to face the risk of the disintegration of the European Union itself. On the 8-9th December, EU leaders will meet again for another urgent “make or break” summit. In addition to the signing of the Croatian accession treaty, they will review the overall economic situation in Europe and try to reach a consensus to prevent bailout contagion. “Apocalypse Euro”?

European Socialists on the crisis: It's the conservatives fault!

By Dominique | Galaxy Europe

By Dominique Strzyz
At a time when the markets dictate who is going to govern nations, when our democracy seems weaker and weaker, the Party of European Socialists organised a PES Convention last 25 and 26 November in Brussels. The aim was to give some impetus and support to European Socialists who are amongst the biggest political losers in the crisis. Have they presented us with a credible alternative for these hard times, dominated by austerity doctrine and the prevalence of markets?

Save Europe’s workers: Communication and other challenges

Thursday, November 24 2011 By kit | Galaxy Europe

By Lisa Kittel

When you arrive in Bilbao, it’s impossible to feel stressed. I mean, I've tried: A day of waiting, flight, waiting, flight, waiting, bus... Looking for a hostel in the middle of the night in Bilbao was dreamlike. A city of calm, full of green spaces, where men clean the streets with water until they are spotless. The few people still on the streets were friendly and relaxed. If a city as a whole could be considered a workplace, there is probably no better ambiance than in Bilbao for the “Healthy Workplaces Summit on Safe Maintenance”. They must do something right there.

Young Greeks NOT Adrift

By Dominique

By Par Maryse Williquet
Translated by Danica Jorden
It all started 6 December 2008, when Alexis was killed by the police in the Exarchia neighbourhood in the heart of Athens. That was partly what really set off the social mobilisation of young Greeks. But in addition to this tragic event, the decreasing value of the diplomas and purchasing power of the ‘’700 Euro Generation’’ were also being protested in the streets. Today, three years later, as Europe points its finger at Greece, blaming it for the financial crisis affecting the continent, what has happened to these young protestors and what is their present situation?

Why the ‘’Indignados’’ Movement is Not Happening in Belgium

By Dominique

By Pauline Michel
Translated by Danica Jorden

The ‘’Indignados’’ movement, first started 15 May in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, has not ceased to grow in the countries of Southern Europe. It has become very popular in Portugal, Spain, Greece and Italy. However, it has hardly taken off in France, Germany or our country of Belgium. On 15 October, movement protests were held here and there around the world, but with differing levels of participation. For example, 600,000 people were counted in Barcelona, but only 35,000 in Paris. It was the same story on 11 November, the second worldwide ‘’Indignados’’ day of protest. Generally, the level of indignation is highest where the effects of the economic crisis are being felt the most, but especially where leftist governments already in power have not been able to respond to the urgent questions the crisis poses.

Hemp for Sustainable Agriculture

Tuesday, November 22 2011 By Dominique | Galaxy Europe

By Désirée Ketabchi
translated by Danica Jorden

The use of hemp in the Belgian agricultural industry has been legal since May 2011. Many products can be made from hemp: plastic, clothing, construction materials, tea, biscuits, oil, beer and others. The reason it has been illegal rests in the confusion often made between industrial hemp and Indian hemp, better known as cannabis. They are part of the same family, but they are not the same plant.

How a Romanian Gold Rush is like unprotected sex

Monday, November 21 2011 By rosie rose | Galaxy Europe

By Andreea-Elena Serban

At the edge of the European Union in the Carpathian mountains lies a slice of precious history. It's about to be wiped off the face of the earth using dangerous cyanide-based technology, to get at the precious gold underneath. It has serious repercussions for tourism, the environment and democracy in the European Union. But forget all that. We've got gold!

Parlamentarium: the visitors’ centre of the European Parliament

Tuesday, November 15 2011 By Dominique

This post is also available in: French

By Cindy Limpens
Translated by Joan Manuel Lanfranco Pari

parlementarium

Who sits in the Parliament? Within which political parties? How many female deputies are there? What topics are discussed during the sessions? In what context the European Union was created? If you ask yourself all these questions, the Parlamentarium is for you. Opened in October 2011, it is the new visitor’s centre of the European Parliament. Its objective? To introduce the EP and the influence of its decisions in our daily lives, in a fun and interactive way.!!!

Berlusconi – Losing Potency?

Thursday, November 10 2011 By kit | Galaxy Europe

This post is also available in: French

By Elodie Romain
Translation: Danica Jorden
Photo: Davide Martinotti

Davide
Called upon by the European Union to reduce Italy’s debt, Berlusconi was strongly encouraged to reach an agreement with his government. Pulling oneself up by one’s britches is not easy in front of the world’s principal media outlets. This time, the subject was not sexual scandals but the economic crisis. Besides, how else can the Cavaliere find the funds? In his personal coffers, perhaps…. Both Italian and international media are predicting Mr. Berlusconi’s eventual resignation. Is he still capable of exercising his role as prime minister, or are his sexual escapades taking too much time and money?

And the nerds shall inherit the earth

Tuesday, November 8 2011 By rosie rose | Galaxy Europe

We might get in trouble for that title. No seriously, though. When did MEPs start letting uncouth hacker youths set up shop in their shiny Brussels HQ? We at Cafebabel Brussels have been trying to envision what TONIGHT'S first ever EU-sanctioned hackathon might look like. We've come up with this: a cornucopia of collaborative cross-legged carpet dwellers, Mountain Dew (can you even get that in Europe?), polystyrene cups of tepid Nescafé (that's certainly available), and lots of jumpers tied around waists. The goal of the event is to gather talented European developers to "facilitate the co-creation of tools based on existing code and data sources within a 24-hour time constraint in two distinct and parallel development tracks, both focused on enabling transparency and accountability in the information society". Basically, lots of laptops and tap tap tapping into the wee hours in the pursuit of transparency on behalf of Europe's information-age denizens, both pale basement dwellers and non-nerds alike. Stay tuned to see if our predictions come true. Click this for more details on the event.

G-20 SUMMIT: NO NEWS, BAD NEWS

Monday, November 7 2011 By kit | Galaxy Europe

Par Cristina Mariani

Little more than a week has gone by since the last Eurozone summit held in Brussels, when the Heads of the Euro States stayed awake until four in the morning to both politically and technically agree upon a deal to save the Euro. Then, only few days of vacation to celebrate Halloween and All Saints before going back to reality and face the Euro area crisis management. This time was the turn of the Group of Twenty (G-20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of the most important industrialized and developing economies, which gathered for a two-day meeting to discuss Europe’s debt and the global economic situation.

Lessons in Living Literature

Friday, November 4 2011 By rosie rose | Portraits

This post is also available in: Dutch

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.

Conclusion after Wednesday: We have to stop meetings like this!

Friday, October 28 2011 By kit | Galaxy Europe

By Aoife O'Grady

As EU leaders gathered once more in Brussels for a night of revelry and Greek plate smashing, they, like the rest of us, probably felt a distinct sense of deja vu. Barely had they waved goodbye to each other on Sunday than they were air kissing hello again on Wednesday. And not for the first time. In fact, these late-night Belgian soirées are something of pattern for our distinguished leaders who have met at a whopping 17 summits since the start of 2010.

On the road to recovery - The final EU summit decision

Thursday, October 27 2011 By kit | Galaxy Europe

By Lisa Kittel
Photo: Nikolas Konstantin

On her way home.

A self-imposed deadline to help avoid panic in the financial markets: The heads of state wanted to present the results of their meeting last night before world stock markets opened. It took until almost four o’clock to convince private investors and banks to give Greece a 50% haircut. A disaster for banks – all in all they stand to lose 100 billion – but an important step forward saving in safeguarding the future of the eurozone.

Getting old in the old continent

By rosie rose | Galaxy Europe

This post is also available in: Dutch

By Cristina Mariani
Photo: Davide Martinotti

Discussions about our future, our pensions and our retirement age (that's me and you, by the way) have been increasingly brought up by our politicians in the past three days. Especially in Italy, where Berlusconi - Northern League coalition have been fighting - despite their coalition - to reach an agreement for a clear-cut and effective development plan to present at today's eurozone summit in Brussels.

First commitments from Team EU: what kind of help can we expect?

By rosie rose | Galaxy Europe

Par Lisa Kittel
Photo: Davide Martinotti

SMILE AND THE WORLD SMILES WITH YOU

By kit | Galaxy Europe

A photo idea by Nikolas Konstantin

Merkel wears a bob, Sarkozy sideburns and Papandreou still has got a bald head. What will be Greece’s haircut at the end of the day?

Wednesday, October 26 2011 By kit | Galaxy Europe

By Lisa Kittel
Photo by Davide Martinotti

Today is the day of decision. After having organized the “technical work” in the days leading up to Sunday, and having put pressure on Italy to make a reform proposal, the heads of state will finally announce their position concerning the euro rescue-umbrella and how to proceed with Greece. The eventual recapitalization of private banks which also should abate a lot of debts to the oppressed country.

Of course today's decision is important for Greece. The Greek government just said that they have enough to pay public servants' wages only until the end of October, when the country would need the next tranche of the EFSF. Prime minister Giorgos Andrea Papandreou's hard austerity policy makes it hard for people to finance daily life, a lot of them have lost their jobs. Whether that's the result tax fraud or other corruption from people in high places, that is another question.