EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Fears of another gas supply crisis and frustration over wood, meat and fish trade loom large in a new EU analysis of Russia relations, which takes a soft line on the Georgia conflict but warns of "disturbing" new violence in North Caucasus. "Disputes on terms of gas trade with Ukraine this year and developments in the investment climate of Russia's energy sector are a cause of growing concern. In spite of successive agreements reached by Russia and transit countries, there is no certainty which would preclude similar disruptions in future," an internal EU paper - seen by EUobserver - says, recalling the winter 2006 Ukraine-Russia gas crunch. Russian President Medvedev - EU-Russia relations are about much more than Georgia The 33-page document entitled "Key Outstanding Issues for the EU in its Relations with Russia" was drafted by EU diplomats on 16 October as part of a regular foreign relations review. But the analysis comes at an interesting time, just two weeks before the European Commission on 10 November gives EU foreign ministers a special "audit" of EU-Russia relations sparked by the Georgia war.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Fears of another gas supply crisis and frustration over wood, meat and fish trade loom large in a new EU analysis of Russia relations, which takes a soft line on the Georgia conflict but warns of "disturbing" new violence in North Caucasus.
"Disputes on terms of gas trade with Ukraine this year and developments in the investment climate of Russia's energy sector are a cause of growing concern. In spite of successive agreements reached by Russia and transit countries, there is no certainty which would preclude similar disruptions in future," an internal EU paper - seen by EUobserver - says, recalling the winter 2006 Ukraine-Russia gas crunch.
Russian President Medvedev - EU-Russia relations are about much more than Georgia
The 33-page document entitled "Key Outstanding Issues for the EU in its Relations with Russia" was drafted by EU diplomats on 16 October as part of a regular foreign relations review.
But the analysis comes at an interesting time, just two weeks before the European Commission on 10 November gives EU foreign ministers a special "audit" of EU-Russia relations sparked by the Georgia war.
Ahead of a two-day EU-Asia summit in Beijing, the European Union said Thursday China had to play its part in helping to resolve the current global economic crisis. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday, Oct. 23, said China should have more say in international financial institutions, but also urged Beijing to play its part in helping to resolve the global financial crisis. "We need a coordinated global response to reform the global financial system. We are living in unprecedented times, and we need unprecedented levels of global coordination," Barroso told reporters in Beijing. "I very much hope that China gives an important contribution to the solution of this financial crisis. It's a great opportunity for China to show a sense of responsibility," he said. "It's very simple: we sink together or we swim together."
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Thursday, Oct. 23, said China should have more say in international financial institutions, but also urged Beijing to play its part in helping to resolve the global financial crisis.
"We need a coordinated global response to reform the global financial system. We are living in unprecedented times, and we need unprecedented levels of global coordination," Barroso told reporters in Beijing.
"I very much hope that China gives an important contribution to the solution of this financial crisis. It's a great opportunity for China to show a sense of responsibility," he said. "It's very simple: we sink together or we swim together."
BEIJING: Hu Jia, the soft-spoken, bespectacled advocate for democracy and human rights in China, was awarded Europe's most prestigious human rights awards on Thursday in a pointed rebuke of the ruling Communist Party that comes as European leaders are arriving in Beijing for a weekend summit meeting. Hu, 35, was chosen by the European Parliament as this year's recipient of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, despite warnings from Beijing that his selection would harm relations with the European Union. Last year, Hu testified via video link before a hearing of the European Parliament about the human rights situation in China. Weeks later, Hu was jailed and later sentenced to three and a half years in prison on a conviction for subversion based on his critical writings about Communist Party rule. Hu has been one of China's leading figures on a range of human rights issues, while also speaking out on behalf of AIDS sufferers and for environmental protection. His selection comes after he had been considered a front-runner for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to the former president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari.
BEIJING: Hu Jia, the soft-spoken, bespectacled advocate for democracy and human rights in China, was awarded Europe's most prestigious human rights awards on Thursday in a pointed rebuke of the ruling Communist Party that comes as European leaders are arriving in Beijing for a weekend summit meeting.
Hu, 35, was chosen by the European Parliament as this year's recipient of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, despite warnings from Beijing that his selection would harm relations with the European Union. Last year, Hu testified via video link before a hearing of the European Parliament about the human rights situation in China. Weeks later, Hu was jailed and later sentenced to three and a half years in prison on a conviction for subversion based on his critical writings about Communist Party rule.
Hu has been one of China's leading figures on a range of human rights issues, while also speaking out on behalf of AIDS sufferers and for environmental protection. His selection comes after he had been considered a front-runner for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to the former president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament has backed new rules for temporary workers meant to improve their rights and make them equal with permanent employees in firms. The vote by MEPs on Wednesday (22 October) comes as the final step of the EU's decision-making on the issue after six years of wrangling between the bloc's member states, mainly due to Britain's opposition to changes which would make it more expensive for firms to employ temporary staff. The new rules aim to boost rights of agency workers sent to firms for a temporary period Under the agreed scenario, agency workers should get the same treatment as regards pay, holidays, working time, rest periods and maternity leave as permanent employees in companies, unless social partners in individual states decide otherwise. The exemption is provided particularly for the UK where employers and trade unions had agreed to allow such equal treatment of agency workers in case they have worked for a particular firm at least for 12 weeks.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament has backed new rules for temporary workers meant to improve their rights and make them equal with permanent employees in firms.
The vote by MEPs on Wednesday (22 October) comes as the final step of the EU's decision-making on the issue after six years of wrangling between the bloc's member states, mainly due to Britain's opposition to changes which would make it more expensive for firms to employ temporary staff.
The new rules aim to boost rights of agency workers sent to firms for a temporary period
Under the agreed scenario, agency workers should get the same treatment as regards pay, holidays, working time, rest periods and maternity leave as permanent employees in companies, unless social partners in individual states decide otherwise.
The exemption is provided particularly for the UK where employers and trade unions had agreed to allow such equal treatment of agency workers in case they have worked for a particular firm at least for 12 weeks.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The EU on Wednesday (22 October) expressed "serious concern" about the situation in Bosnia and the lack of reform in the country, calling on its leaders to behave responsibly. "The lack of a common vision among the country's leaders about its future and the absence of consensus on EU reforms harm its European prospects. There is open disagreement on most political questions, while no sense of urgency or responsibility to overcome this stalemate," EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn warned. Sarajevo - at a decisive crossroads. Speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg, the commissioner also hailed the fact that Sarajevo signed a pre-accession deal with the EU - the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) - last December, which "proves that progress can be achieved and crises overcome, when the political will exists." "However, this consensus has since collapsed and reforms halted," Mr Rehn stressed.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The EU on Wednesday (22 October) expressed "serious concern" about the situation in Bosnia and the lack of reform in the country, calling on its leaders to behave responsibly.
"The lack of a common vision among the country's leaders about its future and the absence of consensus on EU reforms harm its European prospects. There is open disagreement on most political questions, while no sense of urgency or responsibility to overcome this stalemate," EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn warned.
Sarajevo - at a decisive crossroads.
Speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg, the commissioner also hailed the fact that Sarajevo signed a pre-accession deal with the EU - the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) - last December, which "proves that progress can be achieved and crises overcome, when the political will exists."
"However, this consensus has since collapsed and reforms halted," Mr Rehn stressed.
BAKU, Azerbaijan: This country has always had tricky geography. To its north is Russia. To its south is Iran. And ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union it has looked west, inviting U.S. companies to develop its oil reserves and embracing NATO. But since Russia and Georgia fought a short war this summer, its path has narrowed. Azerbaijan, a small, oil-rich country on the Caspian Sea, has balanced the interests of Russia and the United States since it won its independence from the Soviet Union. It accepts NATO training but does not openly state an intention to join. U.S. planes can refuel on its territory, but U.S. soldiers cannot be based there. "Azerbaijan is doing a dance between the West and Russia," said Isa Gambar, an Azerbaijani opposition figure. "Until now, there was an unspoken consensus. Georgia was with the West, Armenia was an outpost of Russia, and Azerbaijan was in the middle."
BAKU, Azerbaijan: This country has always had tricky geography. To its north is Russia. To its south is Iran. And ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union it has looked west, inviting U.S. companies to develop its oil reserves and embracing NATO.
But since Russia and Georgia fought a short war this summer, its path has narrowed.
Azerbaijan, a small, oil-rich country on the Caspian Sea, has balanced the interests of Russia and the United States since it won its independence from the Soviet Union. It accepts NATO training but does not openly state an intention to join. U.S. planes can refuel on its territory, but U.S. soldiers cannot be based there.
"Azerbaijan is doing a dance between the West and Russia," said Isa Gambar, an Azerbaijani opposition figure. "Until now, there was an unspoken consensus. Georgia was with the West, Armenia was an outpost of Russia, and Azerbaijan was in the middle."
A second Greek minister has resigned after being accused of involvement in a controversial land deal that has become a scandal engulfing the government. Minister of State Theodore Roussopoulos - who was one of PM Costas Karamanlis's closest aides - denies any wrongdoing. His resignation comes after lawmakers voted unanimously to form a commission to investigate the land deal. The deal saw valuable state land traded for less valuable land held by the Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos.
A second Greek minister has resigned after being accused of involvement in a controversial land deal that has become a scandal engulfing the government.
Minister of State Theodore Roussopoulos - who was one of PM Costas Karamanlis's closest aides - denies any wrongdoing.
His resignation comes after lawmakers voted unanimously to form a commission to investigate the land deal.
The deal saw valuable state land traded for less valuable land held by the Orthodox monastery on Mount Athos.
Britain's Polish workers are heading home in search of a better life - and it's our loss, says Harry de Quetteville. It's early afternoon at Victoria Coach Station, and crowds stare intently at screens listing departure times to domestic destinations near and far, discussing what flavour snacks might best pass the time on a trip to Gloucester. But at the station's furthest extreme, Gate 20, the conversations run along different lines. The language of choice, with its crumpled mass of consonants, is Polish, and the final stop is not Walsall but Warsaw. The 1.30pm bus to Poland takes more than 26 hours to reach its destination - an agonising marathon of motorways and confined, marauding children. But those queuing in the grim waiting room don't mind. They are heading home, back to the land they left years ago to make their fortunes in the brave new world of a border-free EU. Some are off on short breaks and holidays, or to hand over in person the fruits of their labours in Britain - rolls of £20 notes stuffed deep into trouser pockets or hidden away in giant suitcases pushed far into the coach's undercarriage. These will come back.
It's early afternoon at Victoria Coach Station, and crowds stare intently at screens listing departure times to domestic destinations near and far, discussing what flavour snacks might best pass the time on a trip to Gloucester.
But at the station's furthest extreme, Gate 20, the conversations run along different lines. The language of choice, with its crumpled mass of consonants, is Polish, and the final stop is not Walsall but Warsaw.
The 1.30pm bus to Poland takes more than 26 hours to reach its destination - an agonising marathon of motorways and confined, marauding children. But those queuing in the grim waiting room don't mind. They are heading home, back to the land they left years ago to make their fortunes in the brave new world of a border-free EU.
Some are off on short breaks and holidays, or to hand over in person the fruits of their labours in Britain - rolls of £20 notes stuffed deep into trouser pockets or hidden away in giant suitcases pushed far into the coach's undercarriage. These will come back.
As I told in yesterday's Salon, 23 October, the anniversary of the 1956 Revolution, is high season for the far-right to raise ruckus -- which meant riots in the past two years.
This time, bad weather kept most of the ceremony interrupters at home -- others were checked immediately by police. This level of security and keeping away the public is still no good news, but at least police managed to suspect 12 people who really had something on them: they either concealed various weapons, were wanted criminals, or carried a (forbidden) SS emblem.
In the evening, as expected, about 500 of the rioters assembled for an illegal protest march. But this time, they were driven into a trap: completely surrounded in a street. All they managed was to kick a journalist, and break one shop window (those who did it wcouldn't disappear in the chaos and were immediately arrested).
Then police controlled them one by one, arresting those unwilling to take down their ski masks, and those found to hide molotov cocktails.
A bit later, police discovered firebombs in a parked car, then waited for and arrested the car's driver.
It's sad it took them two years and a dozen riots to learn to do the job properly...
BTW, do you remember the anti-Microsoft egg-thrower with the atrocious English?
He was among the arrested. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Neoliberalism's financial crisis [...] These days, the ruling economic doctrine of the last three decades - neoliberalism - is in its death throes. But just as the orchestra aboard the Titanic, the neoliberal conductors stick to their tune as the ship goes down. [...] It is thus clearly documented that the financial crises [earlier in the op-ed, they mention S&L, the Bush I recession and the current meltdown] have not occurred despite the neoliberal policy and theory. The financial crises were directly caused by neoliberalism. [...] The clear conclusion from the financial crisis is that neoliberalism has once again released the crisis-creating forces in the market economy, and that containment and prevention of crisis requires increased public insight into, and regulation of, financial markets, and stronger public policy on monetary and credit policy. The current neoliberal prescriptions actually originated in the classical industrial capitalism of yestercentury [it is unclear whether they mean the 19th or 20th cent. - Jake]. We are, however, moving into the knowledge society of the future. The solutions of the past will not work on the challenges of the future.
[...]
These days, the ruling economic doctrine of the last three decades - neoliberalism - is in its death throes. But just as the orchestra aboard the Titanic, the neoliberal conductors stick to their tune as the ship goes down.
It is thus clearly documented that the financial crises [earlier in the op-ed, they mention S&L, the Bush I recession and the current meltdown] have not occurred despite the neoliberal policy and theory. The financial crises were directly caused by neoliberalism.
The clear conclusion from the financial crisis is that neoliberalism has once again released the crisis-creating forces in the market economy, and that containment and prevention of crisis requires increased public insight into, and regulation of, financial markets, and stronger public policy on monetary and credit policy.
The current neoliberal prescriptions actually originated in the classical industrial capitalism of yestercentury [it is unclear whether they mean the 19th or 20th cent. - Jake]. We are, however, moving into the knowledge society of the future. The solutions of the past will not work on the challenges of the future.
Those unfamiliar with the Danish political landscape may wonder why I flag this op-ed. After all, it says nothing that hasn't been said on ET for years (and by various and sundry Unserious People since forever).
But this op-ed is written by the CEO (of a progressive think tank, admittedly, but still a CEO) and a bona fide Master of Economics. Serious People, in other words. And the venue is even more important: Jyllands-Posten - of Cartoon Jihad fame - is a neoliberal, cheerleading rag whose pet projects over the years have been Global Warming denial, tax downsizing, "culture wars" (read: right-wing revisionist history of the Cold War) and a number of other unsavoury wingnut agendas.
- Jake If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.
When I blogged on the "poisoning" of Karinna Moskalenko last week, I asked, "Was this a murder attempt, a warning, or just paranoia?" Well now we definitively know: It was paranoia. So what is the lesson to be learned? Well, there is obvious lesson that Westerners should be more cautious in making Russia's "fierce critics'" every word sacrosanct. They are not martyrs, saints, or saviors. No matter how much they want us to think they are.
So what is the lesson to be learned? Well, there is obvious lesson that Westerners should be more cautious in making Russia's "fierce critics'" every word sacrosanct. They are not martyrs, saints, or saviors. No matter how much they want us to think they are.
Top Croatian journo killed in car blast ...A car bomb has exploded outside the offices of a Croatian weekly newspaper in central Zagreb, killing the high-profile journalist who owned the publication and its marketing director. "We have established the identities of those killed. They are Ivo Pukanic and Niko Franjic," police spokesman Krunoslav Borovec told reporters.
"We have established the identities of those killed. They are Ivo Pukanic and Niko Franjic," police spokesman Krunoslav Borovec told reporters.
