*Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Olli Rehn, previously overseeing enlargement, has taken the economic monetary affairs portfolio, a post vacated by Spain's Joaquin Almunia who steps on to the equally important anti-trust job. France's Michel Barnier scooped the internal market dossier, including financial services. This is widely seen as a coup for Paris which had lobbied hard to get the post, annoyed at what it saw as the too market-liberal tendencies of the occupier of the post to date, Irishman Charlie McCreevy. Heading off potential UK nervousness about Mr Barnier putting a heavy regulatory hand on the City of London, the internal market unit, the administration behind Mr Barnier, will now be led by a Briton. While the UK simply has a vice presidency post in the commission due to Catherine Ashton also being EU foreign policy chief, the other major EU player, Germany, has not got a major economic post with Guenter Oettinger taking on energy. However, EU officials say Berlin were keen to get the dossier because much of the job will later concern building innovative industry to meet climate change goals, an area Germany already feels it is ahead in.
Olli Rehn, previously overseeing enlargement, has taken the economic monetary affairs portfolio, a post vacated by Spain's Joaquin Almunia who steps on to the equally important anti-trust job. France's Michel Barnier scooped the internal market dossier, including financial services.
This is widely seen as a coup for Paris which had lobbied hard to get the post, annoyed at what it saw as the too market-liberal tendencies of the occupier of the post to date, Irishman Charlie McCreevy. Heading off potential UK nervousness about Mr Barnier putting a heavy regulatory hand on the City of London, the internal market unit, the administration behind Mr Barnier, will now be led by a Briton.
While the UK simply has a vice presidency post in the commission due to Catherine Ashton also being EU foreign policy chief, the other major EU player, Germany, has not got a major economic post with Guenter Oettinger taking on energy. However, EU officials say Berlin were keen to get the dossier because much of the job will later concern building innovative industry to meet climate change goals, an area Germany already feels it is ahead in.
What a joke... Oettinger was a dinosaur on renewables. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Barroso Commission II Austria - Johannes Hahn (EPP) - Regional policy Belgium - Karel De Gucht (ELDR) - Trade Bulgaria - Rumiana Jeleva (EPP) - International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Cyprus - Androulla Vassiliou (ELDR) - Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Czech Republic - Stefan Fuele (PES) - Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Denmark - Connie Hedegaard (EPP) - Climate Action Estonia - Siim Kallas (ELDR) - Transport (Vice-President) Finland - Olli Rehn (ELDR) - Economic and Monetary Affairs France - Michel Barnier (EPP) - Internal Market and Services Germany - Günther Oettinger (EPP) - Energy Greece - Maria Damanaki (PES) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Hungary - László Andor (PES) - Employment, Soclai Affairs and Inclusion Ireland - Maire Geoghegan Quinn (ELDR) - Research, Innovation and Science Italy - Antonio Tajani (EPP) - Industry and Entrepreneurship (Vice-President) Latvia - Andris Piebalgs (EPP) - Development Lithuania - Algirdas Šemeta (EPP) - Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud Luxembourg - Viviane Reding (EPP) - Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship (Vice-President) Malta - John Dalli (EPP) - Health and Consumer Policy The Netherlands - Neelie Kroes (ELDR) - Digital Agenda (Vice-President) Poland - Janusz Lewandowski (EPP) - Budget Portugal - Commission President José Manuel Barroso (EPP) Romania - Dacian Ciolos (EPP) - Agriculture Slovakia - Maros Sefcovic (PES) - Institutional Affairs and Administration (Vice-President) Slovenia - Janez Potocnik (ELDR) - Environment Spain - Joaquín Almunia (PES) - Competition (Vice-President) Sweden - Cecilia Malmström (ELDR) - Home Affairs United Kingdom - Catherine Ashton (PES) - EU foreign policy chief (Vice-President)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A European Commission call for a 3.7 percent pay increase looks certain to raise more than a few eyebrows across the union as member state governments struggle to convince domestic civil servants to accept pay freezes. The proposed rise would apply to all officials in the EU institutions and agencies, as well as to the pensions of retired employees, and comes in the face of national pay protests in countries stretching from Ireland to the Baltics.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A European Commission call for a 3.7 percent pay increase looks certain to raise more than a few eyebrows across the union as member state governments struggle to convince domestic civil servants to accept pay freezes.
The proposed rise would apply to all officials in the EU institutions and agencies, as well as to the pensions of retired employees, and comes in the face of national pay protests in countries stretching from Ireland to the Baltics.
France has taken control of the EU's key internal market and financial services job after a last-minute lobbying offensive from Nicolas Sarkozy in what will be seen as a huge blow for Britain's Europe policy. Michel Barnier, the French former foreign minister, was handed the full portfolio this morning despite intense British efforts to strip out financial services and give it to an economic liberal because of fears in the City of a new bout of regulation. French diplomats had this week all but given up hope that Mr Sarkozy would achieve his ambition of taking control of the EU's financial services agenda but José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, finally caved in during discussions late last night. As part of a deal to calm fears in London, Mr Barnier has agreed to accept a senior British bureaucrat, Jonathan Faull, currently head of the Commission's Justice department, as the director-general of internal market affairs.
France has taken control of the EU's key internal market and financial services job after a last-minute lobbying offensive from Nicolas Sarkozy in what will be seen as a huge blow for Britain's Europe policy.
Michel Barnier, the French former foreign minister, was handed the full portfolio this morning despite intense British efforts to strip out financial services and give it to an economic liberal because of fears in the City of a new bout of regulation.
French diplomats had this week all but given up hope that Mr Sarkozy would achieve his ambition of taking control of the EU's financial services agenda but José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, finally caved in during discussions late last night.
As part of a deal to calm fears in London, Mr Barnier has agreed to accept a senior British bureaucrat, Jonathan Faull, currently head of the Commission's Justice department, as the director-general of internal market affairs.
It's bad enough that the City should own the UK government. Why should they dictate EU policy?
"As part of a deal to calm fears in London,..."
When will we stop constantly placating British fears? It's one country out of 27, the one that tries to fight the EU project, they have been granted the position of High Commissioner, yet we feel forced to comply when they come back screaming for more? "Few can believe that suffering, especially by others, is in vain. - Galbraith"
Potentially the draft rules, seen by EUobserver, could give the Belgian politician, known for his discretion and negotiating skills, real clout as president of the European Council. They give him the power to call special summits of EU leaders, draw up the agenda of the meetings, decide on whether to hold a vote, and whether EU summits should be attended by countries beyond the EU or other personalities. However, the more immediate test of his skills is likely to be how he gets along with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who will take on the day-to-day running of the bloc in all areas except foreign policy on the same day. The draft rules show that the monthly general affairs council, which will be chaired by Spain, will be extremely powerful.
Potentially the draft rules, seen by EUobserver, could give the Belgian politician, known for his discretion and negotiating skills, real clout as president of the European Council.
They give him the power to call special summits of EU leaders, draw up the agenda of the meetings, decide on whether to hold a vote, and whether EU summits should be attended by countries beyond the EU or other personalities.
However, the more immediate test of his skills is likely to be how he gets along with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who will take on the day-to-day running of the bloc in all areas except foreign policy on the same day.
The draft rules show that the monthly general affairs council, which will be chaired by Spain, will be extremely powerful.
Whatever, the governments of Spain, Belgium and Hungary have been consulting ever the past few months in preparation of their 18-month 'Trio presidency'. So, van Rompuy and ZP already have a working relationship. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
As part of the war on terror, American intelligence services have been monitoring European bank transactions since 2001. When the EU found out about it in 2006, they were outraged. But now it looks like the bloc will agree to a controversial deal that will allow the covert data transfer to continue.
Far away in Strasbourg, where the European Parliament is currently sitting and where representatives are indignant about how various member administrations are ignoring democratic principles, a resigned Alvaro [FDP MEP] had only this conclusion to make on behalf of the Europeans. "If we always bow to the US," he noted, "we will never be able to negotiate with them as equals."
"If we always bow to the US," he noted, "we will never be able to negotiate with them as equals."
The upside in this sorry affair is that the extension is for 12 months (only agreed to after pressure from the European Parliament) and that the EP will have to vote on a more definite arrangement, next year.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Foch Rasmussen has reaffirmed his organisation's policy of open doors to new members during a visit to Montenegro, the Balkan state said in a statement.
Former German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung spent Thursday trying to hold on to his position as labor minister. But on Friday, after widespread calls that he throw in the towel, he gave in...In a brief statement on Friday, Jung said he was taking "political responsibility" for having misinformed the German public due to, he claims, a lack of knowledge regarding civilian casualties stemming from a Sept. 4 airstrike Afghanistan. He repeated his Thursday claim that he had "correctly informed both the public and the parliament" to the best of his knowledge at the time.
In a brief statement on Friday, Jung said he was taking "political responsibility" for having misinformed the German public due to, he claims, a lack of knowledge regarding civilian casualties stemming from a Sept. 4 airstrike Afghanistan. He repeated his Thursday claim that he had "correctly informed both the public and the parliament" to the best of his knowledge at the time.
So bye-bye Jung. With him, Hessen state PM and CDU heavyweight Roland Koch's man in the government is out. But he got compensation, see below...
The debacle has made things difficult for Germany's new Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg. He is reported to have "exploded" when he first learned of the report -- when he was contacted by Bild on Wednesday for a comment. He immediately called in the General Inspector Schneidhan to see if he was aware of the report. Once it was clear that he had known about it, there was little choice but for him to resign. Peter Wichert, the deputy defense minister, was also fired. Guttenberg was in effect left hanging by his staff. After coming into office, the young minister had quickly said he regretted any civilian casualties but stated that, having seen the NATO report into the incident, the air strike had been "appropriate militarily." He now says he may have to reassess that statement.
Guttenberg was in effect left hanging by his staff. After coming into office, the young minister had quickly said he regretted any civilian casualties but stated that, having seen the NATO report into the incident, the air strike had been "appropriate militarily." He now says he may have to reassess that statement.
No way the media won't find their darling zu Guttenberg saved.
On Friday afternoon it was announced that current Family Minister Ursula von der Leyen is to take over at the Labor Ministry. She will be replaced by the relatively unknown Kristina Köhler at the Family Ministry.
Köhler, however, comes from Koch's Hessen state, and according to the German Wiki, made a name by misinterpreting a scientific study to claim a wave of "anti-German attacks" by foreigners living in Germany... *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
I am amused to note that the Zeit is headlining its story on the appointment of Köhler (who is just 32) "Young, blond and no clue about families". The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
I view the tax cut mess similarly: that's not a promise that she can't back out from, and the growling regional barons might just be her excuse towards the FDP. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Der Streit über die ab Januar geplanten Steuerentlastungen belastet die Union schwer. Mehrere Unions-Länder wollen die von Angela Merkel geplante Reform im Bundesrat blockieren. Das wäre eine schwere Niederlage für die Kanzlerin. Bei einen Vermittlungsgespräch am Donnerstagabend wurde es laut.
The Schleswig-Holstein PM threatened with his resignation over the tax cuts. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Who knew? The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
Oh hold the horses. Guttenberg is again presented as the innocent guy not informed and thereby betrayed by the ministry staff, acting out of moral outrage. Why is no one asking whether Guttenberg omitted in the first place to ask for documents on the Kunduz case?... *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin heads to France on Thursday for a two-day visit aimed at improving bilateral cooperation in the auto and energy industries. But his trip has set off alarm bells in some parts of Europe amid reports that Moscow also has plans to purchase a French-made warship that would significantly boost Russia's military capabilities...French daily Le Figaro quotes Alex Rondell, president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, as saying that the Mistral purchase is merely Moscow's latest attempt to regain its status as a superpower and reassert control over its former Soviet satellites. He, for one, has no doubts as to Russia's plans for the warship...Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told journalists on Tuesday that his country wanted to know if the potential sale would include "top military technology". Lithuanian foreign ministry spokesman Rolandas Kacinskas on Wednesday told AFP that Vilnius was also seeking clarification from France, on "exactly what kind of equipment it plans to sell and what it can be used for".
French daily Le Figaro quotes Alex Rondell, president of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, as saying that the Mistral purchase is merely Moscow's latest attempt to regain its status as a superpower and reassert control over its former Soviet satellites. He, for one, has no doubts as to Russia's plans for the warship...
Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet told journalists on Tuesday that his country wanted to know if the potential sale would include "top military technology". Lithuanian foreign ministry spokesman Rolandas Kacinskas on Wednesday told AFP that Vilnius was also seeking clarification from France, on "exactly what kind of equipment it plans to sell and what it can be used for".
the Mistral purchase is merely Moscow's latest attempt to regain its status as a superpower and reassert control over its former Soviet satellites.
Why is the purchase of one ship important? Now where's the fun in that! - Megatron
Doesn't matter that Putin mostly discussed support of French carmaker Renault to embattled and heavily indebted Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ.
I meam, come on, who cares about French cars or even Russian cars? Not enough rissrack.
Super-duper high-tech warships that can single handedly restore superpower status to the Russkies with a nefarious plot from the cheese eating surrender monkeys; now, we have liftoff...
Russia, Renault Seal Deal on AvtoVAZ Cash, Technology (Update2) - Bloomberg.com
Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Russia pledged to inject 50 billion rubles ($1.7 billion) into OAO AvtoVAZ in return for technology from 25 percent shareholder Renault SA. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised the cash during a visit to Paris and Renault agreed to contribute engineering know-how worth at least 240 million euros ($358 million). "Renault remains our strategic partner," Putin said after the accord was signed outside Paris.
Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Russia pledged to inject 50 billion rubles ($1.7 billion) into OAO AvtoVAZ in return for technology from 25 percent shareholder Renault SA.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin promised the cash during a visit to Paris and Renault agreed to contribute engineering know-how worth at least 240 million euros ($358 million).
"Renault remains our strategic partner," Putin said after the accord was signed outside Paris.
Lithuania is playing the Rysskräck-card to get support and sympathy, even if this issue is not relevant to Lithuanias security. Though it is for Sweden's... Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
For the first time in Romanian politics, PRM and UDMR campaign together for the same presidential candidate. PSD, PNL, UDMR, PRM, PAS, THE ROMA PARTY and the Revolutionaries' National Block united to campaign in the second presidential poll for the social-candidate Mircea Geoana. The president of PSD Sibiu (Central Romania) deputy Ioan Cindrea announced the agreement on Thursday, quoted by Romanian press agency Agerpres.
(You can't make this up! PRM is Romania's far-right party who focus their hate on ethnic Hungarians and Roma, UDMR is the Hungarian minority party.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Two member states are opposed to SWIFT deal, but delay would mean involvement of MEPs. Germany and Austria are coming under pressure ahead of a 1 December deadline to drop their opposition to an EU agreement to share bank transfer data with the US. Supporters of an agreement argue that it is an essential weapon in the fight against terrorism because it allows the tracking of funds suspected of being transferred by terrorist organisations. But if the agreement is not in place by 1 December, when the Lisbon treaty enters into force, it will have to be renegotiated with the involvement of MEPs, which could take at least six months, according to EU diplomats. Home affairs ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday (30 November) and the Swedish government, which holds the presidency of the Council of Ministers, is pressing Germany and Austria to end their resistance there. The presidency says that if there is no agreement then the transfer of data would have to stop.
Germany and Austria are coming under pressure ahead of a 1 December deadline to drop their opposition to an EU agreement to share bank transfer data with the US.
Supporters of an agreement argue that it is an essential weapon in the fight against terrorism because it allows the tracking of funds suspected of being transferred by terrorist organisations. But if the agreement is not in place by 1 December, when the Lisbon treaty enters into force, it will have to be renegotiated with the involvement of MEPs, which could take at least six months, according to EU diplomats.
Home affairs ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday (30 November) and the Swedish government, which holds the presidency of the Council of Ministers, is pressing Germany and Austria to end their resistance there. The presidency says that if there is no agreement then the transfer of data would have to stop.
The EU justice and home affairs minister are about to agree on a large-scale banking data sharing plan with the United States. The agreement will have a massive impact on the privacy of banking data of European businesses and citizens.
A trial in which Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, is accused of paying a $600,000 bribe to David Mills, his former British tax adviser, will resume next week. Mills -- the estranged husband of Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister -- was given a four-and-a-half-year sentence this year for accepting the bribe to give misleading evidence on Mr Berlusconi's behalf in corruption trials in the 1990s. The first of two appeals against the verdict was turned down in October, and the Supreme Court has until next April to accept or reject Mills's second and final appeal. The revival of the charge against Mr Berlusconi for allegedly giving the bribe follows a decision by the Constitutional Court in October to overturn a law that the Italian Prime Minister pushed through Parliament last year, giving himself immunity from prosecution. Cases against him that were suspended while the law was in force can now resume. However, the case against Mr Berlusconi for the alleged bribe to Mr Mills is being started again from the beginning, and a preliminary hearing today in Milan was restricted to the selection of a new panel of judges.
A trial in which Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, is accused of paying a $600,000 bribe to David Mills, his former British tax adviser, will resume next week.
Mills -- the estranged husband of Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister -- was given a four-and-a-half-year sentence this year for accepting the bribe to give misleading evidence on Mr Berlusconi's behalf in corruption trials in the 1990s. The first of two appeals against the verdict was turned down in October, and the Supreme Court has until next April to accept or reject Mills's second and final appeal.
The revival of the charge against Mr Berlusconi for allegedly giving the bribe follows a decision by the Constitutional Court in October to overturn a law that the Italian Prime Minister pushed through Parliament last year, giving himself immunity from prosecution.
Cases against him that were suspended while the law was in force can now resume. However, the case against Mr Berlusconi for the alleged bribe to Mr Mills is being started again from the beginning, and a preliminary hearing today in Milan was restricted to the selection of a new panel of judges.
But really this case is not all that important as the Dell'Utri case which will have Gaspari Spatuzza to testify next December 4th.
For those who have watched closely the Italian scene for the last decades, it is not really news the accusations being launched now by Spatuzza. It has always been know that Berlusconi and Dell'Utri were "authors" 1 and 2 in the assassinations of judges Falcone and Borsellino as well as the many deaths in the mafia bombings of cultural landmarks at the time. There was insufficient evidence, so the investigation was archived in 2002.
Now Spatuzza has supplied key evidence. But what really counts is that Spatuzza's "outing" of Berlusconi and Dell'Utri is not being attacked by the other mafia bosses. They continue to treat Spatuzza as a man of respect which simply means that they no longer intend to cover up Berlusconi's and Dell'Utri's alleged roles in the "season of massacres." It is a very strong message above all to Dell'Utri who has often been indicated as pungiuto, a man of respect. The message is simply that Berlusconi didn't honour his side of the pact, so the game is over. The mafia no longer intends to cover him. This usually entails dramatic consequences, although the mafia is presently greatly debilitated, thanks entirely to investigators and police forces.
(Berlusconi has effectively made some pro-mafia laws, the most recent a blanket amnesty for illegally exported capital. But as in all things berlusconian, the law was made above all with his own interests in mind.)
This dramatic situation has prompted Berlusconi to declare that Italy is on the verge of civil war. I don't agree. Italy has been engaged in a civil war since 1943. It has caused over 10,000 deaths since the birth of the republic by one account. With Berlusconi's descent into politics, the rightwing-mafia coalition has had the upper hand for fifteen years. Now that the military branch of the mafia has been severely decimated by law forces, it's imprisoned bosses are more isolated. Territorial power has dwindled to be replaced by a corrupt political class and turf war criminality. The Prince would advice ruthlessness in this case rather than guile, yet Berlusconi's recent actions bespeak more a cornered man who lashes out with vehemence. And vehemence is only impressive at the moment.
There is no substitution for ruthlessness, any way you look at it. But Berlusconi doesn't have the numbers for a putsch. His government is floundering. The cities once again will be submerged with garbage, this time against him. And Bossi will sit back and wait for the ideal moment to pull out the plug, perhaps no later than January, so that Italy careens adventurously down it's uncertain path to disaggregation.
You're joking... En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
He has often sued the authors of books about his illegal activities but has always lost because the judges ruled that what had been written about him was substantially true. It's never been a secret.
But the pursuit of criminal charges is an entirely different matter. It involves legal procedure and incontrovertible proof based on solid evidence and that evidence must be acquired in accordance with the rule of law. In Italy, witnesses to crimes are not proof enough. Everything a witness asserts must be backed up by solid evidence. There are procedural formalities that do render Italian justice highly favourable to the defence. So much the better- in an ideal world. It is marvellous. A hat tip to Italian safeguards.
However as an informed citizen who was perfectly aware of Berlusconi's past and how he systematically beat the rap through political corruption, bribery, destruction of evidence, procedural law and statutes of limitations, it's obvious that Berlusconi would be a prime suspect in the murders of the judges and the bombings on the mainland from day one. Major mafia bosses often declared forthrightly or obliquely that Berlusconi was behind it- and investigators spent the maximum amount of time allowed by law pursuing that avenue without arriving at an unequivocal lawful conclusion. This is all public but never reported. There is a decree that archives the investigation in 2002 that clearly spells out the state of the investigation into the mafia terrorist season of 1992-1994. I have quoted from that sentence here at Eurotrib. There is the Dell'Utri sentence which bolsters the 2002 archive sentence. It is plain as daylight, based on one's personal abduction and rational deduction, that authors 1 and 2 are Berlusconi and Dell'Utri.
As in any legal case, whether its Capone, OJ Simpson, John Giotto, Pasqua or Berlusconi, an informed citizen may formulate his opinions regardless the eventual trial or sentence, all the more once the motivations for the sentence are published. One may also formulate an opinion by taking into consideration the very special case of Italy where major crimes that involve the massacre of innocent victims will be actively sabotaged by individuals who are in the position of power to do so.
Trial sentences serve to create a public, shared truth. We may not agree with the sentence but even our dissent is part of the public process. We accept the sentence as expression of our institutions based on equality and civil covenant. It is perhaps one of the major grievances in Italy that investigations are sabotaged, trials are prevented from being celebrated and our institutions are constantly denigrated. How can one expect a public, shared truth in such exceptional circumstances?
So Berlusconi is Il Padrino? En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
Spatuzza's declarations are very recent and are under investigation as praxis.
Throughout Berlusconi's career there has always been the mystery of the origin of his fortune. A consistant percentage of it- some say 20%- has never been accounted for- and is no longer the object of criminal investigations because of the statute of limitations and various amnesties.
There are unrelated cases to the Graviano's that have already been the object of investigations. Berlusconi did pay monthly dividends to the Cinà-Mangano clan for decades but it could not be proved that these were dividends on investments. One of Berlusconi's television channels was originally owned by the mafia through covers.
Berlusconi's daughter Barbara, head of the family Fininvest, issued a statement last night asserting that the company was entirely owned by the Berlusconi family. She further declared that the company will sue for damages against anyone who continues to assert otherwise.
A lawsuit will be yet another opportunity to demonstrate in a civil court what has always been known but has never been discussed in a court due to laws of procedure (statutes of limitation, amnesties, etc.: The origins of Berlusconi's fortune are a mystery defended at all costs.
Because of that, I doubt Fininvest will ever sue. It hasn't in the past when the problem was already notorious, and without Spatuzza's testimony.
As an answer to Spatuzza's going State, Berlusconi will no doubt seek to appease the mafia. He has hastily thrown together several bills to be "imposed" on a mute parliament where he has the numbers to do what he wants up to a point. These bills are:
1) All trials must be celebrated within six years with a two year limit for each grade of justice. The bill is retroactive so as to abolish not only Berlusconi's current trials but tens of thousands of other trials.
2)If property confiscated by the State from the mafia has not been designated for a new use within 90 days, it can be sold by the State. In other words, the mafia, through intermediaries can buy back it's properties legally andin the process, recycle money.
3) The infamous "fiscal shield" which allows the importation of capital hidden abroad under total anonymity and with a token sanction of 5% which as any economist knows can be quickly recovered through investments. The law allows the importation therefore of any capital wherever in the world accumalated through criminal activity thanks to the anonymity-impunity clause. It is curious therefore that Berlusconi has disappeared in Russia for three days with his chum Putin and went twice to Dubai.
This fiscal shield will cause a financial revolution in Italy- and certainly will help the economy. Elsewhere, this law would be considered an international crime typical of fiscal paradises in their best moments.
Europe will certainly condemn it but as Berlusconi has shown time and again, Europe counts nothing. It's useless to talk about closing the corral gate when the horses are long gone.
4) Berlusconi's peones in parliament are once again pulling out the sob story of cruel and inhuman detention of the major mafia bosses. Known as 41bis, the law is designed to prevent mafia bosses from having contact with their territory. The law has been very effective in contrasting the military mafia.
In conclusion, we may observe today an on-going negotiation in broad daylight between Berlusconi's political forces, which now control the country, and the mafia. The excuse of the economic crisis is a windfall. The Gravianos, heavy weight padrinos very much admire Berlusconi for his ability to create riches but partners in an agreement each have means of leverage. The Gravianos need only raise a finger or appear to lose patience and Berlusconi abides. The pro-mafia legislation coming out of parliament these past weeks seem more an attempt to stop revelations with Spatuzza. If the Gravianos talk, it would be embarassing (but not particulary revealing)- but I don't see their interest in going State. Their silence is worth billions worldwide.
Hmm... En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
... Italy careens adventurously down it's uncertain path to disaggregation.
disaggregation? What is Italy? A chewy granola bar? Now where's the fun in that! - Megatron
After tensions triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union and post-9/11, the hour has come for rapprochement between Europe and Russia. Favoured by the United States' relative unconcern and the absence of major present-day flashpoints between the two powers, their reconciliation is being approached pragmatically - and in many areas on the Kremlin's initiative. It would seem that EU-Russian relations are making significant headway, observes the Moldavian daily Timpul. Moscow's desire to join the Eastern Partnership, the prospective easing of visa restrictions on Russian nationals, and diverse deals between European and Russian companies go to show "the EU and Russia need each other more than ever". What is more, beefing up relations with the Union would give Moscow "an added edge in dealing with Washington". And relations between the EU and Russia should warm up even more on the latter's initiative, says the Chisinau daily, as Moscow's eagerness to welcome the newly nominated leaders under the Lisbon Treaty reveals its preference for interlocutors from Western Europe, who are likely to pay less heed to the ex-Communist countries. Moscow's diplomatic offensive is coupled with a trade offensive aimed at acquiring technologies developed in Europe, explains Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. Having clinched some very lucrative deals with German companies, the Kremlin is off on a shopping spree in France, where it has its sights set on aerospace and nuclear know-how, though also on the defence sector. "Present-day Russia is a backwards country in need of fast-track modernisation. But instead of training scientists and developing technologies itself, it would rather simply purchase know-how and new solutions," comments the Polish daily, adding that "unlike Washington or London, Paris doesn't mind sharing its know-how with Moscow".
After tensions triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union and post-9/11, the hour has come for rapprochement between Europe and Russia. Favoured by the United States' relative unconcern and the absence of major present-day flashpoints between the two powers, their reconciliation is being approached pragmatically - and in many areas on the Kremlin's initiative.
It would seem that EU-Russian relations are making significant headway, observes the Moldavian daily Timpul. Moscow's desire to join the Eastern Partnership, the prospective easing of visa restrictions on Russian nationals, and diverse deals between European and Russian companies go to show "the EU and Russia need each other more than ever". What is more, beefing up relations with the Union would give Moscow "an added edge in dealing with Washington". And relations between the EU and Russia should warm up even more on the latter's initiative, says the Chisinau daily, as Moscow's eagerness to welcome the newly nominated leaders under the Lisbon Treaty reveals its preference for interlocutors from Western Europe, who are likely to pay less heed to the ex-Communist countries.
Moscow's diplomatic offensive is coupled with a trade offensive aimed at acquiring technologies developed in Europe, explains Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. Having clinched some very lucrative deals with German companies, the Kremlin is off on a shopping spree in France, where it has its sights set on aerospace and nuclear know-how, though also on the defence sector. "Present-day Russia is a backwards country in need of fast-track modernisation. But instead of training scientists and developing technologies itself, it would rather simply purchase know-how and new solutions," comments the Polish daily, adding that "unlike Washington or London, Paris doesn't mind sharing its know-how with Moscow".
