Former PM is strong favourite to be given job - if he can demonstrate that he wants it.Tony Blair is now an official candidate for the position of first president of Europe. But his ambition could be thwarted by a catch-22 - he may not secure the post unless he campaigns actively, yet he does not want to throw his hat into the ring unless he is sure of landing the job. The former prime minister is seen as the most heavyweight and charismatic of the possible runners in what could be a crowded field. But it is by no means certain that he would win the race."He wants it, but he does not want to be humiliated by failing to get it," one ally said. And Mr Blair is said to only want the new title of president of the European Council if it is a big job, as Europe's representative to the world. The EU is yet to write a job description. Mr Blair's status as the favourite was somewhat bolstered by Gordon Brown's endorsement on Wednesday. "If Tony Blair decides to stand as President of the European Council, once that job has been created, then of course we will support him," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.
Tony Blair is now an official candidate for the position of first president of Europe. But his ambition could be thwarted by a catch-22 - he may not secure the post unless he campaigns actively, yet he does not want to throw his hat into the ring unless he is sure of landing the job.
The former prime minister is seen as the most heavyweight and charismatic of the possible runners in what could be a crowded field. But it is by no means certain that he would win the race.
"He wants it, but he does not want to be humiliated by failing to get it," one ally said. And Mr Blair is said to only want the new title of president of the European Council if it is a big job, as Europe's representative to the world. The EU is yet to write a job description.
Mr Blair's status as the favourite was somewhat bolstered by Gordon Brown's endorsement on Wednesday. "If Tony Blair decides to stand as President of the European Council, once that job has been created, then of course we will support him," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.
It doesn't help the situation that Mr Barroso remains the only candidate for the Commission Presidency. That is rather the fault of the political parties at European level and the Socialists in particular for not being able to agree on an alternative. Nevertheless, under the prompting of Mr Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the leader of the Green Party in the European Parliament, who has rather assumed to himself the leadership of the `Stop Barroso' faction, various alternative candidates have been suggested - Guy Verhofstadt, Francois Fillion, Mario Monti, Joschka Fischer, Mary Robinson, Chris Patten.... Whether any of these candidates actually wants the job, or would serve if pressed, or would be agreeable to all 27 member states, is another (and rather unlikely) matter. Even so the danger for Mr Barroso is that momentum could build behind one of these others and the automatic prolongation of his term that he had assumed could now easily melt away - much to the consternation of Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Frederik Reinfeldt, and the Swedish Presidency for whom Mr Barroso seemed to be the one fixed point in the shifting quicksands of their presidential terrain. Nevertheless, all may not yet be lost for in a political move both slick and audacious, Mr Cohn-Bendit is now suggesting apparently that Mr Barroso should be held in reserve to occupy the post of European President, when the Lisbon Treaty is ratified. It is hard to know whether this suggestion is a sop to his conservative opponents (who would be all for confirming Barroso immediately but lack the voting strength to do so), or whether it is a case that while Mr Cohn-Bendit has no desire whatsoever to see Mr Barroso ensconced for another five years as head of the European Commission, his dislike of the man is outweighed only by his anathema for Mr Tony Blair, whom he fears might turn up one fine day and be slipped into the European Presidency, faute de mieux. Here then might be a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
It doesn't help the situation that Mr Barroso remains the only candidate for the Commission Presidency. That is rather the fault of the political parties at European level and the Socialists in particular for not being able to agree on an alternative.
Nevertheless, under the prompting of Mr Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the leader of the Green Party in the European Parliament, who has rather assumed to himself the leadership of the `Stop Barroso' faction, various alternative candidates have been suggested - Guy Verhofstadt, Francois Fillion, Mario Monti, Joschka Fischer, Mary Robinson, Chris Patten.... Whether any of these candidates actually wants the job, or would serve if pressed, or would be agreeable to all 27 member states, is another (and rather unlikely) matter.
Even so the danger for Mr Barroso is that momentum could build behind one of these others and the automatic prolongation of his term that he had assumed could now easily melt away - much to the consternation of Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Frederik Reinfeldt, and the Swedish Presidency for whom Mr Barroso seemed to be the one fixed point in the shifting quicksands of their presidential terrain.
Nevertheless, all may not yet be lost for in a political move both slick and audacious, Mr Cohn-Bendit is now suggesting apparently that Mr Barroso should be held in reserve to occupy the post of European President, when the Lisbon Treaty is ratified.
It is hard to know whether this suggestion is a sop to his conservative opponents (who would be all for confirming Barroso immediately but lack the voting strength to do so), or whether it is a case that while Mr Cohn-Bendit has no desire whatsoever to see Mr Barroso ensconced for another five years as head of the European Commission, his dislike of the man is outweighed only by his anathema for Mr Tony Blair, whom he fears might turn up one fine day and be slipped into the European Presidency, faute de mieux. Here then might be a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
Mr Brown had not intended to declare his support for Mr Blair at this stage. He was bounced into it by remarks in Strasbourg by Baroness Kinnock, the former MEP who is now Britain's Europe Minister. She told journalists that the Government was backing his candidacy. After that, Downing Street could hardly contradict her, even though it insisted she had not made a formal "announcement".There is frustration in government circles that Lady Kinnock let herself be drawn into backing Mr Blair. Her timing was unfortunate: the comments distracted attention (and headlines) from an embarrassing Tory split in the European Parliament...
Mr Brown had not intended to declare his support for Mr Blair at this stage. He was bounced into it by remarks in Strasbourg by Baroness Kinnock, the former MEP who is now Britain's Europe Minister. She told journalists that the Government was backing his candidacy. After that, Downing Street could hardly contradict her, even though it insisted she had not made a formal "announcement".
There is frustration in government circles that Lady Kinnock let herself be drawn into backing Mr Blair.
Her timing was unfortunate: the comments distracted attention (and headlines) from an embarrassing Tory split in the European Parliament...
So, was Kinnock stupid or reacting to the González leaks from Sarkozy? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Is that a cue for us to send in an e-mail saying "yes, we can"? The peak-to-trough part of the business cycle is an outlier. Carnot would have died laughing.
Brussels has hailed the decision by the Icelandic parliament to give the go ahead to talks on joining the EU, suggesting it is proof of the "vitality of the European project." Iceland's legislature, the 63-seat Althingi, passed the proposal to start the EU accession process by a narrow majority of 33 votes to 28, with two abstentions, on Thursday Supporters of the move argued EU membership would help the island, with a population of 320,000, emerge more quickly from the global financial and economic crisis which devastated the countries' banks last year. Opponents of the EU said membership would harm the country's sovereignty as well as its fishing industry by introducing binding quotas, the two arguments that in the past dominated the EU debate in Iceland and prevented any attempts to join Europe.
Brussels has hailed the decision by the Icelandic parliament to give the go ahead to talks on joining the EU, suggesting it is proof of the "vitality of the European project."
Iceland's legislature, the 63-seat Althingi, passed the proposal to start the EU accession process by a narrow majority of 33 votes to 28, with two abstentions, on Thursday
Supporters of the move argued EU membership would help the island, with a population of 320,000, emerge more quickly from the global financial and economic crisis which devastated the countries' banks last year.
Opponents of the EU said membership would harm the country's sovereignty as well as its fishing industry by introducing binding quotas, the two arguments that in the past dominated the EU debate in Iceland and prevented any attempts to join Europe.
Often dismissed as irrelevant, expensive and remote, the European Parliament is becoming increasingly hard to ignore. The 736-member forum was once considered just a democratic sticking plaster on the bureaucratic behemoth of the European Union but it has undeniably grown in importance since it was created as an assembly of appointees from member states in 1952. A key turning point was the introduction of direct elections in 1979, although Margaret Thatcher could only rarely bring herself to use the word parliament and continued to refer to the body as an assembly. Two important confrontations helped to establish parliamentary authority over the Brussels executive when MEPs helped to bring down the European Commission of Jacques Santer in 1999 over claims of sleaze and rejected Rocco Buttiglione, Silvio Berlusconi's selection for Justice Commissioner in 2004, because of his conservative Catholic views.
Often dismissed as irrelevant, expensive and remote, the European Parliament is becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
The 736-member forum was once considered just a democratic sticking plaster on the bureaucratic behemoth of the European Union but it has undeniably grown in importance since it was created as an assembly of appointees from member states in 1952.
A key turning point was the introduction of direct elections in 1979, although Margaret Thatcher could only rarely bring herself to use the word parliament and continued to refer to the body as an assembly.
Two important confrontations helped to establish parliamentary authority over the Brussels executive when MEPs helped to bring down the European Commission of Jacques Santer in 1999 over claims of sleaze and rejected Rocco Buttiglione, Silvio Berlusconi's selection for Justice Commissioner in 2004, because of his conservative Catholic views.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Amid a week that saw the landmark election of an MEP from a formerly communist country to the position of European parliament president, two other events also stood out as firsts of their kind. Czech MEP Edvard Kozusnik from the Civic Democrats (ODS) party arrived at the Strasbourg parliament for its first session after the June elections having cycled the 647 km from Prague in just under two weeks. The Tour de France is also going through the French region of Alsace-Lorraine this week Mr Kozusnik, whose skin-tight red lycra cycling gear stood out against the wash of grey and blue suits in the hemicycle, had promised supporters he would undertake the bicycle trip if elected. To help him on his journey, the new deputy set off from Prague on 2 July with a small backpack containing traditional Czech buns, a flask of plum brandy and a small magnifying glass given to him by his friends to scrutinise the notoriously technical EU legislation.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Amid a week that saw the landmark election of an MEP from a formerly communist country to the position of European parliament president, two other events also stood out as firsts of their kind.
Czech MEP Edvard Kozusnik from the Civic Democrats (ODS) party arrived at the Strasbourg parliament for its first session after the June elections having cycled the 647 km from Prague in just under two weeks.
The Tour de France is also going through the French region of Alsace-Lorraine this week
Mr Kozusnik, whose skin-tight red lycra cycling gear stood out against the wash of grey and blue suits in the hemicycle, had promised supporters he would undertake the bicycle trip if elected.
To help him on his journey, the new deputy set off from Prague on 2 July with a small backpack containing traditional Czech buns, a flask of plum brandy and a small magnifying glass given to him by his friends to scrutinise the notoriously technical EU legislation.
Franz Müntefering, 69, the chairman of Germany's center-left Social Democrats, talks to SPIEGEL about Germany's upcoming national elections on Sept. 27, government bailouts for industry and his relationship with a 29-year-old party colleague. SPIEGEL: Mr. Müntefering, you are considered perhaps the greatest living campaign strategist in Germany. People say you have magical powers. Are you proud of your reputation? Franz Müntefering: Campaigning has always been enjoyable for me, at least. Take (the German election years of) 1998, 2002, 2005 -- those were some pretty strong campaigns we put together. We'll be doing the same thing this year.
Franz Müntefering, 69, the chairman of Germany's center-left Social Democrats, talks to SPIEGEL about Germany's upcoming national elections on Sept. 27, government bailouts for industry and his relationship with a 29-year-old party colleague.
SPIEGEL: Mr. Müntefering, you are considered perhaps the greatest living campaign strategist in Germany. People say you have magical powers. Are you proud of your reputation?
Franz Müntefering: Campaigning has always been enjoyable for me, at least. Take (the German election years of) 1998, 2002, 2005 -- those were some pretty strong campaigns we put together. We'll be doing the same thing this year.
SPIEGEL: The conservative German newspaper Die Welt recently wrote the following about you: "The chairman is paralyzed. It is abundantly clear that Müntefering, whose instincts were once almost always on the mark, doesn't know what to do anymore." Müntefering: Other papers have written other things. Is Die Welt the only publication you read? ..... "Just imagine a government coalition of the Christian Democrats and the business-friendly Free Democratic Party where the FDP gets the Health Ministry. People would start losing their hair."
Müntefering: Other papers have written other things. Is Die Welt the only publication you read? .....
"Just imagine a government coalition of the Christian Democrats and the business-friendly Free Democratic Party where the FDP gets the Health Ministry. People would start losing their hair."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev came across as charming and assured at Thursday's Munich summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He adroitly expressed his concern over the murder of human rights activist Natalya Estemirova -- and even got Merkel to smile. For several minutes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel slide a piece of paper back and forth across the table, scribbling enthusiastically. Then Medvedev lifts the paper up a little, so Merkel can read it better. The chancellor chuckles. Medvedev charmed Merkel at their meeting in Munich Thursday. The Russian president is satisfied. He has managed to get a smile out of the chancellor, who often looks slightly grumpy in public. And he has also managed, in his direct yet charming manner, to make Thursday's meeting between the two leaders in Munich a success. After the murder of the Russian-Chechen human rights activist Natalya Estemirova on Wednesday, many participants in the Russian-German forum "Petersburg Dialogue," which was established in 2001 with the aim of promoting contact between civil society in the two countries, initially feared that the crime could poison the atmosphere between the two top politicians. "There is this eerie feeling that someone wanted this murder to coincide with the state visit," commented one member of the German delegation ahead of Medvedev's arrival.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev came across as charming and assured at Thursday's Munich summit with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. He adroitly expressed his concern over the murder of human rights activist Natalya Estemirova -- and even got Merkel to smile.
For several minutes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel slide a piece of paper back and forth across the table, scribbling enthusiastically. Then Medvedev lifts the paper up a little, so Merkel can read it better. The chancellor chuckles.
Medvedev charmed Merkel at their meeting in Munich Thursday. The Russian president is satisfied. He has managed to get a smile out of the chancellor, who often looks slightly grumpy in public. And he has also managed, in his direct yet charming manner, to make Thursday's meeting between the two leaders in Munich a success.
After the murder of the Russian-Chechen human rights activist Natalya Estemirova on Wednesday, many participants in the Russian-German forum "Petersburg Dialogue," which was established in 2001 with the aim of promoting contact between civil society in the two countries, initially feared that the crime could poison the atmosphere between the two top politicians. "There is this eerie feeling that someone wanted this murder to coincide with the state visit," commented one member of the German delegation ahead of Medvedev's arrival.
Natalia Estemirova was scheduled to give an interview to a team from FRANCE 24 at 8am on the morning she was abducted. Witnesses have reportedly said they saw Estemirova being bundled into a car on her way to the meeting. Natalia Estemirova had scheduled an interview with FRANCE 24 at 8am on the day of her abduction at the headquarters of the NGO Memorial in Grozny. She never made it to the interview. After a few hours of no response on her phone and no word, her colleagues at Memorial raised the alarm. A staff member at Memorial said, "We've managed to find a witness who told us that Natalia left her home at around half past eight. A car approached and she was pushed inside."
Natalia Estemirova had scheduled an interview with FRANCE 24 at 8am on the day of her abduction at the headquarters of the NGO Memorial in Grozny. She never made it to the interview. After a few hours of no response on her phone and no word, her colleagues at Memorial raised the alarm.
A staff member at Memorial said, "We've managed to find a witness who told us that Natalia left her home at around half past eight. A car approached and she was pushed inside."
VLORE, Albania -- It was only after her trafficker sealed her mouth with electrical tape, drugged her and threatened to kill her family that the childlike woman, now 27, says she realized that the man she had planned to marry had seduced her with a terrible lie.Her journey at age 18 from an Albanian village to a London brothel, where she said she spent five years working as a prostitute, began with a gold engagement ring, the promise of a better life abroad and -- like many before her -- a speedboat trip to Italy under the cover of night.So many women, men and children had been trafficked abroad to work as prostitutes, forced laborers or beggars that the Albanian government three years ago barred all Albanian citizens from using speedboats, the favored transportation used by traffickers to get people out of the country.
Her journey at age 18 from an Albanian village to a London brothel, where she said she spent five years working as a prostitute, began with a gold engagement ring, the promise of a better life abroad and -- like many before her -- a speedboat trip to Italy under the cover of night.
So many women, men and children had been trafficked abroad to work as prostitutes, forced laborers or beggars that the Albanian government three years ago barred all Albanian citizens from using speedboats, the favored transportation used by traffickers to get people out of the country.
At least drug addiction and associated social problems respond to legalisation. Nothing seems to stop prostitution being exploitative. keep to the Fen Causeway
I'm not convinced about that. (I.e. I am not convinced by the criticisms of the Swedish model.)
Nothing seems to stop prostitution being exploitative.
Yep. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Same sex couples continue to benefit from more extensive civil rights almost everywhere Europe. But de jure gay marriages are only authorized in five countries. Cafebabel.com sets out to map "gay-friendly" Europe. "For us, having the right to marry our same-sex partner is about equality with heterosexuals, about having the choice to marry when and if we want to. In my country, I don't have that choice. It's forbidden," explains Juris Lavrikovs, a Latvian who is head of communications for the international lesbian and gay association (ILGA) of Europe. The ILGA, whose mandate is to defend lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- and intersex rights, will publish a report on the rights of homosexuals in Europe this month. Its conclusions are damning. Of 58 countries, only 5 allow gay and lesbian couples to marry: the Netherlands was the first in 2001, followed by Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), Norway (2008) and finally Sweden in April 2009. The Swedish government is the first to include a clause in its legislation forbidding the refusal of religious marriage to homosexual couples. While individual pastors have the right to refuse, the lutheran church is required to find a willing pastor for each couple. In Belgium the right to marry is extended to non-citizens provided one person in the couple is a Belgian resident. These laws have frequently provoked fierce debate. In Spain the catholic church and representatives of the right-wing people's party (PP) came out strongly against the proposed law, organising demonstrations in the streets of Madrid.
Same sex couples continue to benefit from more extensive civil rights almost everywhere Europe. But de jure gay marriages are only authorized in five countries. Cafebabel.com sets out to map "gay-friendly" Europe.
"For us, having the right to marry our same-sex partner is about equality with heterosexuals, about having the choice to marry when and if we want to. In my country, I don't have that choice. It's forbidden," explains Juris Lavrikovs, a Latvian who is head of communications for the international lesbian and gay association (ILGA) of Europe. The ILGA, whose mandate is to defend lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans- and intersex rights, will publish a report on the rights of homosexuals in Europe this month. Its conclusions are damning. Of 58 countries, only 5 allow gay and lesbian couples to marry: the Netherlands was the first in 2001, followed by Belgium (2003), Spain (2005), Norway (2008) and finally Sweden in April 2009.
The Swedish government is the first to include a clause in its legislation forbidding the refusal of religious marriage to homosexual couples. While individual pastors have the right to refuse, the lutheran church is required to find a willing pastor for each couple. In Belgium the right to marry is extended to non-citizens provided one person in the couple is a Belgian resident. These laws have frequently provoked fierce debate. In Spain the catholic church and representatives of the right-wing people's party (PP) came out strongly against the proposed law, organising demonstrations in the streets of Madrid.
European members of parliament, including that body's gay and lesbian working group, as well as human rights groups are weighing their options regarding a response to a bill passed by Lithuania's parliament that would ban the dissemination of information to young people seen as promoting homosexuality. "This is crazy and un-European and totally out of thinking for me and many others," said Ulrike Lunacek, a new EU parliamentarian and member of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian rights. As Europe has long been held up as a global beacon on progressive legislation regarding gay rights - same-sex marriage or some version thereof is legal in many EU countries - the bill passed in Vilnius seems like an unexpected slap in the face. It brings back memories of cultural battles that many in western Europe at least thought were largely behind them.
"This is crazy and un-European and totally out of thinking for me and many others," said Ulrike Lunacek, a new EU parliamentarian and member of the European Parliament's Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian rights.
As Europe has long been held up as a global beacon on progressive legislation regarding gay rights - same-sex marriage or some version thereof is legal in many EU countries - the bill passed in Vilnius seems like an unexpected slap in the face. It brings back memories of cultural battles that many in western Europe at least thought were largely behind them.
Europe isn't nearly perfect! Still, the fact that only 5 European countries have legalised homosexual marriages becomes less disappointing when you realise that only 2 other countries outside of Europe have done likewise.
(OK, plus 3-5 US States)
On a sweltering summer's day, packed in with sweaty passengers indifferent to the merits of deodorant, does anyone on the London Underground really need reminding that "Hell is other people," as Jean-Paul Sartre wrote? Apparently so, according to a quirky new campaign to show that commuting and contemplation on the Tube don't have to be mutually exclusive activities... While some passengers have indeed welcomed the idea, others have reacted in classic British fashion, which is to say with a dollop of skepticism and an acid irony. "Let's hold off on the philosophy," said Sally O'Sullivan, 40, a stylist from the fashionable Notting Hill neighborhood. "Given the reality of London transport, we need Valium, not quotations." In some ways, the new project taps into an already rich tradition of Underground train drivers and station staffers who lace the standard announcement fare with their own acerbic observations and ad-libbed commentary. Some of these remarks have been collected in a book of Tube trivia called "One Stop Short of Barking." ("Barking" is a place, but is also shorthand for the British phrase "barking mad.") Examples: "This train is all stations to Upminster, with the exception of Cannon Street. [The train] does not stop there on Saturdays due to total lack of interest."
Apparently so, according to a quirky new campaign to show that commuting and contemplation on the Tube don't have to be mutually exclusive activities...
While some passengers have indeed welcomed the idea, others have reacted in classic British fashion, which is to say with a dollop of skepticism and an acid irony.
"Let's hold off on the philosophy," said Sally O'Sullivan, 40, a stylist from the fashionable Notting Hill neighborhood. "Given the reality of London transport, we need Valium, not quotations."
In some ways, the new project taps into an already rich tradition of Underground train drivers and station staffers who lace the standard announcement fare with their own acerbic observations and ad-libbed commentary.
Some of these remarks have been collected in a book of Tube trivia called "One Stop Short of Barking." ("Barking" is a place, but is also shorthand for the British phrase "barking mad.") Examples:
"This train is all stations to Upminster, with the exception of Cannon Street. [The train] does not stop there on Saturdays due to total lack of interest."
Proposed law would fine web sites denounced for defamation.ROME -- This week in Rome, bloggers and activists wore gags to protest a proposed law that could impose heavy fines on bloggers who don't correct "offensive" comments within 48 hours. About 200 bloggers gathered at sunset in the picturesque Piazza Navona July 15, while hundreds others joined the protest online by freezing blog posts for a day. "A blogger is not a professional reporter," yelled 35 year-old Guido Scorza from atop a marble bench as he held a heavy megaphone. "A blogger doesn't have a legal office to defend him from lawsuits," he said. The controversial Alfano proposal -- named after its author, Italy's Minister of Justice Angelino Alfano -- has already been approved by Parliament and awaits Senate approval. If passed, the law would force bloggers to edit any post denounced to the government as defamatory. If the blogger refused, the denouncing citizen could sue for as much as $18,000.
ROME -- This week in Rome, bloggers and activists wore gags to protest a proposed law that could impose heavy fines on bloggers who don't correct "offensive" comments within 48 hours.
About 200 bloggers gathered at sunset in the picturesque Piazza Navona July 15, while hundreds others joined the protest online by freezing blog posts for a day.
"A blogger is not a professional reporter," yelled 35 year-old Guido Scorza from atop a marble bench as he held a heavy megaphone. "A blogger doesn't have a legal office to defend him from lawsuits," he said.
The controversial Alfano proposal -- named after its author, Italy's Minister of Justice Angelino Alfano -- has already been approved by Parliament and awaits Senate approval.
If passed, the law would force bloggers to edit any post denounced to the government as defamatory. If the blogger refused, the denouncing citizen could sue for as much as $18,000.
