SOFIA | By Ivan Krastev | Amnesia, recession, the failure of political elites, divided societies… The free and caring Europe that was the dream of oppressed peoples no longer exists, it is just that European leaders lack the courage to admit it, says a Bulgarian political analyst.
LONDON | The lack of credit to small business must really worry Brussels, because its own figures have revealed that new firms (younger than five years) are responsible for an overwhelming majority of these new jobs.
Spanish astronaut Pedro Duque: “I will probably have already retired by the time that is possible. I mean, of course I would like to do these things, but it is not possible.”
MADRID | If Spain’s democracy owes something to someone it would be Germany. During Spain’s democratic transition, Christian democracy and Social Democracy German foundations sustained and alerted incipient political parties when they need it.
MADRID | The prospect France, not to mention Italy or Spain, will flatly fail to meet their targets stands as a more plausible explanation of the realisation that austerity alone will not work.
By Katja Mann | Despite severe financial and economic problems, Slovenia can still avoid a bail-out – if investors stay confident.
ROME | Nadia Urbinati | The stalemate over the election of the President of the Republic, which broke on April 20 with the re-election of Giorgio Napolitano and the resignation of the leadership of the Democratic Party, is the highwater mark of the crisis in the Italian political system. To save that system, we must move ahead immediately with reforms, starting with electoral reform.
STRASBOURG | Over time, EU regions have become more sophisticated in trying to attract businesses. They amend their offers to reflect the wants of businesses, in order to obtain success.
By Matt Shearman | This was an historic step for Serb-Kosovo relations, but in the wider terms of the EU accession debate, the agreement stands as a prelude to the difficult road ahead.
By Juan Carlos de Martín | Responding to political crisis, a chorus of voices, such as Italy’s Five Star Movement, are calling for a transition to the direct participation that the Internet has made possible. However, the two systems should complement, rather than compete against each other.