Senselessland (chapter 8)

Impressions and images from Belpaese

Try to understand what Italy is today is something not easy at all. Disorganization or superficiality could be the right terms to use in order to explain to what Italy correspond. But the key point is maybe another one: Italy is turning from bad to worse with no stop. This is the impression a traveler has once he’s in the country, especially if the traveler is a “commuter”, a person coming quietly often in different moment of the year. Every time there is something incredible, impossible to see in any another civilized country in the world. Or in Europe, if we prefer. Take an office, any office you want, and take staff working there. It will sound weird, maybe ironic, but no one in that office will have any idea about the working plan. Rotation, holiday period, time table… Nobody will can tell you when the office will be open to public. No way: that’s Italy. We are talking about the professional association of the Italian journalists, which is the body responsible for all the issues related to this job. Payment of the annual quota, registration, unemployment benefit, regulation, rights and duties, trade union, legal assistance… This and much more is what the professional order is focused on. Now, journalism foresees people can go working abroad, so it happens some Italians come back just for a short period (Christmas break, for example!), and need to go to their professional order. First of all, practical information are kept on the website: there, on the home page, a short description of the working period appears. Closed from the 24th of December to the 2nd of January. Apparently. Because once called to have some preliminary information by phone, the clerk on the other side states offices are opened the 29th and the 30th of December, something not communicated on the website.

bLOGBOOK - After-effects

Yesterday night evaluation and after-effects:

- 7 (or 8?) beer drunk;
- 2 bumps;
- 1 leg hurt;
- 1 little injury;
- neck hurt;

It appears clear I've to quit doing certain stuff!

bLOGBOOK - Spotted in Brussels

bLOGBOOK - The Laughing Stock

Good evening. Or good night. Or whatever... Anyway, hello folks!
Wow! I didn't expect posting something on this blog could be so difficult, but here we are. I find difficulties to write and to update these web pages. And that's not because I've a life, a real life. On the contrary I've not. I would just find some time late in the evening, but it's not the case. Maybe it's because of winter, with its cold and its long days of darkness, maybe it's because of tiredness, but I don't feel like doing anything. Maybe it could be the relocation... What a hell! Maybe it's because of all these things together, who knows? Or, yeah, I'm simply too tired to do anything. That's not a nice mood at all. Everything appears to be wrong, spare time is just a dream to dream, and not only it. How long had I to expect for having time to go to the doctor? It doesn't matter, the point is if there no chance for cure so something doesn't work. Work. How many editor in chief do I have? Too much. During the week end my mobile has been switched off, at last. What about this fragment of freedom? Nothing special. Sleeping, having a coffee in a bar, a little walk along the Christmas stands. No thoughts. Here is what I need: a clean and empty mind. Recharge batteries and delete memory, now I know what ask to Santa Klaus. And then... Well, then I look for a new beginning.
What was I looking for on Google? Damn! I still forget things. My mind is giving up. Meaningless crying crisis, sleeplessness, memories black-out: the situation is worse than foreseen. I find myself swearing because I don't find what I've put in my pockets few minute before, I prepare coffee I never drink once the machine is off. Someone asked me why I'm not writing any more, and the answer is simply I don't feel like. I find it hard and tiring. I feel empty, and I know it doesn't make sense since few lines above I declared I want my mind empty. I feel overloaded in term of stress and thought, but totally empty in term of motivations, plans, perspectives. Nervous breakdown and a principle of depression? Is that my diagnosis? I don't want to think about. What I want is just my basin full of hot water before another week starts. Another week. Ok, another week and for twenty days everything will be over...

Real Madrid to create clash of cultures?

The Spanish football team will remove cross from badge for Abu Dhabi National Bank. Critics rose on the web. Next step hate for Muslims?

How RM logo will change

by Emanuele Bonini

Religion and tradition in money time (and money needs). Real Madrid decided to remove the cross it appears on the crown above the official badge because of money, of course. The president of the Spanish club signed a partnership agreement with the National Bank of Abu Dhabi for the release new credit card. Since Real Madrid official badge will be printed on it, the cross - a Christian symbol - above the crown will be removed so as to avoid causing offence or discomfort among Muslim customers. Given the history of the country, with Muslim conquests of Spain and the Spanish "reconquista", the decision taken is an impressive one. In somehow Muslims converted Christians again, forcing them to abolish their symbols. Something incredible for Spain - still hugely Catholic - as well as for all believers. But we are talking about something very sensitive and very risky, since we live in a world where intolerance is more and more widespread. Once again, the main question is: can we sacrifice our traditions in name of money? And how far can we do it? What Real Madrid decided is something beyond the normal logic of sport. With this decision Real Madrid give power to all Muslims movements as well as to all of those who would like Muslims out of Europe. Respect is not to impose anything to other people and, at the same time, not asking to the counterpart to renounce to his own identity. If Real Madrid do, then can do all the others. «It’s the biggest INSULT to all Spaniards and Christians all over the world», one of the many critic reaction from the public opinion.

FACT SHEET/ BRICS countries

(click to enlarge)

BRICS countries: a bloc or a bubble?

Stronger economically but still divided. Emerging economies are today just a club, and Europe should exploit these divisions

by Emanuele Bonini

BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. We talk about five large countries where economy reached the highest rate of growth rate in the world in the past decade. Now these same countries forging links among themselves and calling greater recognition of their weight at international level. But are the BRICS countries a bloc or a bubble?, asked the European Parliament in a report. Is the group here to stay? In Europe the impression is these five countries «are a long way from planning any kind of integration». Rather than to do that, «they want to exploit the "power-multiplier" potential of their group to pursue their own national agendas». Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa together stand powerful in terms of dimensions, demography and economy. They encompass 26,6% of the world's land and 42,5% of the world's population. In 2013, their GDP was 21.1% of world GDP. They represent around 20% of world trade, and intra-BRICS trade is growing fast, from €20 billion in 2002 to €210 billion in 2012 (though more commodities than industrial goods), with a target of € 380 billion in 2015. However, recalls the European Parliament, these countries do not share a common geographical context, nor constitute a trading block, nor are they united by cultural affinities or historical ties.

Mary Christmas

Europe needs to defend its borders, said Tusk

The new president of the European Council  set his political agenda up: EU-US relationship to remain a priority

Donald Tusk

by Emanuele Bonini

Europa is facing harsh challenges. Security and common values are at stake, and keeping strategic partnerships will be key, said new European Council president Donald Tusk in Brussels during the handover ceremony which brought the Polish to take office. «I come here with a strong sense of purpose», he said. «In these difficult times Europe needs success. To me, this means four things». Here we are with Tusk's poltical agenda: first, «protecting our fundamental values, freedom and solidarity, against threats to the EU and its unity- both from inside and outside»; secondly, the EU «must be strong internationally». This means «Europe has to secure its borders, support those in neighbourhood who share our values»; thirdly, according to Donald Tusk, «relations between Europe and the United States are the backbone of the community of democracies», and under this point of view «the year ahead will be crucial»; finally «we need ruthless determination to end the economic crisis», which mainly means «to complete the genuine European Monetary Union».

When EU Constitution was signed with the Pope

(click to enlarge)

Holy ties

Pope Francis' visit to the European Parliament is not a special event. Dialogue between the EU and Vatican City started in the 70's

by Emanuele Bonini

Tomorrow pope Francis will pay visit to the European parliament in Strasbourg, for the second time in the history of the European Union and twenty six years after last pope's visit to the EU institution. It was Pope John Paul the 2nd the one who broke the tradition of non-relation between the EU and the Vatican State. The 11th of October 1989 he travelled to Strasbourg opening a new era in bilateral ties. Until that moment relationships between EU and the State of Church were just formally held: there was a mutual recognition and nothing more. There reason is clear: the European Union was born as European Economic Union. The political dimension of the single market was not yet in the agenda, and there were no reasons to have ties with the State of Church. Only once the political construction of the former EEC was developed the situation changed. Anyway, the 21st of October 1958 Robert Schuman addressed the plenary session of the European Parliament paying tribute to pope Pius XII, dead few days before (the 9th of October). In that occasion a Pope entered inside the European institutions for the fist time ever. More structured ties will be established only in the 70's. In 1970 the State of Church decided to have a permanent mission in Brussels, establishing an Apostolic nuncio to European Community. Next step will be the creation of the European Pastoral Information Service (EPIS) in 1976, then turned into the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), the body which put together the 27 Catholic Bishops' Conferences of the European Union and it has a permanent Secretariat in Brussels. This new foreign policy adopted by the Holy See reached the highest point in 1989, when pope John Paul II payed visit to the European Parliament, meanwhile become directly elected by the citizens.

Federer crowned Switzerland world champion

Former world tennis player number one established last record in France, winning the Davis Cup. Now "king Roger" has got everything

by Emanuele Bonini

King Roger is back. Thirty three years old but still on the top of world tennis. It seemed Federer's star was eclipsed once and for all, but it shines bright. His last victory in a Grand Slam was celebrated in 2012. Maybe a new generation of champions in ATP made forced the Swiss tennis player to leave the first position in men ranking, but there still something to win: the David Cup. And Federer won. Of course it was not a Federer personal victory, but destiny wanted was he the one to close the challenge winning the decisive match. Now, bringing Switzerland to win the Davis Cup for time first time in tennis history, Federer rose to the Olympus. He was able to win everything he could: the Davis Cup was the only trophy never gained in career, and this gap was overtaken. Thus once again Federer re-wrote his personal sport life, his statistics, his legend. He took less than two hours to do all that: the Swiss prevailed on Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. A perfect game played in one hour and fifty two minutes. It could be said everything, it could be possible write very long, but it's not here the right place to do so. Here is time to celebrate perhaps the best player modern tennis has never had.

Did Juncker lose Liberal support?

ALDE group chair presented a new investment plan which replaces that one of the president of the European Commission. A non-confidence vote?

by Emanuele Bonini

The president of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), Guy Verhofstadt, launched today his investment package. It is the answer and maybe even the counter-proposal to Jean-Claude Juncker's 300 billion Euro investment plan. According to Verhofstadt, Juncker's proposal is insufficient to address the challanges and the difficulties the European Union has to deal with. ALDE group chair is ready to mobilize 700 billion Euro, more than the two times compared to Juncker's plan. «Why 700 billion Euro? because this is the amount of the investment gap we have in the Euro area today», pointed out Verhofstadt. Thus it appears clear Liberals believe Juncker's package is not enough. Three are the main element of Verhofstadt's proposal: a European Union investment found (EUIF) based on European collateral, a European tax stimulus for households and small and medium sized businesses, and the opening up of the market. The EUIF will be based on the principle of the risk sharing: 8% of the fund will have guarantees from EU member States, 8% of guarantees from the European Investment Bank and 4% of guarantees from the European Financial Stability Mechanism. The EUIF will issue European bond whose income will be tax exempt. EU bonds are supposed to replace project bonds, one of the main instrument could be used by Juncker. «I've been listening to talk about project bond since many year and I have never seen them. I have the impression it is a joke». Despite Verhofstadt's strategy - to be verified - is the political message liyng in this initiative to appear very clear: European Liberals don't trust Jean-Claude Juncker any more.

Italy to stay in Afghanistan after 2014

The Italian minister of Defence confirmed commitments taken by previous government 

Roberta Pinotti

by Emanuele Bonini

Italian commitment for Afghanistan won't be over at the end of the year, assured yesterday the Italian minister of Defence, Roberta Pinotti. The Country will respect the international obligation leaving a small military force deployed on the ground. «Previous governments granted the availability of a military coordination in western part of Afghanistan, and being a serious country we are going to respect these obligation», stated Pinotti in the margin of the Foreign Affair council. Anyway, «Afghanistan has to be a military scenario to be closed», she added. Italy will provide «an average military presence of about 500 soldiers», and «any further engage will have to be approved by the Parliament».

«ECB ready to buy sovereign bond», said Draghi

The European Central Bank works at unconventional measures, stressed the president of the institution. Structural reforms remain crucial

Mario Draghi

by Emanuele Bonini

The European Central Bank is ready to buy sovereign bond in order to stabilize the Euro zone economy, said the president of the ECB Mario Draghi on Monday. Accommodative monetary policy are the main instrument used by ECB to help the recovery, but «other unconventional measures might entail the purchase of a variety of assets, and one of which is sovereign bonds». Unconventional measures will be undeniable, because «monetary policy alone cannot overcome financial fragmentation in the Euro area», warned Draghi during the Economic dialogue with the European Parliament. «Fragmentation across national borders also reflects underlying national imbalances and institutional deficiencies». Overcoming these imbalances «require determined structural reforms on the side of national governments to improve the business environment and setting incentives to invest, with the aim to boost productivity, create new jobs and raise the growth potential of the economy». As ECB president explained, «risks to the economic outlook continue to be on the downside», and « insufficient progress in structural reforms in Euro area countries constitutes a key downward risk to the economic outlook». It's time to push accelerate the reform process within the framework of what stated in the stability and growth pact, pointed out Mario Draghi. His message is clear and it will be something not welcomed in countries as France or Italy, where flexibility is one of the main political priority in the EU agenda. Mario Draghi's point of view is totally different. «There is an urgent need to agree on concrete short-term commitments for structural reforms in the Member States, on a consequent application of the Stability and Growth Pact, on the aggregate fiscal stance for the Euro area, on a strategy for investment, and to launch work on a long-term vision to further share sovereignty ensuring the sustainable and smooth functioning of Economic and Monetary Union». All that is easy to say, less simple to put in practice. Since the Euro area Member State are divided on the necessity of a strong fiscal consolidation, it appears difficult to have a common and shared strategy to put forward. But it is exactly what the president of the ECB expects from the twenty-eight (twenty-nine from January) governments. Draghi has no doubts that «2015 needs to be the year when all actors in the Euro area, governments and European institutions alike, will deploy a consistent common strategy to bring our economies back on track».

bLOGBOOK - Love

About love

«I love you»
«I... I love you, too. But... Well, I love you as a friend»
Language changes, story never does.

AS Gryffindor, yellow and red magic

Muggles analogies

Once again Gryffindor and AS Roma paths come back to cut cross each other. For inexplicable reasons the two teams show to wear very similar uniform: they are completely red with little horizontal yellow strips in the middle. As shown by the picture on the left, in case of Gryffindor strips move toward the player number, while in AS Roma case strips lead to the team crest. It's not the first time this muggles football team share the same uniform conception with the most famous quidditch team in Hogwarts. Maybe it's because of the magic nature of the two teams. Gryffindor is composed by wizards and witches, while AS Roma is magic and that's it (as among smuggles AS Roma fans state all the time...).

Why Juncker can't resign

No way. Euroscepticism and a new political scenario difficult to manage force the president of the European Commission to go ahead

Opinion

Jean-Claude Juncker faced the so called LuxLeaks "scandal" and the political answer is he'll stay where he is. He will remain at the head of the European Commission, and for at least two reasons. First of all everybody knows Luxembourg is a tax heaven, this is something we can't discover today. If we do, it's our mistake and Juncker's. Not only Juncker's. The latter pointed out in Europe there are other twenty one countries allowing the so called advanced tax ruling, the special fiscal agreement between companies and national authorities by which enterprises have a very low tax rate to pay just in the country they negotiate with and are exempted from paying in other state they operate. Thus problem don't lie in Luxembourg, and it's not a new. There's a strange timing for this scandal, but this is another story. Somebody wants to weaken Jean-Claude Juncker's image, but the president of the European Commission can't be forced to resign. Juncker is the result of a European political revolution, the indirect election wanted by the European parties. Since voters have expressed their right after the indication of Juncker for president by the EPP, should we expect new elections? This a question MEPs in the European Parliament probably asked themselves when decided to renew their confidence in Juncker. The EU can't afford a period of legislative and political vacancy: economic and foreign agendas require to be operative. In case of Junckers' resignation the European Commission would have its power of legislative initiative blocked, and the same would happen for the co-decision power of the European Parliament. Of course, if the EU Parliament has to be forced to quit functioning.

FACT SHEET / Moldova and Transnistria

(click to enlarge)

EU to defy Russia in Transnistria

The European Parliament backed the association agreement with the Republic of Moldova, to be implemented in the territory controlled by Moscow

click to enlarge

by Emanuele Bonini

The European Parliament gave today its consent to the EU-Moldova association agreement, which includes a Deep and comprehensive free trade agreement (DCFTA). The deal - backed by 535 votes to 94, with 44 abstentions - will form the backbone of strengthened political association and economic integration between the EU and Moldova and provide for mutual free market access. The key issue of the agreement is the Transnistrian breakaway state. Transnistria self-proclaimed independence on September 1990, and actually is still claimed by the Republic of Moldova and controlled by Russia. The EU-Moldova association agreement endorsed by the EU Parliament covers «the entire internationally recognised territory of the Republic of Moldova». It means Transnistria, «as an integral part of it, must be covered by the agreement’s effects», MEPs stressed. The ratification of the EU-Moldova association agreement «is a clear acknowledgement of the success of Moldova’s political and economic reform process, which establishes its European prospects and bears witness to its determination eventually to join the EU», said rapporteur Petras Auštrevičius (ALDE). For such a reason MEPs called Russia to «fully respect Moldova’s territorial integrity and European choice».
Will Russia accept the European attitude over a part of the world where the Kremlin still has interests? Ukraine showed how former Soviet republics are not free to decide about their own destiny. Europe don't understand is not wise interfere in Russian affairs, and Moldova, as well as Ukraine, is not a European business. The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, stated now «it is tremendously important to continue to further strengthen the rule of law and the fight against corruption and to renew the stalled talks on the resolution of the Transnistria conflict». Are we really sure is the EU who can set the agenda up in Transnistria? We're talking about a country where the official currency is Transnistrian ruble and one third of the population (30,5%) is Russian. After the Ukrainian crisis, this approach on Transnistria isn't too risky? Probably it will be Russia to give the answer.

Italy, the Odyssey of reforms

(Italy, the Odyssey of reforms)

Italy reform progress is uneven, warned the EU

Measures have been taken, according to Review of progress on the implementation of reforms. But «outcomes remain uncertain»

Pier Carlo Padoan

by Emanuele Bonini

Reform momentum at government level has picked up but progress is uneven, said the European Commission in the Review of progress on policy measures relevant for the correction of macroeconomic imbalances. «Several ambitious reform packages that could represent a step-change still await full adoption or further implementing decrees and outcomes thus remain uncertain». Loooking more in detail, «significant uncertainty surrounds the spending review, which is key for financing important measures in the coming years». The programme is lagging behind initial plans announced in 2013 and a recent change in approach «may lower the quality of the cuts», while the implementation of the privatisation plan in 2014 «has incurred a delay». Furthermore the implementation of the enabling law to reform the tax system is progressing, but «progress in the important areas of tax expenditure revision and environmental taxation is still limited». Italy is doing not well, according to the EU Commission report. Not a good new for the country, since the implementation of structural reforms is crucial to avoid Macroeconomic imbalances procedure (Mip). Italy remains under control, according to the European Commission. «Progress in the coming months will be crucial to evaluate Italy's success in implementing measures to address its imbalances». Looking at the state of play of MIP relevant reforms, Italy still has a lot to do.

Public debt reduction. Italy's very high government debt is an important burden for the economy and a serious source of vulnerability, in particular in the current low growth and inflation context. The large stock of public debt implies substantial refinancing risk and makes the country vulnerable to sudden rises in sovereign yields and financial-market volatility in periods of increased risk aversion, with potential spill-over effects towards other countries.

Happy Halloween

bLOGBOOK - Work in progress

It's cold. It's impossible to get used to every thing. After three years I still found myself unprepared to this weather. Weather. A friend of mine always repeats when you talk about weather is because there's anything else to talk about. I've to say he's right. Even if after three years things to be told should be a lot. No, to be honest there's not too much to tell. OK, I'm here in my new accommodation, and that sounds new. Move from a place to another was not easy at all, especially for a person without a car. I don't remember how many times I had to take the tram in order to transfer all my stuff from a house to another. I spent strange days. Changes are always shocks, and having a new place where live of course is a change, and it is a radical one. New spaces, new district, new shops, new faces, new distances. Everything is going to changes: habits and, as a consequence, life. Life. If there is still a life, or something to be called in this way. Still life. Get up, work, go out early in the morning and came back home late in the evening. Every single day. On Saturday let's work at home. On Sunday let's pray... God? No! Let's pray the mobile phone doesn't ring. All that only to can survive. It's impossible to can accept everything. But, of course, given the situation and this crazy time I know it's not possible to complain.

Toward a cyber world war

An ever growing number of states around the world are preparing for conflict in the cyber domain, and, in this context, have been developing cyber warfare

by Emanuele Bonini

While international law is still struggling with defining norms on state actions in cyberspace, the latter is now increasingly viewed as a fifth domain of warfare, revealed a study conducted by the European Parliament. Although, for the time being, no cyber attack is known to have provoked death or physical damage to human beings, an ever growing number of states around the world are preparing for conflict in the cyber domain, and, in this context, have been developing national doctrines, cyber-defence strategies and defensive and offensive capabilities for cyber warfare. In today's highly interconnected world, cyberspace and the wide array of risks and threats associated with it have become more and more preoccupying for states. The increasing range and sophistication of threats in the cyber realm – from malware to distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks to advanced persistent threats (APT) – have prompted efforts to protect against the risks posed to businesses and governments alike: economic and military espionage, theft of intellectual property, interference with critical infrastructure, and destruction of data. In this context, states are developing cyber-defence and cyber-offence capabilities to prepare for the advent of "cyber war".

United States: the country has militarised the response to cyber-attacks through its Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM), launched in 2010 and bringing together the cyber components of the US Navy, the US Marine Corps, the army and air force into a unified command. USCYBERCOM is one of the largest cyber-defence organisations in the world. The Pentagon has also increased spending on cyber operations ($26 billion over the next five years) and pledged to build a 6.000 strong cyber force by 2016. Moreover, a 2013 presidential directive instructs the US to aid allies who come under foreign cyber attack;

Behind the Belgian crisis

(Reportage realized by Arte. English transcription by Emiliano Biaggio) - What about the deepest causes of the crisis Belgium is experiencing? Is it history? Is it the identity? Is it the rivalry between Walloons and Flemings? Let's have a look to the map to try to understand a little bit more about Belgium. The kingdom has a surface of 30.500 square kilometres, and 10,5 million people live there. Belgium capital city, Brussels, symbolizes the integration of Europe but at the same time is the capital city of a country which risks to split up. How is it possible? There is no doubt the first explanation is historic reasons. Belgium didn't exist as an independent country until the XIX century: the territory we know nowadays has been under the influence of other European powers (Spain, Austria, France, Germany). At the end of XVIII century (1795) Belgium as we know today was part of France, and was divided in nine districts. Then it became part of Napoleon's empire. In 1815 Prussia, Austria and the United Kingdom decided to re-design the chart of Europe, and the idea was of creating a buffer state in order to can address any French expansion. This buffer state, the kingdom of the Netherlands, put together two different peoples: Protestants in the north, Catholics in the south. This buffer state lasted only fifteen year: in fact Catholics from the two linguistic communities went together and declared the independence in 1830. But in this new country Flemish community felt ruled by Walloons for two reasons: language and economy. French became the official language of the kingdom in reaction of former allied of the Netherlands and because French was the language spoken by the economic bourgeoisie. Only in 1898 Dutch was declared official language of Belgium. Secondly, Wallonia at the time was one of the most important industrial region of Europe because the high concentration of coal mines, and iron and steel plants. Flanders were, on the contrary, nothing but an agricultural district. Only in the 60's the situation started to change: Wallonia economic tissue was on crisis while the Flanders started to experience industrialization thanks to automotive sector and chemical industry development. The city of Antwerpen, with the third most important commercial harbour in Europe, helped the Flanders to gain economic power. As a result, Flanders today account for 80% of Belgian export.

Quotes

«We are discussing about one-two billions difference, we can add them even this morning».
Matteo Renzi, prime minister of Italy, talking about adjustments required for the stability law (Brussels, 23 October 2014)

Chronicle of a (political) death foretold

Once again Matteo Renzi demonstrated to be not able to deal with Realpolitik. Weaker at home and absent abroad, this is the political novel of a missing leader

Opinion

Something is wrong with Matteo Renzi. Italian prime minister still doesn't know how to deal with European affairs, and still has not people able to suggest him what to do. If he has, his staff always suggest the most stupid thing to do. It's neither not polite nor not intelligent making public a letter strictly confidential, as Renzi did with EU Commission letter sent to Italy asking information about the stability law. Screaming and threatening to publish the expenditure plan of an Institution is something never seen before from a politician, of course not from an head of government. In only one day Renzi was able to boost the general common lack of confidence in Italy and its leaders. First of all because of the diffusion of confidential documents: now everybody knows Italy can't keep anything secret. Secondly, Renzi in threatening the EU Commission of publishing all the financial data forgot the whole budget is already available on the web (click here, if you want to check it out), so he basically promised to do nothing but something already done by others. Who are these “others”? The European Commission, obliged by law to make public all the information on expenditure.

AS Gryffindor, red and yellow magic

The Gryffindor Express

We have already written everything about Gryffindor, but we still don't know how the team move from Hogwarts to the other places when they play away. If you are thinking to portkeys, floo powder, flying carpets never mind. Of course for magicians all these are very common tools among magicians and witches, but it's not the case. In fact Gryffindor players travel onto the Gryffindor Express, a special train realized only for this quidditch team. In perfect yellow and red style (see the pictures above), as you can see in the picture, the Gryffindor Express is used for the away matches. As well as the most popular Hogwarts Express, the Gryffindor Express magical train carries athletes non-stop. In case of matches to be played in London, the Gryffindor Express stops at Platform 9¾ at King's Cross station.

Yep, the same Platform served by the Hogwarts Express, but there are not so many the magical train lines! Just to have a look inside, here we can see how comfortable is the Gryffindor Express. Here in the foreground (picture on the left) we have some Gryffindor players and, on the background, we can see a chaser reading a copy of the Daily Prophet.

FACT SHEET/ Ebola geographic distribution

(click to enlarge)

FACT SHEET: Ebola in West Africa

The useless European agenda for Ebola

EU ministers are discussing several measures to face the threats posed by the virus, but nobody thinks to develop a cure

by Emanuele Bonini (my article for EuNews)

Compare it to the classical dust hidden under the carpet, define it as the typical “every man for himself”, understand it as a “do it by yourself” message, or call it simply Western hypcrosy. In any case the answer the European Union has in mind to address the Ebola crisis can't find comparison different fromt those just proposed. Visa check, exchange of information on air passengers travelling to and from one of the African countries with Ebola virus, a better evacuation strategy, isolation policy for people considered at risk, communication campagn: these are the measures EU Health ministers are working for.

«I do believe we can win Ebola in Western Africa», stated Italian Health minister for Health, Beatrice Lorenzin, showing courage not only for a knowledge of the English language which demonstrates how poor is the Italian education system.

«After 15 years no progress in Italian economy»

CEPS chief Daniel Gros critic over Italy. Time is over, now let public debt be reduced

Daniel Gros

by Emanuele Bonini

«It's almost fifteen years that Italy calls for a temporary relaxation of European deficit and debt reduction targets, but it seems this has not produced any results. And Matteo Renzi's 80 Euros bonus produced a null impact as well». Daniel Gros didn't spend very fair words for Italy. Talking to us the director of the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS) warned time is over for the country, whit a a lack of credibility and confidence at international level. Europe and European partners are fed up. Promises are not acceptable any more, Gros basically said. For Renzi and company is time to invert trends and boost Italian economy. «I don't think that a country can sustain and maintain growth with deficit and public debt levels even higher than usual», said the CEPS chief. «For a country as Italy it would be dangerous, too».

A brief guide for beer

thanks to Olivia Marchetti for providing the chart

FACT SHEET/ Ebola virus

(click to enlarge)

Pharmaceutical industry behind Ebola outbreak

For decades nothing has been done in order to look for a cure. In name of no-business

Opinion

Let put lies aside. Europe is not ready to deal with Ebola, and the reason is very simple: pharmaceutical industry didn't want to invest in research because virus has always been something related only to Africa, a part of the globe where make business is impossible. This is the reality. There was no interest in searching a cure for this virus, which is a new disease at all since it was identified in 1976. In nearly forty years no one knows anything about Ebola virus, and it is not a case. If the virus a was a Western society problem, now probably we would have more results and more information at our disposal, perhaps we would have a treatment ore a therapy too. But since only African people have been affected by this sanitary emergency, pharmaceutical industry saw no opportunities for profit in a poor continent where people have no money to pay for a medicine. So nothing has been made. Unfortunately, new capitalist globalization produced connections among all the countries of the world, and now Europeans come back home with virus. The Ebola virus, until today considered as an African business, is travelling and finally reached the rich world. Finally Western societies become aware of the situation, just because these great countries are worried and have fear. High level meeting have been organized by governments in order to address the situation. It has to be clear the main purpose of these high level committees is to have protection from Ebola rather than find a medical solution. That lies in pharmaceutical industry will. Until European and Western populations will not start die no real answers will be found.

Senselessland (chapter 7)

Impressions and images from Belpaese

Mail. What is there of special in mail? Not too much. Of course, if you are not in Italy. There everything can be special, even mail. Of course we talk about paper mail, the traditional mail. Now it has been clarified that, let's explain what goes on in the so called Bel Paese. There mail is divided in ordinary mail and priority mail. The difference is in price, of course. Priority mail is more expansive because of faster delivering. If ordinary mail arrives at destination in nearly a week, document belonging to the second category can arrive only in a couple of days. Priority mail is more expensive because customer choose to have a different kind of service. Now, in Italy there's a new kind of service: the super-priority mail. It means for ONLY 9 Euros you can be sure your priority mail will be delivered. That's it. Now if want to be sure priority mail - the more expensive one - be at destination you have to pay extra-money. Something weird. Why to pay twice for the same service? Priority mail means postmen and post offices can move a document to a point of the country to an another in a period of time shorter than ordinary mail. Italians, as usual, don't complain. There's something in Italian recalling Russian people we find in Tolstoy's or Dostoevsky's novels: a sense of resignation and inactive reception of events. But there's no time for anthropology: foreigners have to understand why they have been asked to pay 9 Euros of extra-money for something should be already guarantee.

Quotes

«No one can deal with the other EU member States as they were just students».
Matteo Renzi, prime minister of Italy (London, 2 October 2014)

Stoltenberg started acting new NATO chief

Former Norwegian prime minister already at work to build new relations with Russia

Jens Stoltenberg

by Emiliano Biaggio

Jens Stoltenberg is officially the new NATO secretary general. He took service yesterday, starting acting as new Alliance chief and closing Anders Fogh Rasmussen's era. Former prime minister of Norway, the 55 years old new chief started his mandate sending a message to Russia, calling Moscow for responsibility because of the «fragile» cease-fire in Ukraine. «The cease-fire in Ukraine offers an opportunity, but Russia maintains its ability to destabilize Ukraine, and Russia remains in breach of international law». For such a reason, he added, «we need to see clear changes in Russia's action, a change which demonstrates compliance with international law and with Russia's international obligations and responsibilities». In order to de-escalate the situation Stoltenberg preferred to take the diplomatic path. «My main message has been, today and for many years, that there is no contradiction between aspiring to a constructive relationship with Russia and, at the same time, being in favour of a strong NATO». In Stoltenberg's vision building relations with Moscow is still possible, despite the Ukrainian crisis. Compared to what Rasmussen has repeated until a couple of days ago, Stoltenberg marked a clear change in NATO attitude over Russia. Rasmussen has not hesitated to openly criticize the country, while on the contrary his successor chose a more cautious approach. Will it be enough to re-build relationship with Putin's state? Stoltenberg's NATO new course has begun.

Surprise: EU industrial targets are not binding

European Union member states consider impossible to have a share of industry in GDP at 20% by 2020. Nelli Feroci: «We have to be realistic»

Click to enlarge

by Emanuele Bonini

European Commission industrial strategy is over. EU member states don't want to intensify the efforts in order to foster the sector, EU commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship said at last Competitiveness council meeting. «The goal of industry's share of GDP at 20% by 2020 has been interpreted as not binding», Ferdinando Nelli Feroci stated in Brussels. This means Europe will stop pushing industrial effort despite the European Commission commitment. Antonio Tajani's political agenda included the 20% of EU GDP share as one of the main goal: it was included in the "Communication for a European industrial renaissance" as well as in the "New industrial policy communication". Furthermore, the president fo the European Commission, Josè Manuel Barroso itself, has repeated during last years that raising the the share of industry in GDP up tp 20% by 2020 had to be considered as an «explicit target». Now something changed. Nelli Feroci clarified first of all the goal «has never been endorsed by the Council», and secondly in Europe the situation can't bring to such a scenario. «We have countries with an GDP share from industry even higher than 20%, while other countries are well below and structurally can't reach it». Thus «we have to be realistic, considering the target as an aspirational target».

Pressmen, chapter 3

The pressmen commandments

«Thou shalt have no other gods before a journalist», states the first commandment of the press world. And considering there's no world outside the pressman's dimension, between press world and press there's no difference. It has been already written about pressmen, but as far as you can write it, it will never be enough. Or well, as far as you can write it will be always non-sense. The second commandment of the press world comes directly from the first one. «What is written is written. Thou shalt have no other truth before what a journalist wrote». This is the second commandment, and as every commandment it has to be strictly respected. Since pressmen are divinities, recognizing they can write something wrong would mean calling divine infallibility into question. Furthermore, it's not professional think the possibility to be mistaken exists: it would mean press men are not trustworthy. That's the reason why any journalist never follow professional ethics. Of course there are professional ethic rules, but are nothing compared to commandments. Thus don't pretend to see CRTs to be published, please! Oh, sorry. CRTs are Correct Re-Typing, operations foreseen by ethics. Ethics rules oblige any journalist to correct and/or rectify in case of wrong or false information. When articles are wrong, the same has to be re-typed. But, come on! Do you really believe a pressman can be wrong? Please! Even if it happened someone would mislead you have to keep in mind: a) hardly ever readers can distinguish truth from untruth because they are not experts in subject the article talks about, and have thus no competence to identify the mistake; b) most of the time editors-in-chief can't recognize mistakes because they are not experts in subject the article talks about, and have thus no competence to prevent a false information be published; c) by practice when a correction has to be made, a second artificial new article is published in order to update the previous article containing "obsolete" information; d) in any case «what is written is written».

FACT SHEET/ EU budget national contributions

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EU member states divided on budget again

European Council cut 2,1 billion Euros for next annual financial cycle. Countries don't want to pay the 2015 budget, and amending proposals for 2014 are on the table as well

by Emanuele Bonini

Once again the European Union is divided over financial questions. Annual or multi-annual financial framework it doesn't make any difference: the EU member States have argue and complain. For 2015 the European Council - the European institution composed by the government of the member States - have decided to reduce the total amount of payments. The European Commission proposed 145,6 billion Euros in commitments and 142,1 billion in payments. On the contrary, compared to the EU commission text, the European Council drafted a 2015 budgetary plan with a reduction of 0,5 billion in commitments and 2,1 billion in payments. Now a clarification is needed. The EU budget has to different voices of spending: commitments and payments. The first ones represent authorized ceilings to finance both programmes and projects, the second ones are the liquidity put at disposal by the member states. In other words, commitments mean nothing without payments. The European Council decided to disengage. Basically when the Council decides to cut the total payments ceilings means there are countries don't want to pay, as explained EU officials. These countries are the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, plus France with internal fiscal imbalances and for this reason not really ready to put so much money on the table. There's also to be considered the EU 2015 budget is just one part of the problem, since Draft amending budgets (DABs) have been proposed for the current annual financial framework. From February to September five DABs have been presented, for total 152 million of Euro of extra money to be put into the European budget for 2014. Now, this is not a huge amount of fresh resources, but of course countries are ready to postpone the disbursement as late as possible.

«Recovery in the Euro area is losing momentum»

ECB president Mario Draghi warned about the weakness of the internal economy and called member states to implement reforms

Mario Draghi

by Emanuele Bonini

Economic crisis is not over yet, said the president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, during the economic dialogue in the European Parliament. At the moment there's no reason to be optimistic. Or, well, there was too much optimism during the past month. «The economic recovery in the Euro area is losing momentum», warned the ECB chief. «Following some moderate expansion in recent quarters, growth of the Euro area real GDP came to a halt in the second quarter of this year». In fact «the early information on economic conditions which we received over the summer has been somewhat weaker than expected». As Draghi explained, «while industrial production and manufacturing orders in July gave some reason for optimism, more recent survey indicators have given no indication that the sharp decline registered in August has stopped». At the same time «unacceptably high» unemployment and «continued weak» credit growth are likely to curb the strength of the recovery, pointed out Draghi during his intervention. To make the situation more difficult there are also the international framework and the inaction of member states of the Euro area. In Draghi's opinion «heightened geopolitical tensions could dampen business and consumer confidence», while on the other hand «risks of insufficient structural reforms could weigh on the business environment».

AS Gryffindor, red and yellow magic

Magic supporters

Gryffindor team are magic, we've already said and repeated. It's basically because of wizards playing in the team, we explained. But Gryffindor supporters are wizard too, so also Gryffindor fans are magic. It's something to keep well in mind, otherwise it would be impossible to understand how it is possible in southern stand of the stadium special effects take place. That's true: most of the time red and yellow fans prefer realizing amazing choreographies without the magic, but in other cases they do, as visible on the left side. Here we can see Gryffindor supporters using magic sticks to produce this coulored mist at the stadium...

«A mistake to stop EU enlargement», said Bettel

Luxembourgish prime minister critic on Juncker's policy

Xavier Bettel

Emanuele Bonini

Jean-Claude Juncker's decision to stop the European enlargement process for the next five years «is a mistake», said the prime minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, meeting the international press in Luxembourg city. «When we start a race we have to finish it», underlined the head of government criticizing next European commission president's policy. «We can't say to Turkish and to Macedonian we will let them enter but not now». That's the reason why «I believe it's a mistake saying that for the next five years enlargement is over».
   Bettel, Juncker's political opponent in Luxembourg, was referring to what Juncker said in Strasbourg the 15th of July during his speech in the Plenary in the occasion of the vote for his presidency of the next European Commission. In that occasion Juncker stated that «there will be no new enlargement in the next five years», and that because «the EU needs to mark a pause in its enlargement process so that we can consolidate what has been done with twenty eight». Marking the distance from Juncker, Bettel told «it's not me who will stop the European enlargement process».

Fiji votes finally. EU to resume ties

Tomorrow first electoral competition since the 2006 takeover and the 2009 failure

source: truthforfiji

Emanuele Bonini
 
Here we go. For the first time after the 2006 coup Fiji come back to vote. Tomorrow the South Pacific ocean archipelago will (hopefully) restart to be a normal country. After his military takeover in 2006, Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama, commander of the republic of Fiji military forces, was not able to held the election called in 2009 and Fiji was firstly suspended from participation in the Pacific Islands Forum, and then it was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations. Now the international community is focused on Fiji: the future of the national will depend on the elections. Main runners are Frank Bainimarama, from his Fiji First party, and Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa, from the mainly indigenous i-Taukei Social Democratic Liberal party. «Fiji return to democracy is crucial», said the European Union today through Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson of the High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy for the EU. The European Union, she added, calls for «credible elections» and will monitor the situation on the ground. «With the return to democracy we plan to resume full cooperation» with Fiji, underlined Catherine Ashton's spokesperson.
Following the 2006 military coup and Fiji's violation of human rights, democratic principles, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, the EU suspended its development assistance to Fiji. Since then, the EU has promoted a return to democracy, the respect for human rights and the rule of law in Fiji via enhanced political dialogue. General election will take place tomorrow, but only the day after will be possible to know what Fijians decided. The Fiji elections office said results should be known within 24 hours of the close of the poll.

FACT SHEET/ Whaling countries

click to enlarge (source: Sea Shepherd)

International community banned Iceland whaling

Thirty five countries signed a letter to condemn commercial policies undertaken in Reykjavík

by Emanuele Bonini

In a joint letter signed today the European Union, its 28 Member States and the governments of the United States, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Mexico, Monaco and New Zealand condemned the Icelandic government for its permission of commercial whaling, in particular the hunting of fin whales and the subsequent trading of fin whale products. The EU Ambassador to Iceland, Matthias Brinkmann, along with the diplomatic representatives of the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom thus delivered a démarche to this effect to the Icelandic government this morning. The Ambassador also pointed out that public opinion in the countries that are Iceland's main trading partners is very much against the practise of whaling. This is evidenced by the public pressure put on companies around the world to boycott Icelandic goods, not to mention the pressure that voters and various organisations put on their politicians, encouraging them to send Iceland an increasingly stronger message.
  «We, the European Union and its Member States and the Government of the United States of America, Australia, Brazil, Israel and New Zealand, wish to express our strong opposition to Iceland's continuing and increased commercial harvest of whales, particularly fin whales, and to its ongoing international trade in whale products», is written in the joint démarche by the EU, the United States, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Mexico, Monaco and New Zealand.

FACT SHEET / Juncker's Commission composition

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Juncker to change EU Commission: will it work?

Seven team leader will act as a board of governors over the rest of the college. Berlaymont toward a slim institution. Will be possible to decide?

Opinion

A bet for better. Jean-Claude Juncker's idea for next EU Commission can be read as a crucial moment for European policies. From the 1st of November, when Juncker's Commission will be in force, a huge experiment will start. Hopefully, we would say, it will start to work. Something to be outlined since it's not clear at this stage if the next European Commission will be able to be successful. What Juncker did was re-organize the whole structure: he created seven big "project team", one for each vice president. In practice we can imagine each vice president as a sort of director general coordinating seven or eight commissioners. In this way - that is Juncker's vision - European Commissioners will be not controlled by governments or corporations any more. In practice, Juncker doesn't want EU member states and lobbies interfere with Berlaymont activity. For such a reason commissioners will be responsible for their own portfolios, but they will not have the exclusivity. Competences will be shared. Just to make an example (see the picture up), the vice president in charge for Growth and jobs will the team leader for a team composed by commissioners for Economic affairs, Digital economy, Employment and social affairs, Financial stability, Internal market and industry, Transport, Climate action. Vice president in charge for the Euro will be the team leader of a team composed by commissioners for Economic affairs, Employment and social affairs, Financial stability, Internal market and industry, Regional policy, Justice. In theory the next president of the European Commission is supposed to have slim institution, with a president (Juncker), a board of governors (seven vice president, or team leaders), and "simple" commissioners. The point is: will "simple" commissioners accept to have not autonomy? Since the seven vice president will have power of veto, rejecting commissioners proposals, wow to be sure complains will be over? The truth is the institution could get jammed at any moment. EU officials said «Juncker's proposal is ambitious, but we don't know if it will work».