EU, 23 million € for migrants

«We are not going to lose a generation», said Christos Stylianides

English version of my interview for QN

The refugee crisis cannot be handled by a single country, as well as cannot be addressed only in Europe. It has to be addressed also in its external dimension, as shown by the action fo the European Commission, where many different commissioners are involved in separate and different actions. One of these commissioners is Christos Stylianides, responsible for Humanitarian aids and crisis management. He explains QN why Italy cannot address the migration crisis alone why education in refugee camps is key.
Do you thing Italy is acting properly in managing the migration crisis both in Italy and abroad?
«As Europeans we have to face the refugee crisis together. And in Italy you know the facts as well as anyone. What is happening in Syria is the main source for the unprecedented refugee crisis. The conflict has triggered the world's largest humanitarian crisis worldwide since World War II, with Syrian refugees now accounting for the largest single refugee population in our generation. Considering the scale of this crisis, it's clear not a single country can handle this alone. We need a common European response, because the refugee crisis cannot be the responsibility of single member states but something we face together».
It has been said and repeated that education has to be one of the main tools to deal with the migration crisis. How to act in practice?
«I've been to Jordan and Lebanon one month ago and met Syrian refugee families. Today many families are leaving their country not only to get food or shelter, but also to give their children a future. To get access to education.I think we can all agree that education is a positive investment. In practice this means increasing our EU humanitarian support for education in emergencies to avoid a lost generation of young people. Education is an investment against radicalization. Teachers to give them important life skills and restore their hope for a better life».

Belgians and the king

He is the monarch of his nationals instead of being the ruler of the country, according to the title given by the crown. Welcome to a brief Belgian royal story

Coat of Arms of the King of the Belgians

by Emanuele Bonini

Belgians and the king. Not a movie title, but a real question to be addressed. In Belgium kings have always been ruler of a people rather than of the country. Every Belgian king is « the King of the Belgians». Does it mean Belgium is not a country at all? To answer this question we have to have a look on the history of the kingdom, a result of an external political decision taken during the post-restoration period. When the Belgium was created in 1830, the new independent State come from a secession and a independence war with the kingdom of the Netherlands, and immediately after the revolution Belgium was in the hands of a provisional government formed as a revolutionary committee. Political powers of that time were afraid the Belgians could establish a republic, then they decided to work on a compromise: neither restoration nor intervention, but the independence of Belgium was given only with a monarchist form of the State. Thus a king from the house of Saxe-Coburg family was established in the new country. The rivalry between the linguistic communities rose immediately, and the linguistic question is strictly linked to the royal family. Belgians and the king, as we said.
At the time of the Belgium revolution the majority of the population in the new State was Flemish and they were sure that the new king, coming from a Germanic house, could boost the Dutch as official language of the kingdom. On the contrary, the first language of the country became French, in a country with still today Dutch is the main spoken language. The ruling class of the country was a Catholic French-speaking aristocracy and the life style was more similar to the French one rather than the Dutch or the German one. Soon a strong nationalist spirit started rising in the Flemish community, as result of a political process where the majority of the population was culturally and economically marginalised.

Figures confirm EU relocation scheme doesn't work

click to enlarge

How is the relocation scheme working? It is not working, actually. Latest figures confirm the EU Member States don't deliver. Commitments remain just promises, migrants remains in Italy and in Greece, and the EU is marking and epic failure. As agreed in the previous months, governments were given time until the 31st of December in order to relocate all 120.000 migrants. At the beginning of December only 160 people have been relocated. The relocation mechanism doesn't work.

«Le Pen won because of austerity, not for terrorism»

President of S&D group at the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella, talks about the elections hold in France, asking a new model of Europe

Gianni Pittella

English version of my interview for Eunews. (Click here to read the original Italian version)

Regional elections in France have seen a great victory of the far right party of Front Nation, the political party against some of the key pillars of the EU project such as Schengen and the single currency. Gianni Pittella, the president of S&D group at the European Parliament explained Eunews that in France terrorism and migrant have not been the reason behind Marine Le Pen's political victory, on the contrary these two elements were just the last drop in the glass. Europe, stated Pittella, is facing the consequences of years of austerity which have caused frustration among the European citizens. At the same time the EU produced inefficient policies as shown by the migrant crisis, where according to Pittella «those who don't participate to the scheme must be sanctioned in the same way countries are sanctioned in case of not compliance with the Stability and growth pact».
What does the French elections mean and which scenario can we expect for Europe?
«The real shock is we are shocked by the outcome. Front National won because of a very difficult social and economic situation which is lasting years producing a lot of victims within the SMEs, medium size enterprises and savers. It is not terrorism, it is years of austerity imposed to Europe by conservative governments to have granted the victory to Marine Le Pen. We have been repeating it since long time».
Is Le Pen's political party victory just an isolated French case, or can we imagine a domino effect in Europe?
«Discontent is very widespread in Europe, and such a discontent flows in movements that more than others can use this feeling through formulas which are simple and simplistic but easy to transmit to the citizens. At this point any tie amongst these movements are over. Marine Le pen and the Front National have nothing in common with Matteo Salvini, who just imitates his French colleague. The same applies to the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban, who has nothing to share with the UKIP leader Nigel Farage. The real threat is that Europe can remain victim of national egoisms and fall into disintegration».

Senselessland (chapter 11)

Impressions and images from Belpaese

«Italy is a great country», loves repeating the minister of the Interior, Angelino Alfano. If you are open to non-sense, yes it is. Italy is that country where everything is possible, even the unthinkable. There has been en era of ministers labelling Italians as «big dummy boys»¹ instead of creating job opportunities, and there is a new contemporary era of ministers saying young people in Italy have not a stable position because of themselves. That what the minister for Labour and social policies was able to state few days ago², rather than remember the world that in democracy it is up to governments - and so ministers - to stimulate employment, creation of jobs, and the inclusion in the labour market. On the contrary, Giuliano Poletti explained in Italy young people suffer of «discontinuous careers and unstable work situations». And who is the responsible for all that? According to the Italian minister for Employment «it's the young people who must pay contributions if they want social security coverage». Maybe Poletti forgets that in normal conditions, with no undeclared work, contribution are paid by employers. So, why are only the employees obliged to pay contributions and not employers? And who should make compulsory for employers paying contributions, the ministers or the workers? Welcome to the paradox of having a minister of Labour not responsible for taking measures in the labour market.

Quotes

«They say "we are going to make a clean sweep". This is not the right-wing politics, this is the cosh. Italians cannot turn to the right-wing politics without falling into cosh».
Indro Montanelli, journalist, in "La domenica di Montanelli" (17th of March, 2001) 

«A bright future for Italians, not for Italy»

Indro Montanelli was journalist and historian. It is considered one of the greatest Italian journalists of the 20th century. In this short video he was asked about the future of Italy, and the answer well summarise the situation offering a picture of a country where nothing has changed. Here the full English transcript.

Question (journalist): What future will Italy have?
Answer (Indro Montanelli): Should I really tell?
Q: Let's try
A: No future for Italy. A country that ignores its past and doesn't care about its past cannot have a future. I remember a definition of Italy I received by one of my greatest job teachers, Ugo Ojetti, a former great journalist. He told me once «Haven't you understood yet? Italy is a country for contemporary men, with neither ancestors nor posterity because with any memory». I was 25 years old, and I considered these words as a sally, a paradox, then I realised Ojetti was absolutely right. Italy has an extraordinary history, but it remains unknown and unstudied. Italy is a country with no self-awareness. If you ask me «what future for Italians?», I would reply I expect a very bright future. For Italians, not for Italy! Italians are the most skillful ones to get in a international pot, because they lack of national barriers. First of all Italians are leader in certain professions. I have no doubt we will be the best shoemakers, the best tailors, the best hotel managers, the best cooks in Europe. I say with no negative sense: in slavish jobs we are totally unbeatable. But we are unbeatable not only there. The Italian individuality can impose itself in science, too. I'm sure Italian scientists, Italian doctors, Italian specialists, Italian physicists, Italian chemists will emerge once they will be in a European environment. Italians will impose their skills. But just the Italians, not Italy. Italy won't be there, because Italy is not there. Italians who go to Germany will become Germans.
Q: Are Italian so flexible?
A: Very flexible. Italians are not the Jews, who have been preserving their identity since 2.000 years. Jews remain Jews, Italians don't.
Q: Is this a fault?
A: A fault. And a virtue, too. I mean I don't see a future for Italy, while I see a bright future for Italians.

«We can't escape the challenges of global world»

Martin Schulz: in 2015 Europe discovered a world in trouble

Martin Schulz

by Emanuele Bonini

Finally Europe realised to be not a fortress, finally Europe understood to be nothing but a region in trouble in a world in trouble. Migrants and bombing attacks had woken the EU up from the dream of a magic land where everything appeared as possible and problems just somebody's else business. This is what the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, has clear in his mind after the year 2015, as explained in this short interview.
President Schulz, is the EU in war?
«This year, the year 2015, marked a turning point in the EU policy. We have started the year with a terrorist attack (that one against Charlie Hebdo, in France, edit.) and we closed the year with the commemoration of the victims of other attack».
What is this turning point marked in 2015?
«In my eyes in the European citizens there has been a more and more awareness of the challenges we have in front of us, more and more awareness of the fact that we are in a global world with global challenges we can't escape. There are terror and migrants, but not only this. We live in a world with problems. Of course world can be made better, but many things we wanted to achieve haven't been achieved, and many things we wanted to improve have worsened».
The EU-Turkey agreement on migration can solve European problems?
«Turkey is a partner country of the European Union, and the agreement reached on Sunday is about Syrian refugees. We have to find a solution for the situation in Turkey, where refugees are safe».

Our future it's our choices

Maldives and China suggest us we can't complain for our risky action

Air pollution in Peking, China

by Emanuele Bonini

Is our destiny in our hands? Of course part of our future is up to us. This is something to keep in mind when, in the future, we could deal with tragedies, even (but hopefully not eventually) one the biggest tragedies of human history. Maldives and China can be just two examples of the self-determination of its own destiny. The archipelago of Maldives is extremely endangered by climate change. In case of ice melting, the ocean level will rise making of the country just a memory. In the recent past the former president Mohamed Nasheed called the global community to take concrete action in order to stop global warming and climate change, organising an underwater meeting of the college of ministers with the purpose of showing what can happen in case of ice melting. The highest altitude of Maldives is 2,4 meters on the level of the sea, and nearly 75% of the whole archipelago surface is at less than half a meter on the level of the sea. What about now? When Mohamed Nasheed performed his aquatic governmental meeting was 2009, now he is out of politics (he was imprisoned after a coup) and new rules apparently want to exploit the oil reserves of the country. As leaders of a sovereign country of course they can do it, but they have to take all the responsibilities for the future.
The same principles applies for China, where farms have been closed because of the incredibly high concentration level of polluting substances in the air. Nobody can force China to stop its industrialization, but of course nobody should be surprised if in the coming years breath diseases or cancer will raise. Our future depends (in part) on our choices, so when these are controversial be ready to accept the consequences. It is not just a question of cynicism, it is a matter of pragmatism. In other words, let's think before to not regret after. Unfortunately most of the contries of this world prefer give attention to the present rather than the future. That's a pity! Acting now is always possible, be in action in another moment not always is affordable.

Quotes

«Many things we wanted to achieve haven't been achieved, and many things we wanted to improve have worsened».
Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament, in his speech at the high level conference "The persecution of Christians in the world" (Brussels, 1st of December, 2015) 

EU-Turkey, can the union work?

In name of migrant crisis Europe  is ready to foster the relationship with a country whose identity is not clear at all

Opinion

Russia and Turkey are one against the other, Europe need both but chose the Turkish side. Of course in politics political choices are required and needed, but there are certain options better than others or, saying it in other terms, there are certain choices which are worse than other. Standing with Turkey in a moment of diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Russia means building up alliances of uncertain value. Russia is escalating pressure over Turkey, and Europe how will have to choose again. Until which point the can the EU leave Russia in the margin of the external agenda and playing against Russian interests? The EU needs Russia for stability in Middle East, as well as for fighting terrorism but bilateral ties have been already compromised by the Ukrainian crisis, and the Russian military aircraft shot down near the Syrian-Turkish border, with Europeans closer to Ankara, made the situation more complicated. Yesterday the extraordinary EU-Turkey summit on migration showed the EU took already its political decisions. «Re-energizing» the accession process is the principle recognised by everybody expect Cyprus, three billion Euro in commitments to help Turkey in managing refugees is another element of the European weakness. Europe simply can't deal with migrants, and is ready to pay Turkey to stop the flows giving money to a country considered to play a role in human smuggling. In addiction, Ankara of course is asking something in return. These requests are the EU membership («we feel Europeans and we want to be part of the European family», stated the Turkish prime minister Ahmetl Davutoglu), money (three billion Euros per year, not granted by the EU), silence on Kurdistan. The key element of the extraordinary EU-Turkey summit on migration is there is no consensus on anything. Germany is linking the negotiation process for the EU membership to Cyprus, Italy and the European Commission called Turkey to engage in a serious peace process with Kurdish community, and only a generic commitment in some money and speed up the accession process has been granted. Three billion Euros will be made available, but this is just in line of principle since no Country is putting cash.

Refugee Republic (go to the link to discover this particular "State"; click on the picture to enlarge)

Belgique, la réponse aux attentats de Paris

Plus de contrôles, plus de «répression». Voilà la réponse belge aux attentats terroristes à Paris, une réponse d'autorité et autoritaire qui pose des questions legitimes par rapport à quoi faire pour réagir aux ménaces à la sécurité.  Le propositions du premier ministre de la Belgique, Charles Michel, comprendent des mesure très vagues pour ce qui concerne le perquisitions pour les infractions terroristes. Mais quoi signifie «infractions terroristes»? Quand on commet des infractions terroristes? L'enregistrement des données à réaliser ne semble pas prendre en compte la protection de la sphère personnel, en raison de l'urgence et de l'état de crise. Encore, participation aux operations militaires à l'étranger, y compris frappes aériennes. C'est le principe du «Grand frère» de George Orwell pour lequel «la guerre, c'est la paix». Changement des lois, censure sur internet, la censure sur internet et présence de militairs et policier de frontière. Tout ça en nom de la sécurité. Au revoir liberté.

FACT SHEET/ Main terrorist group by region (2014)

 (click to enlarge)

2014 A.D., year of «terrorist awakening»

Bombings and ambushes rose all over the world, as well as the death toll

by Emanuele Bonini

The terrorist attacks in Paris are not something new. On the contrary, they appear as a confirmation of a phenomenon growing more and more worldwide. According to the existing data, the number of terrorist attacks in 2014 was double compared to that of 2004. In many aspects, 2014 can be described as a year of «terrorist awakening», since the number of terrorist attacks increased by 40% and altogether the number of casualties almost doubled compared to 2013. Attacks increased in number and have become more deadly. According to experts, this situation is the consequence of the in Sub-Saharian Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, and southern Asia. A report of the European Parliament underlined that especially in Africa and in Middle East «weak governance structures have provided fertile ground for radicalization while constraints on the capacities of security forces facilitated the growth of jihadi and separatist groups», namely in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Analysts have no doubt Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharian Africa, and southern Asia are «the main theatres for terrorist operations», as shown by 2014 attacks.

Middle East and North Africa. This part of the world registered the highest number of attacks (6.913). Iraq remains the country most hit by terrorist attacks - twice as many as for the rest of the region altogether - followed by Yemen, Libya, Egypt and Syria. Substantial increase in terrorist attacks and victims were registered in Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Yemen and West Bank: almost a seven-fold increase in Israel and over two-fold in Libya and the West Bank. Algeria and Bahrain saw a slight decrease in the number of terrorist attacks. In 2014 the most active perpetrator groups in the region were Ajnad Misr and Ansar Bayt al‐Maqdis (Egypt), ISIL/Da'esh and Al-Naqshabandiya Army (Iraq), Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis and Hamas (Israel), Al-Nusrah Front and ISIL/Da'esh (Syria), Al-Islah Party, AQAP and Houthis (Yemen).

Welcome to Molenbeek, capital city of Belgistan

It is one of the municipalities composing Brussels, and the recruitment centre for jihadists

by Emanuele Bonini

They call it «the jihadist hamlet», it is considered as an «hub of terrorism and arms trafficking», it has been nominated «capital city of Belgistan», i.e. the Islamic Brussels. It is simply known by everybody as Molenbeek-Saint Jean, one of the nineteen municipalities composing the city of Brussels. Molenbeek is the historical cradle of immigration, with foreigners who started coming in the XIX century, when Belgium wasn't yet the actual Belgium and the European Union wasn't even a fantasy. Pubs, restaurants, shops, schools and mosques (two). Children playing together, veiled and unveiled women, signboard written in Flemish, in French, in Arabian. Other signboard read names of some Iberian destinations. Molenbeek is a neighborhood with a huge multicultural spirit and strong contrasts. The museum of industry and work sounds ironic in a place where more than 30% of the local population is out of work. Nearly one third of the 96.000 inhabitants here is unemployed. Most of them live thanks to «chômage», the unemployment benefits, all the others finish to join criminality.
It's the Moroccan, Tunisian and Pakistani communities that makes Molenbeek the Belgistan, a land developed around Armenian, Portuguese and Spanish, too.
Despite all Molenbeek remains a crossroad. Italians know well, present as they always are when artists from their country come in tour at VK, well-known concert venue located along the streets of the jihadist compound. Another, smaller, different Bataclan where people all over Europe come to play and listen to music. It's here, behind this veil of a living and pulsing multicultural district, that the laboratory for radicalism works.

The tale by William Rookwood

Transcript: Our story begins, as these stories often do, with a young, up-and-coming politician. He's a deeply religious man and a member of the Conservative party. He's completely single-minded and has no regard for the political process. The more power he attains, the more obvious his zealotry and the more aggressive his supporters become. Eventually, his party launches a special project in the name of "national security". At first, it's believed to be a search for biological weapons and is pursued without regard to its cost. However, the true goal of this project is power. Complete and total hegemonic domination. The project, however, ends violently, but the efforts of those involved are not in vain, for a new ability to wage war is born from the blood of one of the victims. Imagine a virus, the most terrifying virus you can, and then imagine that you and you alone have the cure, but if your ultimate goal is power, how best to use such a weapon? It's at this point in our story that along comes a spider. He's a man seemingly without a conscience, for whom the ends always justify the means, and it is he who suggests that their target should not be an enemy of the country but rather the country itself. Three targets are chosen to maximize the effect of the attack: a school, a tube station and a water treatment plant. Several hundred die within the first few weeks. Fueled by the media, fear and panic spread quickly, fracturing and dividing the country until, at last, the true goal comes into view. Before the St Mary's crisis, no-one would have predicted the results of the election that year, no-one. And then, not long after the election, lo and behold a miracle. Some believe it was the work of God himself, but it was a pharmaceutical company controlled by certain party members that made them all obscenely rich. A year later, several extremists are tried, found guilty and executed while a memorial is built to canonize their victims. But the end result, the true genius of the plan was the fear. Fear became the ultimate tool of this government, and through it, our politician was ultimately appointed to the newly created position of High Chancellor. The rest, as they say, is history.

Senselessland (chapter 10)

Impressions and images from Belpaese

There's three ways to do things, the right way, the wrong way and the way that I do it. I'm sorry, but there is always a fourth way to do things: the way Italians do it. Maybe because of politeness, maybe because of style, maybe because of lack of familiarity with the Italian affairs, but be sure in Italy things will always work in a proper, different, way. Superficial, partial, incomplete, or with no logic - and thus senseless - Italy appears to be a sort of alternative wonderland, the senselessland I always talk about. This time we have the privilege of having an official source where find a classical example of how at this world things can be done in the right way, in the wrong way or in Italian way. The European Parliament issued "How to end Energy Poverty? Scrutiny of Current EU and Member States Instruments", a study for the Industry, Research and Energy committee. Here Italy became a study case, with the authors who have been forced to dedicate a specific chapter to the Italian member state of the EU. I say they have been forced to do it, because there is no doubt Italy represent a great case of lack of any kind of strategic view. According to the study, «Italy has no definition of energy poverty. Nevertheless, Italy targeted energy poverty by general policies and measures with short term  effects». So basically Italians look for solution in order whose nature appear to be of emergence or "last-minute". In one case, the country lives constantly in emergency, in the other case simply lives of improvisation.
How to end energy poverty? Good question. In Italy «the vulnerable target group is not sufficiently defined», states the expert of the European Parliament.

Sommes nous tous des migrants?

La grave crisis qui touche l'Europe doit imposer une réflexion qui conduise à une réconnaissance de la verité sous les yeux de tout le monde

par Emanuele Bonini

Par définition un migrant est la personne «qui effectue une migration», soit le «déplacement volontaire d'individus ou de populations d'un pays dans un autre ou d'une région dans une autre, pour des raisons économiques, politiques ou culturelles». Sur la base des définitions générales alors, il est clair qu’il n'est pas nécessaire d'avoir des guerres ni des persécutions pour parler de migrants. Donc, pouvons-nous dire que nous sommes tous des migrants? Si on voit la societé actuelle on peut dire que, avec l'exception de cas particuliers, l'homme est consacré à la migrations. En Europe l'Union européenne a permis une plus facile mobilité des personnes et des travailleurs, en donnant forme au projet d'un village commun. Au niveau mondial, la globalisation a tout d'abord proposé l'idée du village global, et ensuite a déterminé un nouveau système pour lequel il n'y a plus de barrières au business. Voilà les migrants du nouveau siècle, toujours prêts à répondre aux logiques du marché. Bien que l'individu reste libre de refuser les offres pour travailler à l'étranger, dans le monde il y a de plus en plus de personnes qui laissent leur pays pour d'autres destinations. Ce sont alors des migrants par définition. Comme déjà dit, sont considérables les migrants qui réunissent une ou plusieurs des conditions mentionnées ci-dessus: effectuer un déplacement volontaire d'un pays dans un autre, ou d'une région dans une autre, pour des raisons économiques.
On peut avoir des migrants “internes” (c'est le cas des citoyens européens qui restent en Europe, mais c'est aussi le cas des citoyens d'un pays qui change de région), ou des migrants “extérieurs” (c'est le cas des ceux qui changent de continent). Parfois on reste à l'entranger pour une période limitée dans le temps, et alors nous avons des migrants temporaires. D'autres fois on reste pour toujours, et alors nous avons des migrants perpétuels. Mais il n'est que une pétite différence, parce-que à la fin la situation ne change pas beaucoup.

Lire aussi:

Paddington? A typical example of migrant

Emmanuel's (mis)adventures

Ladies and gentlemen,
here comes something really special. It's with great pleasure that I can announce, after months of intense work, my first strips opera. My comics are now available on-line to everybody interested in knowing Le (dis)avventure di Emanuele (Emmanuel's [mis]adventures). The text is available only in Italian, but given the (future) great success the book it will be translated in more than 50 languages in the coming months. Until the you can have a look by clicking here or on the right side of this blog, in "my books" section.

Pressmen, chapter 7

Truth by truth

Is a journalist an asshole or is there something more behind complaints and fakes? Most of the people think pressmen are motherfuckers because completely unable to describe the truth by truth. Well, sometime it can be the case (I will write about, one day) but other times is not. On the contrary, information is manipulated by non-pressmen. Politicians, lobbyists, NGOs, stakeholders, corporations... Every player has to be sure readers read the truth he wants. Starting from this concept we are full of situations where "stakeholders" try to get media endorsement for free, arriving to exert pressure and to interfere with journalists activity in case pressmen don't sell the new as "stakeholder" want. Let's take the Nativity and suppose that Joseph is Mary's spokesperson. You will forgive if I chose a holy example, but according to the first pressmen commandment «Thou shalt have no other gods before a journalist», so forget for a while to Jesus. I apologise with all those who believe, but I'm pretty sure in the Western societies there will be a lot of people who'll can better understand thanks to this example. So, Joseph is Mary's spokesperson and he sends a SMS to a group of journalist to inform that in the margin of the childbirth she will some meetings. Immediately after one of the journalists uses the SMS to twit the following message: «Mary will meet the Magi in the margin of the childbirth». In one minute time Joseph calls the journalist asking him «Who did you tell Mary is going to meet the Magi?» and pointing out that «you did something it hasn't to be done, because such a tweet can make Mary upset». Given the situation, we have to explain the case as follows:
1) When a spokesperson sends a message, he basically sends an information. In this way he is what in journalism is called "a source". Pressmen use sources in order to produce new, and the fact Mary is going to meet people is indeed a new. Thus, journalists make their job;

Keep calm and carry on - the story

Turkey, once again a European problem

Accession process too long blocked by nationalism, now Ankara pretend a new start. With democracy and Kurdistan to be sacrificed in name of migrant crisis

by Emanuele Bonini

Turkey is a problem. Europe has to decide what to do with regard to a key player where democracy is far farer away. Key for migration, Turkey has today the power to destroy the European Union in a sense or another. Accepting the Country as a normal country, the EU would ignore problems such as respect of the fundamental rights and tolerance. Saying Turkey is not a Country to be not considered as credible would mean to see a lot of refuges coming to Europe. Turkey is blackmailing the EU, asking for a revitalisation of the accession process in return of an effective control of migrant flows. Europe needs Turkey for migrants, but can the EU need this Turkey? According to the European commissioner for Neighbourhood policy and enlargement negotiations there is not space for those who don't respect the basic rules of Euro. «Freedom of media is at the core of the EU integration process and is not negotiable», pointed out Johannes Hahn. «We have seen worrying developments in the last weeks in the run-up to the elections, such as the intimidation of journalists in various forms». According to him, «deteriorating media situation impacts the overall readiness of the accession country to join the European Union». Does it mean the European Union is going to use the force against Turkey?

More than a scandal, the Volkswagen case is a drama

Trust is not the major problem. Unemployment can be the real disaster for Europe

by Emanuele Bonini

Volkswagen was not only responsible for illegal diesel engines. Also fuel engines are against the European standards, according to the same car maker. In the US more models, Volkswagen have been accused of having illegal levels of diesel NOx emissions but the scandal size is growing more and more. There are those who believes we just see the tip of the iceberg, and those who believe this scandal pose a serious problem of confidence and credibility (that's what has been said by a spokeperson of the European Commission, Lucia Caudet) but what is untold is the real cost of all this. The financial consequence for Volkswagen will affect both workers and employees, as usually happens in such a case. Apart from resignations, managers have nothing to lose. On the contrary, in front of simple workers there are worse scenarios. In the worst one, they will be fired. In other words, unemployment is going to be the collateral effect of the Volkswagen case. The social dimension of this scandal is something Europe can't deal with in time of mild recovery. Now that the general situation seemed to be on a better track, having a new wave of unemployment would be a problem. That's basically the reason why the European Commission is taking its time to take a decision. According to the EU regulation on reduction in CO2 emissions of new passenger cars, the European Commission has the authority and the power to impose fines on manufacturer’s cars. More in detail, if the average CO2 emission from a manufacturer’s number of cars exceeds the 130g/km emission limit, then a large fine will be enforced. For each car, the manufacturer must pay €5 for the first g/km over the limit, €15 for the second, €25 for the third and €95 for every g/km after that. From 2019, every g/km over the limit will be charged at €95. What Volkswagen is risking is a super-fine, whose repayment will be imposed on staff. The European Commission recalled the EU legislation and the power of intervention, but nobody still has taken into account the possibility of use what law foresees. Applying rules now would be a disaster, not applying even worst. Thus, Europe can't win this challenge.

End of one child policy, PRC changing more than history

China authorized all couples to have two children. A new era or a new world challenge 

by Emanuele Bonini

The central committee of the communist party of China announced that couples can have two children. The "ancient regime" of one child per family is over, but is it a good or a bad new? Of course the answer is positive. Yes, it is a good new. The system put in place by the Communist party has always been a controversial one, but there was a reason behind that so criticised birth control. How to feed all the people? And how sustainable can be a country where more and more people asks for life? In People's republic of China these questions found an answer in the family policies imposed until yesterday. Now PRC has gained a huge economic power, a social wealth capable of enlarging demands and address new needs. China can do what it coudn't do until few years ago, and this is of course a good new. Of course now the question is how sustainable will be this historical choice. This good new means world food demand will rise in time of crisis and scarcity of resources. Desertification, intensive use of land, pollution and climate have been posing a serious threat to the world sustainability. China can live the change, but could the rest of the world do the same? The historical page turned in China risks to become a bad new for somebody else. Is the world ready to feed new generations? This is the challenge governments started to deal with, and it was not a case if Italy decided to focus EXPO 2015 on this specific issue. A new reminder is now coming from the PRC.

The European disaster on migration

Neither hotspots nor political oppositions. The EU relocation mechanism doesn't work because of lack of operational measures

by Emanuele Bonini

European strategy for migration doesn't work. Practical problems were not taken into account when both EU leaders and the head of State and head of governments had to decide the relocation scheme. Forget quotas, real problems are elsewhere. Of course quotas represent a political issue, but even in case of political decision the EU plan can't work. There are not direct flight to move migrants from a place to another, agreements between Member States and airlines to facilitate boarding procedures for people with no documents are not in place, military flights are too expensive, low-cost carriers are still not involved. Basically hotspots appear as last problems to thing about. This is the situation after months of intensive political debate. Fences are there, while all the rest is missing. Greece is waiting a transfer of migrants from the Hellenic Republic to Luxembourg, but no plane took off with such passengers on board. The reason is because of no direct connection between Greek and Luxembourgish airports, and special agreements have been signed only with Aegean. That means no operators can guarantee on normal flights a reservation of seats for migrants and people who travel with them. Europe was and still is under pressure, and the need of a rapid reaction to the migration flows crisis forced all decision makers to take actions. To do something has been translated in practice as "let's show we do something", and the result is a confusion that perfectly reflects what Europe is about today.

Worrying times ahead Europe

Fear for migrants feeds nationalism all across the EU. Values and stability at stake

editorial

Fear is growing up, fear is dominating general feeling in Europe. The answer offered to the migrant crisis showed the whole continent scared by the huge amount of people coming from other parts of the world. We could say we are talking about people coming from the same Countries the western world (so the EU, as well) have always exploited, but it couldn't change anything. The political message coming from Poland is clear: there is more and more people against the admission policy for migrants tabled by the European Union, and there is no place for foreigners. Migrants have become too much, and Europe can't or don't want to help all these people. Most important, more and more Member States have fear. Polish population gave a clear mandate to decision makers. Granting an absolute majority to Jaroslaw Kaczyński and his far right party Law and Justice mean Poland has chosen a tougher path. Equality, respect and tolerance are all values at stake, and not only in Poland. Far right parties are rising up all across Europe, and national governments are acting building up fences, sending troops on the border, calling migrants to go away. Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia are against any assistance. These countries basically are against everything different from national standards. Now Poland will join this group, while in France the xenophobic party Front National is strong as never happened in history of the Fifth Republic.

We are back

More than two months without a post on this blog, my blog, is something never seen before. Even in time of very busy period I found time to spend to cultivate this personal space. So, my personal sphere has been reduced. Reduced by a new professional life which can't allow to find time to write few lines on internet. Indeed a huge change come. A new adventure for a news agency open 24 hours per day is something not easy to deal with, and there is a price to pay for such a career. Despite the (a)typical nature of Italian contracts, there is no doubt I arrived to work for a more important media compared to those where I have worked before. In time of investments - in Europe there are still those who believe in the EU investment plan - maybe this experience could be my persona investment for the future. Of course nothing is for free, and nothing has granted with no sacrifice. Just to be clear: I'm not saying a blog is a sacrifice, I'm just using it as example of a busy life. Anyway, I promise my few readers to come back writing with more regular frequency.

«Me first», the new motto of the EU

Five years of economic crisis put in questions the old single ideals behind the EU architecture

"Hollande, save your citizens before saving the Greeks"

by Emanuele Bonini

Europe in a picture. French farmers asking to be helped before other peoples is perhaps the best representation of a change of mind which should be seen with concern. The common ideals of solidarity, union of peoples, single market are over. Or, in case they are not over yet, they are at stake. The economic crisis is hitting hardly everywhere, and every single government has to deal with a recovery which is mild and very slow. National interests are today the first priority in each national public opinion. Lithuanians first, Hungarians first, French first. Once the member States of the EU had in common the single project, today, on the contrary, they share single national priorities. Watching French people asking the French president to think about France before Greece can be understood, of course, but must bring to ask what about the common values. Officials in Brussels said recently the main problem is that Member States don't take into account the EU recommendations any longer. It happened with migration, it happened with Greece. Basically the so-called "central power" has lost power, with Member States who are acting in isolated manner. «United in diversity», the traditional motto of the European Union, today has been changed in «Me first». The main EU institution - the European Commission - is not considered any longer, and it has been replaced by a little group of States leading the political agenda. A very dangerous manner, since a confederation of State - what the EU is today - can work only if all the different States are united and have a common will. So, or the European Union turns the page and gets a federal organization through a huge political process or the confederation risks to collapse.

FACT SHEET / Turkish Stream & Turkish politics

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Putin to make Greece his gas supplier for Europe

Entering the EU from the Hellenic country, where already runs the TAP pipiline, Turkish Stream would make Athens a strategic player. Syriza leader is thinking about

(click to enlarge)

My article for eunews.it

Greece out of the single energy strategies? Everything is possible. Nobody knows what may mean an eventual Grexit, so nothing can be ruled out. Not even an energy rapprochement of Athens to Moscow - however in place - with a change in geopolitical balance. In eastern Europe the race for gas has been started since at least a decade, and this race involves several actors: energy companies, consortia, governments, associations of states (the EU). Economic interests, political games and changes in balances have turned and are continually turning the cards on the table, and pushing Greece out of the EU may open new scenarios. Starting from the end, the 1st of December, 2014, Russia and Turkey launched the Turkish Stream pipeline project in response to the EU blocks against South Stream, the pipeline controlled by Gazprom which was supposed to provide gas in Europe via Bulgaria. Given the diplomatic crisis between the EU and Russia due to the Ukrainian issue, what would happen if Moscow decided - as is doing - to realize Turkish Stream and hijack all gas currently flowing in Ukraine?

Prime minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras is seeking answers. On April Panagiotis Lafazanis, Energy Minister and man of Summit Syriza, was in Moscow to discuss energy questions and Turkish Stream. Tsipras himself met with Vladimir Putin, and actually is working in an international consortium in order to participate to the project. Greece, Serbia, the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia and Hungary are negotiating Russia, also because of a missing European energy union. The president of the Russian federation, Vladimir Putin is offering Athens the chance to be the key player for gas supplies in Europe. «The new route respond to European needs, making Greece one of the main distribution centres in the continent», said Putin during his last bilateral meeting with Tsipras. Turkish Stream will enter the territory of the EU through Greece, making the country the strategic hub for the European Union considering that on Greek soil will also run the TAP pipeline, which is expected to supply Europe via Albania and Italy. Putin's intentions are not to bad Tsipras. On the contrary the Greek premier is seriously considering what Russia is offering. «Our pipeline will receive gas from the Turkish border, ensuring energy security for Greece and the European market», stated Tsipras. So, what would happen in case Greece left the European market?

EU turned to a European Disunion

No mutual trust, no constructive spirit and egoism. What prerogatives to move forward?

opinion

Disappointment, disaffection, disregard. A European Disunion is what we have today. The plenary debate in Strasbourg was maybe the perfect image of the EU today. People complaining, accusing, blaming, screaming. Political groups fighting one against the other, MEPs hailing the Euro crisis in name of national autonomy, Spanish openly accusing «the arrogance of the German Government and the financial totalitarianism of banks». There is unbreathable air in Europe, with the tone of dialogue - whether it is possible to define it as dialogue - extremely deteriorated and just focus on holding against the partners what has been done during the past. There is no trust, and there is no constructive spirit. Without these prerogatives building bridges is totally impossible, dreaming cohesion even unthinkable. One of key messages coming from the European Parliament has been offered by Glenis Wilmots, a British member, and this sounds ironic considering the United Kingdom is reconsidering its EU membership and will hold a referendum on that. «Please, put your ego aside» are words which resound as a last desperate call for Europe. Nationalism and individualism are the tiny red line where the European governments lie. Looking at Europe in perspective, the only perspective possible can only be a strongest union, since today Europe appears to be on pieces. Rather than a European Union it is a European Disunion.

Lamberts: «Greece needs a debt restructuring»

The co-chair of the European Greens parliamentary group blames Tsipras' referendum, but - he adds - creditors haven't been wise

Philippe Lamberts

by Emanuele Bonini

In any case a negotiating table is need, because «if there is no negotiation there will be a default». The co-chair of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament, Philippe Lamberts, has no doubts. Whatever can be the outcome of the referendum in Greece, the two sides will have to restart negotiations. It won't be easy because the prime minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, is trusted by no one, even though creditors have their responsibilities as well.
Mr Lamberts, should Alexis Tsipras resign in case the Greeks will vote YES?
«I think it would be logical. The only logical scenario would be to resign and convene new elections, working to develop a way to remain within the Euro zone».
With new elections, who would be entitled to negotiate? A technocratic government, as suggested by Martin Schulz?
«I think Greece has the right to hold a referendum, and I find unacceptable what he said».
Given the fact the president of the European Commission campaigned for YES, should Jean-Claude Juncker resign in case the Greeks will vote NO?
«This referendum is not a choice between Tsipras and Juncker. This referendum is a decision on the conditions set by creditors».
What can we expect with a NO? A Grexit?
«I think we can expect a renegotiation within the Euro zone. But we haven't to omit a factor: humiliation. The creditors wanted to humiliate Greece, and if the conditions remain unchanged, we cannot exclude that Greece can decide to leave the Euro».
Juncker and the president of the Eurogroup said in case of victory Tsipras' position will be no stronger. On the contrary, it would be weaker. Do you agree?
Yes. Calling a referendum made all more complicated. Of course in case of victory Tsipras will have to renegotiate the debt within the Euro zone, but a solution is possible only if there is political will. Creditors had the impression Tsipras never wanted to reach an agreement, and I think he will have problems even in case of a victory. Both a NO scenario and a YES scenario are critical. The question now is to choose the lesser evil. If I were a Greek, I wouldn't know what to do.
Can we imagine a third program without the IMF, as proposed by Tsipras by asking an ESM financial assistance?
There is no way out with the IMF. They are creditors now, and creditors should be wise. Generally creditors act in order to have the loans repaid, but this was not the case of Greece. The IMF said that a debt restructuring was needed. The Greek debt restructuring took place in 2012, but it was not enough and it arrived two years later than the need. Then we saw the IMF say "we need a debt restructuring at my conditions", while the other said "we don't need a debt restructuring but new conditions". If creditors had proposed a debt restructuring, Greece would have accepted.
Was the referendum a right decision?
The referendum made the situation worse, and we are where we are.

Alexis Tsipras, a right battle with a wrong strategy

The leader of Syriza is trying to change Europe in a moment where scepticism for the EU ideas is rising up, but a lot of people turned against him

Alexis Tsipras

by Emanuele Bonini

 Alexis Tsipras represents an opportunity. Some people would say he is an hope, perhaps the last hope of Europe, but we can affirm with no doubt the Greek prime minister is an opportunity. He run for a change, and he's coherently asking for a change. The task is challenging, and for such a reason the confrontation can't be soft. If it is true that the current European Commission «is the last chance» for the European ideal, as Jean-Claude Juncker said when he took office, it is also true that Tsipras is a fresh air for the old and conservative European Union. Time for change is now, or it will be never. The entire Europe is at stake, not only Greece. The concept has been continuously repeated over the last months, by the Greek side as by the creditors side. Despite the allegations, Tsipras is acting to reform the Union while the creditors are acting to preserve the actual structure. There are two different ideas of Europe facing each other: the one of preserving the "status quo" and the one of change the rules. Tsipras belongs to the second school of thought. The problem is Tsipras and his minister of Finance, Yanis Varoufakis, made the situation more complicated through a wrong communication strategy and because of political mistakes. Tsipras could win his battle, but now the general environment changed. Of course everything is still possible, but as usually happens when there is a crisis, responsibilities lie in both sides. Let's try to analyse the situation.

Greece wants the IMF out of the Eurozone

The Hellenic government asked a new ESM financial assistance program. According to the EU laws the International Monetary Fund can be involved only «where appropriate»

Chrstine Lagarde, the IMF director

by Emanuele Bonini

Greeks want the IMF out of the negotiating table and out of the Eurozone. This is the idea behind the latest proposal from Greece, as written by the prime minister of the Hellenic Republic, Alexis Tsipras, in a letter sent to the presidents of the European Commissions, ECB and IMF the 30th of June. Together with the measures Tsipras engaged to put in place, the Greek prime minister asked «an extension of the expiring EFSF program and the new ESM loan agreement». The request itself appears to be surprising, since an extension of the expiring program (now expired, and so no longer extensible) would mean to accept the conditions set by creditors. At the same time a new program can mean a financial assistance without the involvement of the IMF. According to the main legal texts of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) when a Member State asks financial assistance it necessary table negotiations «between the Commission – acting on behalf of the ESM or the EFSF, in liaison with the European Central Bank (ECB) and, where appropriate, the IMF – and the beneficiary Member State on the possible policy conditions attached to that Member State's financial assistance». Basically treaty say that a direct involvement of the IMF is not automatic. On the contrary, the International Monetary Fund can participate only «where appropriate», which means "whether" appropriate. So, in case the other European Institutions don't consider appropriate to proceed with the IMF, the latter will be out of the game. The Greek latest proposal clearly wants to exclude the IMF from the restructuring of the Hellenic debt, but the problem is countries within the Eurozone don't agree. Especially Germany wouldn't like having a financial program without the IMF, and this represents one of the main challenges for Greece.

China to «play an active role» in Greek rescue

The prime minister of the PRC said Beijing is «ready to take all the necessary action» to save the country. In name of strategic interests

Li Keqiang

by Emanuele Bonini

People's Republic of China is «ready» to help Greece, said today the prime minister fo the PRC Li Keqiang, who didn't exclude a financial rescue of the Hellenic Republic by his country. «We are aware that Europe is living a critical moment because of the Greek debt issue», Li told reporters during the press conference held in Brussels ahead the EU-China summit. «This specific issue is a European internal affair, but whether Greece can stay or not within the Euro zone is not only a European concern but also a Chinese one». Asked about any Chinese financial assistance to Greece, the head of the PRC government didn't offer a clear answer but made very clear China will not remain at the window. «China will take all the necessary actions to see Greece in the Euro zone», he said. Without providing any further detail, Li Keqiang assured that «China is ready to play an active role» in order to safeguard the integrity of the Euro zone and that one of the EU.
Of course China has huge economic reason to save Europe, given that the PRC is the EU biggest supplier, with €279.9 billion worth of imported goods in 2013. Greece alone represents a strategic area for the Asiatic country. Beijing appears to view the Hellenic Republic as a regional hub for increasing its economic (and perhaps in the future political) influence in South-Eastern and Central Europe. According to Thanos Dokos, the Director-General of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), the current economic crisis cannot but increase the attractiveness of such a prospect for Athens. Cosco, a Chinese state-owned company, has invested approximately 570 million Euros in the port of Piraeus, with the promise of additional investment in the wider transport infrastructure sector (trains and airports). Thus China has strategic interests to defend in Europe and especially in Greece. Current crisis can seriously re-write the geopolitical order of the region.

Greece, the problem is nobody knows what to do

A Grexit is a case never experienced before, and there is not legal framework to deal with it

by Emanuele Bonini

The fact is nobody knows what to do. A financial crisis in the Eurozone never happened, and there are no procedures to follow. That's what Greece is about. No rules, no legal framework, nothing of all that. Even the treaties don't male clear what to do in case of financial insolvency of a member State. Leaving the Eurozone is an option everybody talks about, but there is not a trace on the treaties. Logically, it wouldn't be possible leaving the single currency without leaving the EU, but in practical terms there are not indications. All this means that neither the Eurogroup nor the European Union have the tools to deal with the Greek case. Maybe the ECB has, but we talk about instruments of monetary policy, and couldn't last for ever. In any case Europe is forced to give extemporary answers to the situation. It is not because of the EU itself, it is because the EU law doesn't foresees specific case like the one Europe is experiencing. Jitters and confusions are explained by that. We are in front of a situation which is totally new. This the «unexplored waters» some leaders talked about recently. A Grexit it something more a financial crisis. A Grexit is a phenomenon whose effects are totally unknown and, consequently, totally impossible to foresee. In somehow we can state that Europe is experiencing an historic moment, and there is no doubt about this. But the point is now Europe has to deal with a case never seen before. Temporary and extemporary measures will be the answer, and it doesn't sound good.
The president of the European Parliament was the first one and apparently the only one in Brussels to make clear that «the process under way is not foreseen by the Treaties», and as practical consequence of that «there is no legal  solution». But, he added during the press conference held at the end of an extraordinary meeting of the conference of President, «in time of crisis we should be creative». This really means Europe has to invent something to avoid the worst scenario. The point is: what can be invented? And secondly, what can be found in the very short term? These are the questions.

Europe is at a turning point

The idea of the single project is far far away from the fathers of the EU. Nations are prevailing on the Union, and divisions are leading discussions

Opinion

Europe is at a turning point. Perhaps it is still not so close to a point of non return, but of course Europe is at turning point. In less than forty-eighy hours it has been shown the lack of unity of the European Union. Greece, migrations, and British membership were the three main items put on the table, and what happened? On Greece there was no deal, on migration there was no single answer to the problem. At last only referendum on a possible Brexit was discussed by leader. Well, honestly the British prime minister David Cameron just informed that the referendum will be hold in 2017 as foreseen, and it would be enough to understand where Europe is today. Member states reconsidering the single project is something doesn't sound good. Before leaving Brussels the Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi stated that an agreement on migration «is important for Italy, but is important above all for the idea of Europe». This is true, but the point today is a review process in under way. More than a single country is changing mind with regard of the EU project. Having to summarize the current EU in a slogan, we could say «no decisions, just divisions».

EU summit, a chronicle of a death foretold?

Among the items, tomorrow leaders will discuss migration and Greece. Europe is not really ready for none of the hottest topics, and an epic failure is just behind the corner

by Emanuele Bonini

Tomorrow the European leaders are supposed to find a solution on the hottest topic of the EU agenda, but please don't expect any happy ending story. On the contrary, be ready for a chronicle of a death foretold. On Greece everything is put in questions by the so called “Institutions”, who consider the Greek proposal too focused on tax raise rather than cut of public expenditure. The general understanding is Greece will fulfil the parameters requested by creditors, falling in the a new recession due to the unsustainable tax policy. The risk is in few months Greece will need new bail-outs, something both the IMF and the European member States more involved - those who need a parliamentary vote for every assistance programme - don't want.

At the same time the European Commission and the EU member States are fighting on migration. According to the twenty-eight delegations the mandatory quota approch doesn't work, while according to the EU Commission vice-president Frans Timmermans it's true the opposite. «The voluntary approach doesn't work». In Europe all agreed the proposal submitted by the European Commission was not the right solution: twelve member States (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Hungary) are against the mandatory system of relocation, at least other ten (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden) want to set new conditions and new parameters to estabish the repartition of migrants, and other two countries (Greece and Italy) who would like more asylum seekers to be redistributed. 

Considering migration and Greece will be on the table tomorrow at the European Council meeting, it is possible to see how Europe be unite and how the leaders will arrive at the debate. Right now in Europe there is no convergence, and this the picture the EU is offering to the audience. Tomorrow the failure could be complete.

«Haggling number of asylum seekers is cynical»

Verhofstad: European leaders talks about solidarity and then reject proposals

by Emanuele Bonini

It is not a shame, «it is cynical to see leaders haggling over the number of asylum seekers», according to European liberal and democrats group (Alde) leader Guy Verhofstadt. In his opinion «member States speak of solidarity when they publicly mourn the people dying, but then behind closed doors they reject proposals by the European Commission which would put in place a fair system for the distribution of asylum seekers between the Member States». Europe, recalled the liberal MEPs, is facing «the most serious migration crisis since the end of the second world war» and the EU lacks of will. «We cannot pretend this crisis will go away on its own», stressed Verhofstadt. Thousands of migrants continue to arrive in Europe, while EU Member States «seem set to reject minimal proposals by the European Commission to secure the resettlement of 40.000 asylum seekers». Latest compromise reached in Luxembourg during the Internal affairs council meeting didn't produce any result. In line of principle member States agreed to help Greece and Italy, but no quotas were set. «Binding but voluntary» groups of migrants is the formula used to mean that there is no intention of respecting the agenda proposed by the European Commission. Governments want to redefine the criteria for establishing the final amount of people to resettle in the member States, in any case to be accepted after national decision rather than after a European imposition. Italian prime minister Matteo «is right», conclude Verhofstadt. «The migration crisis is not just a challenge for the Italian government». in fact it is a seriousness test for everybody.

Paddington? A typical example of migrant

The popular bear is more than a fictional character for children

by Emanuele Bonini

Probably it doesn't need presentations, because is a well famous character. It is British, but not really. We talk about Paddington, the bear who brought smiles and happiness to all the kids in the United Kingdom and beyond. Because still remaining an important character of the British culture, Paddington bear is in the house of many and many people all around the world. It's impossible to imagine what moms tell their children when they read about Paddington's adventures, but it would be useful to keep in mind that Paddington is first of all a migrant. Of course it is a nice and sweet teddy bear, but it basically remains a migrant. Let explain this to our children, let start reading between the lines, and maybe one day they will discover migrants don't represent a threat. Paddington Bear is a fictional character in children's literature created by Michael Bond, and appeared for the first time in 1958. In the first story, Paddington is found at Paddington railway station in London by the Brown family, sitting on his suitcase with a note attached to his coat that reads «Please look after this bear. Thank you». It is explained that the bear comes from the deepest Perù.

The disgusting hypocrisy of Europe on migration

All divided on redistribution, all unite on return. Always ready to exploit African resources, never ready to accept Africans. The EU agenda? A way to say we don't want anybody

Opinion

Wouldn't be easier and more honest say Europe doesn't want immigrants? What we are seeing with the European debate on the agenda for migration is a pitiful and shameful show. Something really disgusting, I would add. Resettlement? Relocation? Redistribution? Nothing of all that. The European agenda for migration is nothing but return. People arriving in Europe have to be identified and pushed back to their country of origin, and that's it. European leader clearly agreed on that. The European answer to this humanitarian crisis has to be a European mechanism of identification and return. Don't call it expulsions, because it is about no admission that we talk about. It doesn't matter where people are coming from, the key point is that people entitled to get the refugee status can stay, while all the other have to leave. The main political issue is how to save face both at home and outside. After an extraordinary European Council summit meeting summoned in order to find a solution to the migration flows, European leaders have to show their capacity in delivering of outcomes. At the same time they can't say their national electors that they are going to spend energy or money to take care of foreigners. Hypocrisy is ruling Europe right now.

FACT SHEET / European Parliament political groups

EFDD and ENF are both expression of Euroscepticism

Far-right anti-EU parties form a political group

Marine Le Pen will chair Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF), the new entity of the European Parliament. Xenophobic decision makers gain 17.5 million Euro

by Emanuele Bonini

Far-right Euroscepticism found a political house in the European Parliament, thanks to the new Europe of Nations and Freedom group formed today. French National Front leader Marine Le Pen announced the rise of the new coalition, formed by the most xenophobic parties in Europe. ENF group is in fact represented by FN (France), Lega Nord (Italy), Pvv (the Netherlands), Fpo (Austria), Vlaams Belangs (Belgium), former UKIP MEP Janice Atkinson (United Kingdom), and two MEPs from KNP (Poland), Michał Marusik and Stanisław Żółtek. Anti-EU, anti-Euro and anti-immigration, the new block wants to re-shape the traditional political agenda. «The EU is not the right way», said Marine Le Pen, who will chair the ENF group. «Ours will be a political force that will go far beyond our previous situation. We’re here for our peoples, for their freedoms».
  Far-right parties tried to form a political group already one year ago, immediately after the European general elections. In that occasion was not possible meet the minimum requirements (at least 25 members from at least 7 different countries of the EU). Marine Le Pen «now takes her rightful place at the front of the European Parliament in opposition to the Brussels cartel», stated Janice Atkinson, among those who made the creation of the group possible. With 36 MEPs already registered, the ENF group is supposed to reach 40 members in the coming days, when the Parliamentary delegations currently in mission outside Europe will be back. The creation of a political group grants far-right eurosceptic parties grants 17.5 million Euros over the remaining four years of the Parliament.

bLOGBOOK - The scapegoat

A special section dedicated to special people and special memories. A book might not be enough, but collecting some words doesn't hurts

Chapter 2: Paola 

The scapegoat is an ancient and mythological figure, but in modern times scapegoat refers to someone who is unfairly blamed by others for problems. She is our scapegoat just because of that. Nicknames have always uncertain origins, and in this sense she is not an exception. Probably she started to be called "scapegoat" after that famous night, when her former boyfriend started to scream against her in the middle of a party, apparently with no real practical reasons. I think everything started that night. From that night - a night still living in our minds - she officially became the scapegoat. I met Paola well before that night, when she was still a secondary school. I started to deal with her only after that period, once both of us went to the university. I guess it had just question of time: our small towns are truly small, and very very close each other, so it was logic and natural we found together after all. I started to remember Paola as a restless girl, always in movement and constantly in searching of some experience. Somebody could call al that will to live, and it wouldn't be wrong. Everything was supposed to be something to discover and to share. OK, she's not an easy person (it's she who repeats to be «grumpy», and I have to say I can't deny), but she always liked being with other people. Among Paola's skills there is that one of socialization. Left alone in an empty room she could easily find the way to socialise with ants. Of course at last she will find the way to get out of there, too. But this another story. But her very particular special power is finding a parking. With her leaving the car somewhere is never a problem. If I think that I probably have a super-hero for friend and that the same person is known as "scapegoat", I can't avoid thinking how unfair life can be. But that's life, and in particular a scapegoat life.