Lesson of democracy from Pakistan

No press point foreseen at the EU-India summit made Asian reports upset

by Emanuele Bonini

«There is no respect not only for press and freedom of information, there is no respect for citizens, who must know». The decision of not holding any press conference at the end of the EU-India summit raised complaints from Pakistan. No jokes, no fakes. OK, rivalry between India and Pakistan is well known and still huge for historical reasons. Nevertheless, Pakistani journalists sent to Brussels to cover the event reacted by blaming the decision of so-called «democracies» to act as non-democracies. From a western point of view, Pakistan is not take as one of the major examples of democracy, but from the East came lessons of democracy from Pakistani reporters. The traditional final press conference has been «cancelled», apparently under Indian pressure. Issues like human rights and the Italian marines are still sensitive, and this could be the reason behind the agenda changes. «I could understand China which is not a democracy, but India is supposed to be as well as Europe, so...».
Pakistan pressmen can't believe in the 21st century media opportunities are deleted just because of guests' request, and for Western people is hard to see that in Asia there is a deeper sense for democratic values than in the supposed land where democracy was born (just in theory, apparently). Western people can't believe democracy is so weak in front of non-democratic economic power, but apparently are especially non-Westerns to be shocked. Tomorrow Eastern press will tell stories about the European model in contrast with European own interest and credibility. But that's it.

Pressmen, chapter 9

Feed the press to feel the press

Wherever there is a free meal, wherever there is a buffet, wherever a lunch is offered, whenever a cocktail meeting takes place, there you will find a pressman. Beside the pressmen's commandments is the principle by which no information feed is possible without feeding the information makers, which means nothing but journalists alone consume a huge quota of world food stock. «Feed the press to feel the press», that's the rule! That's the way. Sometimes the path to pass from feeling the press and feeling depressed is very short, but that's another story. Anyway, whenever press is not fed, the press always find the way for a self-service! It has been proved pressmen are able to eat everything up alone, and this is why the press world will never die of starvation. So, in case of no food moment, every editor is ready to revise the agenda and delete all the press events when their men are not treated as deserved. That's the reason why in every important event free food is given to correspondents, since this is a guarantee that press will attend. At the same time organizers will be sure journalists are not going to write too negative reports just because of lunch. This is not corruption, this is nothing but business. Remember: coverage rhymes with beverage! Thus, if you want friendly media or simply media coverage reports you have to create the right environment offering at least something to drink. At least. After all if diplomacy and decision happen around a table, the same can happen with information. Most of the time those who write negative stories are the journalist who hadn't be invited.

«No difference between Daesh and PKK»

Turkish prime minister called EU against Kurds, whose fate is now more doomed 

Kurds showing a PKK flag

by Emanuele Bonini

There is no future for Turkish Kurds. The prime minister of Turkey made it clear during his last visit in Brussels, last Friday. Since the Turkish Kurds still sustain the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), listed as terrorist organization, this minority has to be treated as deserved. «There is no difference between Daesh and PKK», stated Ahmet Davutoglu during the press conference held with the president of the European Council, Donald Tusk. The prime minister of Turkey criticised the EU attitude in leaving Kurds demonstrating against the government of Ankara while showing flags of PKK and his leader, Abdullah Ocalan. According to Davutoglu, no possibilities of strike have to granted to Kurds who support PKK. «We must not to make difference between terrorists. No matter if they are PKK or other organizations». These statements had just the political purpose of renew the alliance against Kurd. The European Union declared the Kurdistan Workers' Party a terror organization already in 2001 (after US pressure following the 9/11 attacks), and the prime minister of Turkey only recalled the need of closing both eyes in front of the Kurd issue. Something Europe is going to grant in return of Turkish engagement on migration. Davutoglu's speech sounded like nothing but a farewell to Kurds.

«Alarmist role of media over Italian migration debate»

EESC found «evidence of ethnic filters» and unaccidental misinformation all around refugees

by Emanuele Bonini

Information manipulation and racism together make Italy. This is the equation used to describe the country by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in the mission report on Italy published today. Written with the purpose of focus on the migration issue management, the report showed a country with a lot huge problem, where the approach in communication is just on of the many underlined by the EU organism. EESC come to the conclusion that in Italy «the public debate on migration is often manipulated for political purposes before the elections and the media tend to present an alarmist viewpoint, presenting migrants as invaders, stealing work, committing crimes, etc». In making this, «individual cases are portrayed as general rule». So, rather than a migration issue in Italy appears to be an Italian problem with information and media use and control. This should sound as an alarm bell, given that generally - and often practically, too - speaking of manipulation of the debate can mean having problems with democracy. In the best scenario, Italy only has problems with accountability of journalists, but it doesn't seem to be the case. As pointed out in its report, the European Economic and Social Committee there are those who believe there is «the need to de-politicise the question of immigration», while at operational level was it has been confirmed that «discrimination on the basis of country of origin is happening at the Hotspots». So in one hand there is a problem of an instrumental debate over migration, while on the other hand there is racism. EESC had no doubt: in Italy «there is some evidence of ethnic filters». And what does ethnic filter mean? Don't ask Italian media...

When Orban said «EU should tell migrants not to come»

In september 2015 the Hungarian leader was seen as a provoker, but six months later the EU shared the same views on migration

 

Viktor Orban

  by Emanuele Bonini

Finally we discovered Viktor Orban was right. The Hungarian prime minister was the first political leader outside Brussels saying Europe should tell migrants «not to come», and after six months it really happened. It was September the 3rd, 2015, when Orban paid visit to the president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz. In that occasion the Hungarian head of government travelled to the capital city of the EU to defend his idea offences... Sorry, to defend his idea of fences. He just announced the intention of closing the border as response to the migration flows. Few days after the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, friendly called Orban «dictator» making irony on Hungarian decision on migration issues. On March the 3rd, 2016, it was a EU leader to say migrants «not to come». The president fo the European Council, Donald Tusk, has broken the political line held by the EU institutions until that moment, sharing Orban's views and publicly recognising all the difficulties Europe has been having in dealing with the refugee crisis. «I want make an appeal to potential illegal economic migrants: don't come to Europe» stated Tusk in the occasion of his tour in the capital cities of the Western Balkans countries. This shows how Europe changed its mind meanwhile, or how is simply divided. Somebody else could talk about hypocrisy. And he would risk not to be so wrong.
Only six months ago EU leaders thought migration was not a problem. On the contrary, they believed it was a phenomenon easy to deal with. At that time the only problem for Europe was Orban and his personal idea of democracy and democratic values. Of course Orban still represent a problem for democracy - so for Europe, as well-  but now the Orban is not alone and, as a consequence, he is not the only problem. There is a migration issue turned become more than a problem, a real trouble in front of which the EU Member States are acting along the path open in Hungary and carried on all across Europe. When at EU level the common strategies are put in question, it is licit to think no step forward will be made. In fact, we are assisting Europe moving steps back. We can see in policies, in the removal of human rights, in the denial of the basic European values. We saw that in all the fences have been built up and down Europe. When Orban said «EU should tell migrants not to come» he was considered nothing but a provoker. Now he is a new cardinal point of a Europe more and more confused and lost.
 

bLOGBOOK - Spotted in Brussels

(Archive image. Click to enlarge)

bLOGBOOK - Dream a little dream of her

She was there. In my dreams, of course. She was standing in front of the window, enjoying the sun light filtering through the curtains. She couldn't see me, having her back to me. But I had the impression she knew I was there in the room, right in that moment. Or maybe she only expected I was coming, as I expected to find the person I was looking for. But the person I was searching was not her, and she was there. I couldn't be mistaken, and I wasn't. I recognised immediately her figure. I moved only a few step forward, without saying anything. The soft carpet down on the floor made no possible to produce footsteps, but she perceived my presence and she turned around. She was exactly as I could remember, maybe even beautiful. She was dressed in beige, encased in a nice, simple but elegant suit of the kind she used to wear. She was holding a cat in her arms, caressing it gently as the pet was her own child.
«I told you I wanted one. Look how cute is this cat. Isn't it so cute?»
That was all she said. She didn't added anything, neither did I. She remained there silently, caressing the cat and showing proudly the animal. She didn't look at me. She had never done. I tried to see her moves, but nothing happened. She was immersed in thoughts as I was lost in dreams. I perfectly knew I was living in a dream, but in that moment I said myself not to awake. Sometimes love can be silent, and I was loving that silence. Then she turned around again, coming back to stand in front of the window enjoying the sun light filtering through the curtains with her cat in her arms. It was there, in that precise moment I realised nightmares can be terribly cruel because terribly sweet.
«Well», I said. «Unless you have anything to tell me, it's time to go. I have someone to look for».
I didn't get replies. She had her back to me, and I couldn't look in her eyes for a last time.
«So... Goodbye»
I entered in silence and I left in silence. That bright, white room, was perhaps the darkest experience of my imaginary universe. I still had no idea who I had to find, but I had to restart my research.
«I have to get someone», I repeated myself. That someone wasn't her.

A Slovakian drama over Europe

After general elections, the country is offering EU a rotating presidency with no pro-European attitude. Alternatives are no functioning governments or political crisis during the semester

National Council seats allocation after Slovakia elections

by Emanuele Bonini

After Belgium will be the turn for Slovakia? Many people in Europe are looking at the eastern republic after the general elections that gave an unpredictable future not only to the country. Since the next rotating presidency of Council of the EU will be Slovak, what is going to happen in the country will hit the European agenda and Europe as a whole. The centre-left Social Democracy SMER, party of the outgoing Slovak prime minister Robert Fico, will be probably not in the position of forming a government due to a lack of clear majority in the Parliament and the rise of right-wing parties. SMER remained the first party in the country, but it could be not enough to rule the country itself. There is the risk of a national political impasse, which could affect the political activity at European level, where strong commitment and great coordination are required (and hoped, considering the hot dossier on the table) together with a pro-European spirit. This is something Slovakia will be never able to offer. Fico himself, a socialist, announced to appeal the European Court of Justice against the decision of a binding relocation mechanism of migrants, refusing any idea of quotas imposed by Brussels. Fico's next partners won't be more light in their political position, since the SMER leader could share the government with euroskeptics.

«Tax on car use rather than its possession»

Belgium at work to radically change the mobility culture with an ambitious plan

by Emanuele Bonini

The green revolution is ready. Belgian authorities are rethinking the national taxation policy, shifting taxes from car property to its use. It would be a legal way of imposing a carbon tax in order to reduce pollution and boost the public transport services provided by local administrations. Taxation per kilometres rather than road tax is the answer for the kingdom of Belgium according to the Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB), the only multi-sector employer organisation representing companies in Belgium’s three region. There is «the need of taxing car use rather than its possession», FEB wrote in its plan for mobility. Together with a new taxation policy, the set of proposals asked for «the improvement of public transport». Furthermore, it is foreseen a special «budget for mobility». In practice it means employers will stop offering company cars but, on the contrary, they offer an amount of money to spend to move in and out the city leaving the employees the choice of the solution the consider as the best to travel. «It's time to act», stated the FEB chief executive officer, Pieter Timmermans. «The mobility problems affect our economy», he added. FEB estimated that only in Belgium every year 51 hours are wasted in traffic, with a total economic loss of nearly 9 billion Euro. Possible solutions have now been set and put on the table. It's to politics to decide about, but a the impression is Belgium is preparing a green revolution for a more sustainable transport system. We will see.

Ticket prices at crazy amounts in Champions League

More than half of seats available for the final match to be more expensive thant the previous year despite no inflation in Europe

by Emanuele Bonini

Despite the very low inflation rates in Europe, ticket prices for the UEFA Champions League final rose more than 10%. It can appears weird, especially looking at the latest figures, but it is not. In times of business there is no other rule but business. So, who care about football? Just those who can make money with it. The idea of sport was over when for the first time sponsors appeared on jerseys, and then that new idea finally prevailed making soccer nothing than an expression of capitalism. The richest ones win, the poorest ones go home. So Champions league became a competition only for few teams, although it was decided to go beyond the idea of Champions League to honour business. Having a competitions called Champions League with no champions doesn't make sense, but it makes money, a lot of money. At the end Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich are the football teams always seriously accredited to be the final winners of the cup, of course because they have money to but all the best players on the market. Forget Nottingham Forest, don't imagine Aston Villa succeed again, unless Arabians start invest their petrodollars there. Of course, with the idea of a soccer not for fun, with the idea of a soccer not for all it is not a new having a very expensive ticket for the Champions League final scheduled the 28th of May. The most affordable ticket will cost 70€ per person, but here there are no changes compared to the previous year. The real difference is for the 56% of total tickets available and reserved for the highest category of price. Seats reservable at 280€ per person in 2015 will cost this year 320 € (+14,2%), while tickets sold last year at 390€ will cost this season 440€ (+12,22%). In any case prices are not affordable for everybody, but business is for those can make business. And soccer is business. Far from business, where soccer is still a popular sport in the sense of the term «popular», getting a ticket for a match can be very very cheap, only 1€ and even less. We talk about the Russian Football Premier League, a national competition providing local teams to the European Champions League.