Three main challenges for Europe in 2016

The year that is going to end has been very difficult for Europe.

The Greek crisis, the situation in Syria, the immigration, the terrorist attacks are the main events of 2015. Europe seems always weaker and disoriented, unable to take any leadership as political subject in the World.

Next year doesn't look easier. There will be at least 3 main challenges that Europe will have to face.

First, the economic crisis is not ended yet. The solution found for Greece seems more a palliative that a real answer to the problems of the Country. Also Finland is not passing a good period caused by the relations with Russia and for the problems with Nokia, it can become the new sick man of Europe. Will be Europe able to mitigate and solve the economic contrasts between the different Countries?

Second: the international context is getting more and more complex. Isis, the contrasts between Russia and Turkey and the Syrian war are exasperating the international relations. Will be Europe able to manage the tensions at her borders?

Third and last, Europe has lost credibility this year. The European institutions were outclassed by the leadership of one Country - Germany. Many voices were raised against terrorism and Isis, but not a unique action was really agreed. Euro is always more criticized, but nothing have been done to mitigate the social contrasts and to propose a new governance. Will be Europe able to do it in 2016?

Will be Europe able to transform herself in a political subject?

History can always change.

Happy New Year!

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Three reasons we don't need to be scared of Marine Le Pen

The win of "Le Front National" in the first turn of the Regional Elections in France few days ago has started a wide debate in Europe.

Marin Le Pen, who lead the party since 2011, has very clear ideas on important topics: end of Euro, stop immigration, protectionism, no same-sex marriage, just to mention the main ones.

Will she be able to win the Presidential Elections in 2017? And if she was President, what could it happen to Europe?

I think we shouldn't be scared of Marine Le Pen for three main reasons.

First, even if the Front National is an important political force, it represents still a minority in France. PS and Republicans still hold the majority of the electorate.

Second, in two years everything can happen. The mood of the electorate can change suddenly, and moreover, the voting logics are very different from the local to the national level.

Third and the most important, European Union needs a political shock. It wasn't enough Syriza and the ghost of Grexit, not enough what it is happening in Syria. Maybe the political and economical establishment need to imagine a France led by Marine Le Pen in order to start thinking a new idea of Europe. 

Never too late.

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Europe! If you can hear us, knock once for yes!

In Paris there was a terroristic attack never seen before. Brussels was blocked for days, becoming a kind of ghost city. 

On the other side of Europe, in Turkey, the tensions inside the country are every day increasing. Few days ago a prominent pro-Kurdish, lawyer and human rights activist, Tahir Elci has been shot dead in the south-east of the country.

Over all, in the international arena, the contrasts between Turkey and Russia could weaken the efforts against Isis. An important effect on the main problem that is currently affecting the security of Europe.

But the question is: where is Europe itself?

It is in such a difficult situation that the most important economic and political subject in the area should have the leadership for facing the crisis. Instead, as usual, Europe speaks with different voices, bringing different national interests.

The absence of Europe in these days is impressive. It is so evident that we should have a European Intelligence, a European Security System, and overall a European Political view. 

Terrorism, economic crisis, international contrasts cannot be solved by one Country or by coalitions. We need a subject that can lead the crisis and not that just suffer the decision of economic lobbies and external political powers. 

The political question of the European integration has been postponed for too long time. It is the moment to take an action in this sense. 

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Paris attacks: how media and politics generate fear and hate

After the terroristic attacks in Paris, the fist feelings of everybody have been fear and shock.

It is impressive to see a bar where died bodies lie near the tables of the terrace. It is so easy to imagine yourself there. It is automatic to think that it could happen in the bar behind the corner of your street, where maybe you are used to drink a cappuccino on Sunday morning.

The feelings of these days couldn't be different. It was the same after 9/11 and after the attacks in Madrid and London. People died in those attacks have their story and their face, so close to our story and to our face.

What is intolerable is the reactions we have seen from media and from politics in the last week.

From one side, media pointed out the aggression to France without considering almost at all what happened few days before in Beirut (40 people died and more than 200 injured). They didn't put the same rhetoric when the attack at the Russian airplane caused 224 dead persons.

From politics, rhetoric is combined with a blind decisionism. From one hand we have heard embarrassing comments about immigrants and refugees. From the other, we have assisted to worthless reactions, like many raid in Syria that for sure have caused many other dead.

Media and politics put always our society at the centre of the World. They don't try to understand, they just want to emphasize the situations in order to have more readers or followers and more electors.

The only products is fear. And fear generates hate. Will it be a war between hates?

We can just hope that this massacre in Paris will open our eyes on the reality. Even if fear seems leading us towards the opposite direction.

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The decline of Berlusconi - le retour de la momie?

Few days ago, Silvio Berlusconi participated in a political meeting in Bologna (the most left-oriented city in Italy) that has ratified the alliance with the Lega Nord party.

Berlusconi and the leader of Lega Nord Matteo Salvini

Is this a return of Berlusconi?

Two considerations are needed to answer.

First, the season of the former Prime Minister ended years ago. He was the head of the Government for four times in the last  20 years. He was the deus ex machina of the Italian political system also having a large support of the electorate and a huge power in the Parliament. But if we consider the results he got, we can just see a lack of decisionism and a weakness against the main lobbies of the country.

Second, if he was able to come back to the political scene, it would be anyway as support of Matteo Salvini, the leader of Lega Nord, who has radicalized the political debate with positions xenophobes and anti-Eu. The risk for Berlusconi is to become a mascotte more than a leader.

We all remember when he left Palazzo Chigi for the last time (November 2011). When he decided to participate in the political elections 2013 Libération cover had the title "Le retour de la momie?" and Berlusconi's face. 

Who is writing this post has never been a supporter of Berlusconi. Anyway, it is very sad seeing a person of 79 years who has not the strength to leave the political scene. An act that could facilitate the creation of new forces in the centre-right political area.

Yesterday Helmut Shmidt died. He served as Chancellor of West Germany from 1974 to 1982. When he left the Government and the Parliament in the 80s, he continued to make politics in a non-institutional way. Another kind of politician.

Libération (2012)
Regarding the participation of Berlusconi at the Political Elections 2013 after having left the Government in 2011

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Elections in Poland: the victory of the fear

The result of the last political elections in Poland has caused a wide debate in Europe about their consequences. But nobody has tried to understand why Law and Justice won those elections.

Poland is one of the most important economies in Europe. Its GPD grew up also during the last years of crisis. Many foreign companies invested in Poland for the low salaries and for the high-level education system. Last but not least, Poland received a huge amount of money in the last twenty years from Eu. 

So why have not the government of Tusk Party been confirmed?

Two main reasons.

First. a part of the country has not been touched by the development. A large part of the population is poor and the salaries are still too low, even if the cost of life in many cities raised quickly in the last years. It means that the discrepancy between riches and poor has increased deeply.

Second, the changes have arrived probably too quickly. This has caused fear and confusion in a society quite homogeneous and with a long history of communism. 

The position of Law and Justice towards immigration, European Union and homosexuality is alarming. But its victory is just another sign that something is wrong in the communication of the idea of Europe. And something is wrong in this kind of economic development. 

It is time to reflect about that.

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Why did the austerity coalition win in Portugal?

The elections that took place in Portugal recently designed an original situation in Europe. After four years of austerity strongly imposed by the Troika, the victory of the centre-right government of the premier Pedro Passos Coelho was unexpected.

The mistakes of the Socialist Party during the electoral campaign is just one of the factors that influenced the results. And even if Bloco de Esqueda (Left Block) took more than 10%, it is a good result but far from similar anti-austerity forces like Podemos and Syriza.

There are two other main reasons.

First, Portugal is currently crossing an economic growth, au contraire than in Greece and Spain. GDP grew up of 1.4% in the last year, especially thanks to the export (40% of total). 

Secondly, Portuguese society seems very conservative, not inclined to changes, even if the consequences of austerity were very strong. Moreover, especially among youngsters, indifference for politics is very common.

Is Portugal an example to follow or a specific case not applicable abroad?

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3 possible scenarios after the Catalan Elections

In Catalonia the new Parliament is going to be led by the Independentists. This can bring important consequences in Spain and in Europe.

We can see at least three different scenarios. 

First. The win of the Independents can start a democratic process for the independence of Catalonia. This could create a domino effect in other Countries, like in Scotland or Belgium. The tensions could increase and new referendum could take place in those countries. 

Second. Madrid imposes its power and no changes will be done in the relation with Catalonia. This could create a very fluid and nervous situation. The unilateral declaration of independence of Barcelona could be an unexpected outcome. And after that, the unpredictable reaction of the Central Government.

Third, the most probable, the new strong power of the Independentists could reasonably bring to a new Constitution with a real federalism. This option could preserve the unity of the State giving, at the same time, an answer to the request of autonomy by Catalonia.

Above all, we have to consider that the 47,7% of votes for the independence is not the majority. This means that the will to leave Spain is not prevalent in Catalonia. And this is a date, not an opinion.

Considering all, a new Federal Constitution seems the best solution possible.

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Volkswagen scandal: there is nothing to enjoy

It is a normal human feeling to enjoy when the first of the class makes a mistake.

In the case of the VW scandal, we are not just talking about a good student, but about the excellence in the automotive market, one of the best symbol of Germany, the richest and most powerful country in Europe, our model and our inflexible teacher.



But few numbers can give us the dimension of this fraud.

11 million vehicles affected (around 3 only in Germany), 18 billion Euros as potential penalty by the Us environment Agency Epa, 35% of value lost in Stock exchange.

Moreover, the total production of VW in 2014 touched 10 million units, with an income of 11 billion.

Looking at the numbers, it seems like this fraud can delete the production of one entire year. The consequences of this scandal will deeply affect the brand of VW, but moreover, they will impact on the production.

The CEO already resigned, with a possible bonus of 25 million Euros. But we are not considering the most important number of Volkswagen: the 592,586 employees around the World. What will it happen to this people?

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Greece - the elections of the disillusionment

The elections of the 20th September 2015 will be remembered as the most apathetic of the last years in Greece.

After the enthusiasm of July for the referendum about the new agreement between Eu and Greece, the defeat of Tsipras has made mostly indifferent the population towards who will lead the Country in the next years.

Tsipras has won with more or less the same percentage (around 35%) Syriza got in the last elections in January. Also Golden Dawn and Nea Democratia reached a similar result.

The real winner has been the abstention. Just the 53% of the Greeks went to vote, one of the lowest result ever registered in the elections.

Is this surprising?

Of course not, for people who voted 5 times in the last 6 years with no effects of the policies imposed by Brussels.

The real problem in Europe is that the lost of sovereignty of the States (Greece first), doesn't really correspond to an increase of power of the only democratic European Institution. The Parliament, of course.

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Present and past in Wrocław: a complicate relationship

Have you ever been in Wrocław? 

Wrocław is one of the most dynamic city in Poland. Many Corporations have their delivery centers there, the local University is considered one of the best of the Country. It is also a very international city, with many foreigners who work and many Erasmus students attracted by the intense nightlife and by the low cost of life.

The new Bus Station

Huge investments have been made to give a new face to Wrocław. Now the city has a new airport and also the train station has been recently renovated. Wrocław hosted some matches of Euro 2012 and it will be also the European Capital of Culture in 2016.

The new Airport

The time of communism seems very far. Even if the heritage of that period is evident everywhere: from the typical communist blocks of apartments, to the architecture of the buildings, or in the structure of the streets.

But, which is the relation between the present and the past in Wrocław?

It seems complicated.

There is the strong will to show the new Polish development, but sometimes changing turns into deleting the past. Malls are everywhere in the city and recently also the old bus station have been demolished to give space to a new mall (the third in that area – for further information click here).

Market Square

The idea of building up new palaces instead of renovating the existing ones cannot be always the best option. In ten years we will see just malls and new buildings and no memories of the past.

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The numbers of the Syrian Crisis

In these days migration is the key word on all the media in Europe. The increase of the numbers of refugees, especially from Syria, has brough different answers from the Eu Countries and the debate about how to manage the crisis is still open.

But what do we know about Syria war? Which are the numbers that can explain us the tragedy that is going on in this Country?

The Syrian war started in 2011 during the Arab Spring, with protests against the president Bashar al-Assad. The conflict sees many different actors: the national Army (supported also by Hezbollah), ISIS, the Free Syrian Army and other forces.

The number of victims seems currently close to 300 thousand, under severe human rights violations.

The gravity of this situation has caused the displacement of around 7 million of Syrians (out of 18 millions in total). It is estimated that 4 million people moved abroad from Syria to  Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

More than a million is currently in Lebanon (that has a population of 4.5). Turkey accepted almost 2 million of refugees.

The situation in Syria is every day worst. And that is why people are leaving the Country.

At the same time the reaction of Europe has been, as always lately, incoherent and egoistic. Even if Eu is a leading donor for the crisis with 3.9 billion Euros, the treatment of the refugees has not been the best possible, as we have seen recently in Greece (left alone to face the immigration) and in Hungary.

Number of refugees per Country since 2011 (NYT)

Europe is the richest area in the World. It is not acceptable that it doesn't take actions in a humanitarian crisis that is happening at its borders.

The voice of Germany that wants to change the rules of the European immigration policy, seems finally a good start for changing direction. Let's hope that there won't be just words, but also facts.

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Working abroad? Wonderful...but where?

Everyone, at least once in his life, has thought to live and work abroad. It can be interesting, usefull for language skills and a good plus on the curriculum.

Leaving your Country is a very good decision. Even if it can be the best place in the word, you will find always something more interesting abroad.

But the main question - once you have decided to move abroad - is: where to go?

Of course, if there is a "sentimental relation" as cause, the Country destination is obvious (almost always). But if you have to take this decision objectively the answer can be more difficult.

You can choose your destination on the basis of the average salary you can earn. In this case cities like Zurich or Copenhagen can be the right choice. But it is not so easy to get a job over there because the competition is very high and the skills required are very specific.

If the most important thing is to taste a multicultural environment, for sure the destination should be a European Capital. London or Paris, Dublin or Berlin, all can be the perfect city to discover new cultures, meet people from all over the World and find a good job. The only possible problem is that these cities attract many foreigners, so the competition is very high and it can pass a lot of time till you find a job.

The third option is to move to Eastern Europe. In Poland, Hungary or Bulgaria there are many positions available, less competition than in other most famous cities and at the same time an unexpected international environment (due to many corporations that installed outsourcing centers over there). The negative aspect is the salary, still much lower than in the Western Europe.

Anywhere you want to go, you should be patient and motivated. Moreover, you need to be optimistic and prepared to sacrifices.

Good luck!

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The right to say NO

Yesterday Greeks decided. 

After many years of austerity that didn't bring any positive results in the economy and, overall, in the people life, Greeks have decided that was enough.

Celebrations in Syntagma Square (Athens)

It was enough to be oppressed by reforms that have made the Country much poorer that ten years ago. It was enough to be under a constant blackmail. It was enough to be considered the black sheep of Europe even after all the efforts done to respect what Europe wanted.

The result of the Greek referendum points out two political elements. The first is that asking people what they want, it is always the best way. Democracy works when it is really used. And in a community, people must be informed and must have the right to decide.

The second element is that Europe doesn't work at all. This vote is not a victory of Tsipras, it is the defeat of Brussels, the defeat of the IMF and overall, the defeat of the German idea of the European Union. 

And tomorrow? 

Greeks have been brave, as we don't know what will happen in the next weeks. They gave us a lesson: a small Country can decide its destiny also against the most important and powerful powers of the world. Let's hope that this vote will have positive effects on Greece and on the entire Europe.

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The default of Greece is the default of Europe

Once again all Europe is focused on Greek crisis.

After the failure of the negotiations between Greece and Eu , Athens have decided to ask directly the population about the new agreement proposed by Europe.

Is this a good decision?

Definitely yes.

First, a referendum is the most democratic instrument possible. Population must be involved in such a decision that, in a way or in the other, will deeply touch their lives.

Second, the choice made by the Greek government has put pressure on the European Institutions. If Greeks will vote against the agreement, the crisis that can born in Europe is unpredictable. 

The small Greece represents the paradox of an Europe that has completely forgot its values. 

This situation is just the result of the contradictions of the European States. They don't want a strong Europe, as they don't want to lose power. So the rules of the game are not clear and strong enough. 

Greece got huge benefits to be part of Europe, but now it is smashed between the pressure of Germany and France and the fear of the population.

Many years of austerity didn't change anything. The situation got worse and worse. And today we are still here, looking at the Cradle of the democracy, that can collapse together with the ideal of a Federal European Union.

One thing is sure: the imminent default of Greece is the default of all Europe. 

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Immigration: the face of an Europe we don't want!

What it is happening in Italy and in Europe in these days is a shame.

3279 immigrants died in 2014 in the Mediterranean Sea, and this year there are already 1754 victims. The 18th of April one only incident in the Sicilian Channel caused more than 700 victims. 

And what is Europe doing?

Immigrants at the Milan Station (2015)

The Governments are talking about rules, law and national competencies. In the meantime, today in some train stations in Italy (like in Milan and Rome), there are hundreds of immigrants that want to reach their families in the north of Europe but Schengen has been temporary suspended and they actually live in the stations.

Egoism seems the predominant feeling in these days all around Europe, when the topic is the immigration, as well as the Greek crisis or the social policies for the people with less opportunities.

In a very interesting article published on the Italian newspaper La Stampa, it was reported that 170 thousand immigrants "destibilized" Europe last year, but Turkey had to face to an immigration from Syria and Iraq of more than 2 million of people and Lebanon - a country of 4 million of inhabitants - hosts 2 millions of refugees.

Europe is the biggest economy in the world. Even in this difficult period, we should not forget that solidarity is one of the most important value of our common roots.

Should we leave people sleeping and living under the bridges or in the stations? Is this the Europe we want? Is this the spirit we want to pass on the new generations?

I don't.

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Do we really need the TTIP?

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States.

US and EU together represent 60% of global GDP, 33% of world trade in goods and 42% of world trade in services. The barriers between the two most important economies in the world are already law, but the purpuse of the TTIP is to consolidate the relations, improving the trade between the parts, facilitating the competition and creating new jobs.

This agreement is strongly criticized for the method of the negotiation and for the potential effects of it. In fact, the negotiation is held in a confidential way, that doesn't allow the public opinion to know the details of the agreement and it doesn't facilitate a public discussion.

Moreover, this agreement could bring damages to the consumers, to the workers and to the environment. From one side, there should be specific Institutions that could judge about the litigations between States and private companies outside the national jurisdiction. This could give more power to the biggest private corporations. From the other, Us didn't ratify many agreements related to labor rights and environment protections, and this could bring a sort of social dumping against Europe.

We can draft two kinds of considerations. First, more economic freedom can raise the level of competitions in the markets and this is reflected also in the prices: but which is the social cost of it? Second, the negotiations must be subjected to the public opinion, because the effect of TTIP will deeply touch our life.

The 10th of June the European Parliament had to express an opinion about TTIP in a special session in Strasbourg. Thanks to the pressure of a huge majority in the Parliament, the vote and the discussion has been postponed. We will see how much force the Parliament and the voice of the public opinion can have in the future discussion, also considering the pressure of G7 to reach an agreement.

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Ireland, Poland, Spain: a week-end that can change Europe

The last week end was exceptionally important for Europe, even if it wasn't perceived like that from everybody.

This is a period of elections and referendum all over Europe. And one week ago three important consultations took place in Ireland, Spain and Poland.

The referendum in Ireland was organized to modify the Constitution and to allow the same-sex marriage. In Spain there were important administrative elections. In Poland finally, the was the second run for the Presidential Elections.

Although the nature of the consultations were different, the results will be deeply change Europe.

Ireland will be the first Country in the world to allow the same-sex marriage in the Constitution. That could have a positive effect also in other Countries and, at the same time, the Church will have to accept that the something is changing in the society.

In Spain, Podemos broke the traditional bipartisan political system, winning in both Madrid and Barcelona. The Popular Party is still the first force, but this is an important signal for the political elections in November.

Poland surprised everybody with the election of the Eurosceptic Andrzej Duda as new President of the Republic. Even if Warsaw is considered the emerging economic power in Europe, also thanks to the Eu funds, a huge part of the Country has not yet touched by the wealth and is asking for a change.

It is interesting to notice that the immobility of the European establishment is going to be overtaken by the choice of the electorate, in a sense or in another. We don't live in a perfect world, but democracy can still amaze us.

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Can Mustafa Akıncı be a new beginning for Cyprus?

Few weeks ago the Presidential Elections were held in the Turkish part of Cyprus. The winner has been Mustafa Akinci (68), former Major of the Turkish Municipality of Nicosia and Member of the Parliament.

Mustafa Akinci

Akinci is a "leftist moderate", as he described himself. During the electoral campaign, he promoted a fraternal but not submissive relation with Turkey (that contributes for one third of Northern Cyprus public balance) and a stronger collaboration with the Greek part of the Island.

Cyprus is currently divided in two parts by the "Green Line",  a demilitarized zone, patrolled by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), that was established in 1974 following the Turkish invasion of the Country.

Cyprus is part of European Union since 2004 (at least the Greek part). And the capital, Nicosia, is the last city diveded by a wall in Europe. It is hard to believe that the Akinci election will bring to the reunification of the island. But let's be optimistic: it can be a new beginning for the Country, based on good relations between North and South.

We will see how Greece and Turkey will influence those relations.

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Who is Magdalena Ogórek?

The 10th of May the Presidential Elections will take place in Poland. The favorite candidate is the current President, Bronisław Komorowski, member of the liberal Party Platforma Obywatelska, the same of Mr. Donald Tusk. The major competitor will be Andrzej Duda, official candidate of Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, party leaded by the former Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski.

There are other candidates, with low possibility to pass the first round of the elections. Among them, media concentrated their attention to the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Madgalena Ogórek.

Magdalena Ogorek

Who is she?

Magdalena Ogórek (36) is an historian with a Phd got at the University of Opole. She worked at the University of Warsaw and in the highest political offices. She has also collaborated with the National Polish Bank and she has been anchorwoman in a financial show. She has also had a career as actress, participating in some Polish movies and Tv-series, around 10 years ago. She was candidate and lost the Parliament Elections in 2011.

Miss Ogórek received many critics regarding her candidature by the Polish Media. She was attacked for her low political experience. Media also made jokes about her surname, that in Polish means cucumber. 

The campaign against her is covered by a trace of misogyny. Even if she doesn't have a strong political background, from some experts she could become a real new element in the polish political landscape. But she looks beautiful, she has also a past in Tv. And that seems enough to attack her above normal.

This case represents just an example of how empty can be the words used during the International Women's Day, when the general climate remains the same as always. 

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Laurent Stefanini is definitely a case of discrimination

Laurent Stefanini is a high - level French officer. Practicing Catholic, he has been the First Counselor of the French Embassy at the Vatican from 2001 till 2005, when he has been nominated Counselor for the Religious Affairs at the Foreign Office and then Head of the Protocol at the Elysee.

Few months ago, Stefanini got the prestigious position of Ambassador at the Vatican. But he is still waiting for the accreditation in order to start officially his office.

The problem? Stefanini is homosexual.

Even if Stefanini got the "approval" of the Cardinal of Paris, few days ago the Pope met him in a private audience in which, it seems, Bergoglio declared the impossibility to give him the accreditation.

A State has the right to give or not the accreditation to an ambassador without any motivation, according to the diplomatic right.

The problem is that the Vatican rules are very rigid and overall anachronistic. France and the Catholic Church have seen contrast in the last year, especially for the law approved in 2013 that allows the same-sex marriage.  Anyway, homosexuality touches the private sphere of a person, but we are talking about a public role and a person who has already covered a preeminent position in the same Embassy for many years.

Nevertheless, this case seems a drop in the ocean. It is estimated that around the 20% of the World Population is attracted to their own gender. At the same time, in 78 countries homosexuality is illegal.

Discrimination and intolerance must be condemn without exceptions. Repeating it seems never enough. 

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Are we really talking about the refusal of a Genocide?

Few days ago, Pope Francis has claimed that the Armenian Genocide, in the years 1915-16 when 1,5 million people died under the hand of the Ottoman Empire, has been the first Genocide of the 20th Century.

Armenians marched by Turkish soldiers, 1915

This declarations has caused the severe reaction of the Ankara Government. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted: "The Pope's statement, which is far from the legal and historical reality, cannot be accepted". "Religious authorities are not the places to incite resentment and hatred with baseless allegations". 

Turkey doesn't recognize the Armenian Genocide for two kinds of reasons: from one side, it would mean the identification as killers of the Fathers of the Country (the Young Turks that were leading the Empire during the Genocide). From the other side, it could begin many trials for reimbursements from the victims’families.

Today, there are 22 States in the World that recognize the Armenia Genocide: among them, we find Argentina, Canada, Belgium, France, Italy and Russia. The US Congress has approved a motion that asks the President Obama to recognize the Genocide, but any official declaration came out about this topic.   

Are we really talking about the refusal of a Genocide?

It is not acceptable denying a Genocide. We should be shocked if Germany could say that Nazi Camps are just a lie. We should be shocked for the Armenian Genocide as well.

Turkey is a great and beautiful nation, a rising economic power and a strategic partner for Europe. But a great Country and a mature society should make it up with its past and recognize the mistakes and the horrors of the father's generations. It would release Turkey from one of the darkest page of its history and could honor the memory of those who lost their lives one hundred years ago.

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Posh low-cost shops? The way of Tiger

The ways of shopping have deeply changed in the last decade. In particular, the economic crisis has consolidated the growth of the Discount Supermarkets, but it has also left a space for some other kinds of low-cost and posh shops, like the case of Tiger.

Tiger is a variety shop originally born in Denmark. The first store opened in Copenhagen in 1995 and today the chain has 314 stores in Europe and not only (there are also 18 shops in Japan).

What is the origin of this success?

The answer is in the kinds of products sold. Tiger sells quality and fancy products at a quite low price: toys, notebooks, pens, different items for hygiene, stuff for kitchen and many other things.

With the crisis, many people cannot spend  a lot of money. The double idea of Tiger is to sell different item with a low price but that also look nice and appealing. 

It is interesting to point out that, from one side, consumers are always more oriented towards the quality and the good look of the product even if they cannot spend a lot of money. From the other, there is always the way to create a smart and creative business. Even in a such a difficult period like the one we are living in.

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Is France coming back to Monsieur Sarkozy?

The 22nd of March it took place an important Administrative Election in France.

The winner? Monsieur Sarkozy. The former President of the Republic, back to the active politics, brought his party. the UMP, to the 29% of votes, winning the elections. The Front National got the second place (25% of votes), whilst the PS got the 22%.

Is France going back to Sarkozy?

It is too early to say that. But few considerations must be done.

First, Sarkozy success in this election can be seen as the result of the weakness of the left, lead by Hollande, who has seemed completely unable to give a strong direction to France in this complex economic situation. Even if French choose him just three years ago for the Elysee. 

Moreover, even if Marine Le Pen can get a lot of votes, it is improbable that the Front National can really win the elections. And to avoid to vote for FN, maybe some French have decided to give their support to the UMP.

Anyway, the election in France are always an important litmus test for Europe. Is Eu able to give an answer to the social and economic problems that many of French, Italians, Spanish (and so on) feel? 

Apparently it seems that Brussels is just waiting, stuck within its contradictions. In the meantime, anti-European, xenophobic and racist forces are growing in every Country.     

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No rhetoric for the International Women's Day

Today is the International Women's Day. The 8th of March has been designated to celebrate the women achievements regarding social and political rights, and to remember discriminations and violence that women are still facing in the World.

It is positive to celebrate the role of women. But it is also sad that we still have to talk about gender discrimination. And the worst aspect of this celebration is listening some politicians (male) speeches, where they point out how women are important in our life, but in practice they are less available to leave space in the political system to them.

The women condition in Europe seems much better than in the rest of the World. But, just to remind some numbers:

- there is a discrepancy of salaries about 16% between women and men for the same kind of job (from 30% in Estonia till 2.5% in Slovenia);

- the women member of a Parliament are just the 20% of the total;

- considering the most important EU Members, just Germany has a female Prime Minister (Uk has had a long experience with Margaret Thatcher, France had a female premier for few months in the early 80s, whilst Italy and Spain never had a woman to lead a Government).

- in the top 50 World's Most Powerful People listed by Forbes, there are just 5 women: Angela Merkel (5th, German Prime Minister) , Janet Yellen (6th, Head of the Federal Reserve), Dilma Rousseff (31st, President of Brazil), Christine Lagarde (33th, Head of the IMF), Park Geun-hye (46th, President of South Korea).

(For some information about the violence against women, please refer to the lat post about Ozgecan Aslan).

The situation is much better than fifty years ago. But let's try to avoid rhetoric and let's go ahead to create the right condition toward a real gender equality.

Happy Women's Day 

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Miniskirts for Ozgecan

Ozgecan Aslan was a 20 years old student of Medicine, who has been murdered because she stopped a man who wanted to rape her. It happened the 11 February 2015 in the Turkish city of Mercin. This event deeply touched the public opinion.

UN Women provides impressive statistics about the violence against women. Just to mention some of them:

- 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence;

- around 120 million girls worldwide (slightly more than 1 in 10) have experienced forced intercourse or other forced sexual acts at some point in their lives;

- between 40 and 50 per cent of women in European Union countries experience unwanted sexual advances, physical contact or other forms of sexual harassment at work.

Just in Europe, one third of women some form of physical or sexual abuse since the age of 15. And in Turkey last year 300 women have murdered. 

The worst is that in many situation the victims and their families cannot feel protected by the law.

Can something change?

Of course yes. 

And in the case of Ozgecan Aslan something actually changed. During the funeral, the women, usually behind the men in the celebrations, decided to go ahead and take the coffin against the tradition. 

And many protests have been raised all over Turkey. Many men have decided to participate in those protests dressing miniskirts. This was the invitation on Facebook:

“If a miniskirt is responsible for everything, if a miniskirt means immorality and unchastity, if a woman who wears a miniskirt is sending an invitation about what will happen to her, then we are also sending an invitation!”

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Italy - Libya: which are the real interests involved?

The situation in Libya seems getting worse and worse and also the Italian Embassy in Tripoli has closed few days ago due to the ISIS advance in the Country.

The Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs has declared that Rome is ready for a military operation under the auspices of United Nations. The official reason is that Libya is so close to Italy that Isis could become a serious problem for the national security. 

But which are the Italian interests in its former colony? Why Libya is so much more important for Rome than Syria or Iraq?

After the Libyan Independence in 1947, and even after the Gaddafi coup in 1969, the economic relationship between Rome and Tripoli have been kept strong.

The total trade between those two Countries is around 11 Billion Euro per year. It was the double just in 2008, but after the political crisis, the trade has decreased, reaching the lowest point in 2011 (when Gaddafi died), at 4.5 Billion. The main businesses are gas and oil, that represent the 90% of the total import from Libya to Italy.

Brieafly, Libya produces less than 2% of the World oil, but Italy import the 25% of its total energetic need from Tripoli; without considering the contracts got by Italian companies for the construction of bridges, streets, and the supply of arms.

That is why Rome cannot risk to lose such a partner. We will see in the next weeks and months what will happen. Let's just avoid to hide economic interests under the reasons of pace and stabilization of the area.

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Italy: the extraordinary commonplace?

Living abroad gives you the opportunity to see how deep the stereotypes about your own Country are.

Sometimes they can be an advantage. Italians, for instance, are seen as latin lovers with emotional, romantic and passionate nature. And this can be a good help in romantic affairs, even if those caractheristics are often associated with less worthy elements, like being loud, unreliable and mummy's boy.

As well, foreigners love thinking Italy as the place of the sun, the sea and the good food, but also as a Country complicated, with a byzantine political system, a weak economy and a marginal relevance in the World.

Everything false? Of course not: all those commonplaces came from some real characteristics.

So, who are the Italians? What is Italy?

Few weeks ago the Italian Government has been presented a video, entitled "Italy: the extraordinary commonplace" to show the achievements of Italy in the last century. 

So, we discover that Italy is a World leader in major infrastructures and in pharmaceutic. Italy has been also one of the first Countries to send a Satellite into orbit after US and Soviet Union and it is the World leader in the production of luxury yachts.

Without considering the role of Italy in history, culture and arts: in Italy for example, there is the highest concentration of Unesco Sites in the whole World and its movie production got the highest number of Academy Awards for foreign movies (14). 

Not so bad for a country of 60 million people, often considered weak and in a permanent and irremediable decline.

To be honest, Italy is also one of the Country with the highest tax evasion in the World, it is ranked 73rd regarding the press freedom and 69th for the corruption.

And Italians? 

Like in every Country, you can find people closer to the classic stereotype, as well very far from it.
Dreamers? Maybe. Lazy? Sometimes. Optimistic? The most part.

"What is the fatal charm of Italy? What do we find there that can be found nowhere else? I believe it is a certain permission to be human, which other places, other countries, lost long ago" - Erica Jong

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A new story?

Syriza Logo

Greece is a quite small Country: 11 million of people, a GDP of 180 billion Euro (11th in Eu), a public debt around 180% of GDP and an unemployment rate of 26% (the highest in Europe).

Can a Country depressed by years of austerity and weakened by social tensions, change the history of a Continent? After the elections of the 25th January, maybe yes.

The win of Syriza must be seen in two different perspectives. From the interior side, it is the first time in Greek recent history that a "third party" becomes the main political force beating PSOK and Nea Dimokratia. If the new Prime Minister Tsipras will be brave enough, he will be able to struggle with the corruption, result of a spoiled political system managed for decades by two parties and few families. 

From the external side, the Greek elections are the first (and probably not the last) in Europe that give power to an anti-austerity Party. This means that Eu (and Germany) will have to dialogue with Tsipras and this time it will be forced to listen his opinions. Even if it is too early to understand which will be the real effects of this situation in the future European economic policies, it is defineitely represents something new and positive.

The first public act of Tsipras has surprised the public opinion: the alliance with ANEL, the right and xenophobe Party. But it was probably the only available solution : even if the two new allies are ideologically very far, they are both against the austerity and this explains why To Potami (the new center-left political Party) wasn't suitable to support Tsipras Government for its softer position towards Troika.

Something is changing in Europe: the ECB has adopted a new position to fight the crisis and it seems that Germany is finally understanding the austerity is not a doable way anymore. At the political level, Paris and Rome are waiting to collaborate with Tsipras and press Berlin for less rigidity. Over all, another anti-austerity force, Podemos, could win the next elections in Spain. 

Let's be optimistic about the rest of the year.

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Is ECB the strongest opponent to austerity?

The European Central Bank has chosen the way of a "quantitative easing" to stop the crisis and push the growth. 

The announcement, made by the President Mario Draghi, has been received successfully by the investors and by the most part of the European Countries, except for Germany and the block of Nordics.

The general aim of this operation is that, buying 60 billion Euros of public debt per month, ECB could reduce the value of Euro, facilitating the export and also the access to the bank credit. This decision should increase the inflation tax and bring benefits to all the economy.


The Us Federal Reserve adopted this decision already in 2008, why in Europe did we have to wait till now?

The answer is quite obvious: the resistance of Germany. From Berlin, the  austerity and the internal reforms were the ways to reduce the National debts and improve their economies, without considering the social  (and then also political) effects.

That is why the media reaction to the decision of the ECB has not been positive in Germany. At the opposite, in the rest of Europe the operation has been considered necessary and with positive effects for everybody.

It is impossible to predict which will be the real effect of this decision. But we can draw two considerations. First, this choise is the first wide and robust action of the ECB, as indepent Istitution of the European framework. Second, the economic policy adoped till yesterday must be dismessed because it didn't work.

Euro can be an advantage just if the economic policy can represents and help all the Countries. It is impossible to be under a unique currency and adopting only the German perspective. In the last years we have seen the contraposition between Berlin and the rest of Europe. It seemed that Angela Merkel imposed her strategy to exit from the crisis. But today something is changing: the elctions in Greece and Spain could modify the political scenario in Europe. Over all Mario Draghi won a match against the austerity and maybe he represents the strongest opponent to Germany in the European arena.

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Podemos?

Few days ago some electoral polls have given Podemos, the party founded at the beginning of 2014 and born by the Indignados movement, the 28% of voting intentions. It has become the first party in Spain: PSOE should get the 20% and the PP 26%.

There is a similar situation in Greece, where Syriza is accredited of 31% of votes and could win the incoming political election.

But what would it mean if an anti-austerity force could win the elections in one of the most important European Countries?

In the last years, many protest movements became a Party and could get a lot of votes. In Italy, one of the biggest and weakest economy of Europe, the "Movimento 5 Stelle" leaded by a former comedian, got an extraordinary success in the general elections of 2013 (second Party with 25% votes).  Even with strong and supported ideas to change the system, the movement has not been really able to transform itself in a real Party, a essential condition to convert ideas in laws.

In Spain, in a post-electoral scenario with three main and opposed forces, it is possible to imagine an alliance between Socialist and Moderates in a solidarity government. But the importance of Podemos as first party could bring their leaders to be central in the future reforms.

One thing is sure: the raise of those forces cannot be considered just a signal, but a deep transformation of the European electorate. We are just waiting a consequent transformation at the political level too.

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