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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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