Which kind of Europe can fight against the terrorism?

Terrorism highlighted once again the contradiction of Europe.

From one side, it seems clear that without a central body for the European Security and Intelligence, it will be difficult to fight against terrorism. From the other, the Member States have not the real will to give power to a European subject and lose their full sovereignty.

It is always the same problem. We want a stronger Europe, a strong political subject in the World, but we don't really want a Europe so strong to cloud Uk, Germany, France and the others.

We need to face a form of terrorism that is endogenous, as the terrorist were born in Europe. At the same time this phenomenon has an international dimension and a global action.

Can we really think to face it with just a cooperation among the Countries? Or is it urgent to do a step forward in the direction of the European Integration?

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Pis & Love

Once again terrorism attacked the heart of Europe.

And once again public opinion is touched by the will to find and then fight the enemy and the astonishment for something maybe expected, but not really understandable.

There is something we need to highlight.

First, this is not a war, but pure terrorism. And many countries had long experience to fight against it: Eta in Spain, Brigate Rosse in Italy, Ira in Ireland,...

We need to accept that this is an endogenous phenomenon. It is organized and implemented by people that live with us, that were born in our Europe, that are part of us. They are not part of a foreign State.

Second, just 10 days ago there was a similar attack in Ankara with similar consequences that today attack in Brussels: 34 persons died and more than 100 injured. Unfortunately, we are touched by the images of the media and by our personal experience and perception. Never mind if Ankara is a European Capital. We can easily identify ourselves in a normal Bruxellois who is going to work and take the metro, much more difficult to see ourselves in Ankara or in Damascus, where attacks like we have seen today happen all the time.

It is like that unfortunately.

We need to think what to do and then do it. But not as single States, but as Europe.

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Why the new settlement for the Uk in Eu is a huge mistake

Finally Uk will stay in the European Union. Brexit has been avoided, at least for the moment and till the referendum in June announced by David Cameron.

The new agreement recognizes the special status Uk has always had in Europe. London won't never be part of a Federal Union and will keep a large autonomy on her credit system.

In my personal opinion, this agreement is a mistake, for two reasons.

First, from the economic perspective, Uk and especially the City will keep their influence in the European market without taking responsibilities and costs.

Second, from the political point of view, Uk will definitely not support the European integration. But at the same time, she will stay in Eu. 

This is a non-sense situation. In the last year we have seen how economic interests have completely destroyed the idea of European Union. From Greece to Uk, the idea of Europe simply died.

This situation will be probably stable for the next ten or twenty years, as nobody has a real interest to change the status quo. The problem of the integration will be back once European influence won't exist anymore. Let's hope it won't be too late...

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Where is Poland going?

Poland is considered as the best example of how positive can be the effects of being part of European Union.

European Funds, investments of the world most important corporations, political stability, German support and polish industriousness changed radically the country. Poland today is the most developed Eastern country, one of the world center for outsourcing and one of the most dynamic market in Europe.

The new Polish Government

Analyzing the last political elections in another post, I highlighted two main reasons for the victory of Law and Justice party. From one side, a large part of the Country is still poor: there is a huge discrepancy between the rich west and the rest of Poland. On the other, the development has been so quick that generated fear and confusion in a quite homogeneous society.

Now the new government needs to prove that a real change is in progress. But they started modifying the composition of the Constitutional Tribunal, and introducing new rules in the public media sector and in the judiciary power.

The relation with Eu is becoming more complex, also after the opposition of Poland to receive refugees arrived in Greece and Italy.

Two considerations must be done.

The first one regards Poland itself. Which country does she want to become? A solid member of Eu that contributes to the integration process, or a member that wants just to take profit from Europe without paying any price? 

If Poland is a two-speed country, this is not a fault of Europe, but the result of internal policies. If the salaries are still low and the costs are increasing, the new government should work to help people, not to limit the controls on his activities.

The second consideration affects directly Europe. As we wrote already many times, the idea of Europe is too weak to be able to go on with the integration. Too many countries don't want to pay any cost to be in Europe. And till European Union won't be able to have her own communication, everybody will unload their faults on Brussels.

Poland is the best example of European investments. But it can turn out as the worst surprise. 

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Let's start this year with Culture in Wroclaw

Here we are!

2016 finally arrived and will be the year of Wrocław (Poland) as Cultural Capital City together with  San Sebastian (Spain) . Also Wrocław have been nominated World Book Capital City 2016.

This is not the first time for Poland, as Krakow had the same title in 2000.

But Wrocław is an emerging city, one of the most dynamic cities not just in Poland but in Europe. And this title, awarded in 2011, represents a significant moment in the history of this city, that has definitely left the communist past and is launched towards a more international future.

There are many events programmed for this year.

www.wroclaw2016.pl

Since the Opening Weekend (15th-17th of January 2016) when there will be almost hundred cultural events to inaugurate the year of European Capital of Culture. "The 17th tens of thousands of people will participate in the Sunday finale- „The Awakening”, one of the most numerous and spectacular parades in city history. - Wroclavians will be able to unite in the common march and participate in an artistic story about city history and its people” (from the official site of the Cultural Capital).

And this is just the beginning.

We will see how this title will influence the perception of Poland as touristic and cultural destination.

Come to Wrocław and discover the Cultural Capital 2016!

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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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