Alentejo, a pearl from Portugal

                                                       Vila Nova de Mil-Fontes, December, Portugal © Marta Pacheco


                                                              A fantastic view over the Atlantic Ocean in the South of Portugal, December 

Nearby to the lighthouse in Cabo Sardāo, Portugal, December

Crisis in Ukraine on the focus of the EU Summit

Article published in Cafebabel

Meeting at the European Council. European Council © Flickr

For the first time chaired by Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, the European Summit took place in Brussels, on the 18th of December. Ukraine and the investment plan were some of the topics approached by the European leaders. 

A few days before Christmas, European leaders discussed the problems of the Union and ways of tackling it. Rather than decisions made, the meeting started a new cycle in European politics. As expected, EU leaders discussed topics such as the €315 billion package proposed by Juncker and the situation in Ukraine. European leaders have different opinions and views in how the EU should deal with Russia, however, all the Union is cohesive against Putin’s intervention in neighbor’s territory. No more sanctions against Russia were decided under the EU Summit. 

“This is a good chance to brief the council. We need to support the reform agenda. It is time for the EU to make Ukraine a success. This requires work in Europe and Ukraine. We need to develop a sound strategy with Russia, like Donald Tusk said. We start tonight and I am ready to follow this up with the foreign ministers in January,” said the EU’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini during the Summit. 

The situation in Ukraine is clearly a sensitive topic on the European agenda. However, more than outlining possible ways on how the EU should toughen up the sanctions against Russia, EU leaders and diplomats appeared to be willingness to follow the diplomatic way of solving this difficult situation, urging Russia to the benefits of ending the occupation in Crimea. “We should keep those sanctions in place until Russia changes its behavior and stops the aggression in Ukraine,” said British Prime Minister David Cameron. UK’s leader went further saying “the door is always open to Russia if it changes its behavior,” he added. 

The new President of the Council, Donald Tusk, said that Russia is now a “strategic problem” for Europe and not Ukraine. Tusk stated that the biggest challenge for Europe now is Russia’s approximation not only to Ukraine but also to the EU. 

On the German side, Chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear that the EU will not step back regarding Russia sanctions unless Putin reconsiders. Likewise Cameron’s statement, Merkel also reminded that the sanctions were imposed for specific reasons and, therefore, they can be lifted as soon as the reasons are no longer there. 

Following the Minsk Protocol, an agreement to halt the war in the Donbass region of Ukraine and signed in September 2014 between the actors in this war, French President François Hollande and Chancellor Merkel want to see developments in the protocol, with the support from Russia. Moreover, Hollande has recognized that the sanctions against Putin are one of the reasons for the sudden economic and monetary crisis which has shaken Russia recently. The French leader believes this is the best way to regulate the problem as Putin is isolated in the international scene. 

The EU has already barred imports from Crimea (unless they show a Ukrainian credential) as well as enacted limitations on individuals and some major companies in the region. One of the steps taken in account by the leaders is precisely whether to impose a total ban on European investment in Crimea. Russia was already banned from importing goods from the EU. As a reaction, Putin’s country is also not importing any goods from the EU. This represents a major threat for many farmers and for the EU in general. 

New Law on GMO's and Food Labelling in the EU

Article published in Cafebabel

European Parliament - GMO protest in Strasbourg, 9 March 2010. Daniel Voglesong © Flickr

How often do you stop to think about the food you eat? Health and Food Safety Commissioner has made a significant step towards a better control of GMO's by the Member States. 

Health and Food Safety Commissioner, Andriukaitis, recently announced a temporary political agreement on GMO’s cultivation. “I am glad to announce that the European Parliament and the Council have reached a provisional political agreement on the draft legislation on GMO cultivation. The proposal, still subject to confirmation by Coreper and by the plenary of the European Parliament, will give Member States the possibility to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs on their territory, without affecting the EU risk assessment” said Andriukaitis. 

Since 2009, the EU Member States as well as many civil associations have been calling for an end to the GMO’s in their lands. Now, if a company wants to sell GMO’s to farmers in a country where the national government is against the use of crops, the government will not need to ask the company to desist from selling there. Moreover, all companies trying to sell their GMO’s are obliged to have an authorization from the Commission. With this new measure, Member States will be given the right to ban the modified organisms even though the EU has already approved them. “I fully trust that this agreement in principle will be formally endorsed in the coming weeks by the European Parliament and the Council, allowing the Member States to start exercising their extended capacities to decide on GMO cultivation as from spring 2015,” added the Commissioner. 

The battle against the modified seeds has increased throughout the world. People are concerned about the collateral effects of the GMO’s in their organisms as a remarkable wave of lobbying against it has sprung up in the past years. The Institute for Responsible Technology released ten reasons why we should not consume manipulated organisms that go from the simple fact of not being healthy to harming the environment. In 2013, Monsanto, one of the biggest GMO’s producers, decided to stop trying to get GM crops approved in Europe. 

 Better labelling for food in the EU 

As of 13 December, European citizens will see a different label on the food they buy in the supermarket. A new measure issued by the Commission and adopted by the European Parliament and the Council in 2011, will ensure that consumers are better informed on food content. "European citizens will see the results of years of work to improve food labelling rules. Key content information will now be more clearly marked on labels, helping people make informed choices on the food they buy. The new rules put the consumer first by providing clearer information, and in a way that is manageable for businesses," informed Health Commissioner. 

According to a Commission's press release, some of the key changes to the labelling rules are: improved legibility of information; clearer and harmonised presentation of allergens for prepacked foods in the list of ingredients; mandatory allergen information for non-prepacked food, including in restaurants and cafes; requirement of certain nutrition information for majority of prepacked processed foods; mandatory origin information for fresh meat from pigs, sheep, goats and poultry; same labelling requirements for online, distance-selling or buying in a shop; list of engineered nanomaterials in the ingredients; specific information on the vegetable origin of refined oils and fats; strengthened rules to prevent misleading practices; indication of substitute ingredient for 'Imitation' foods; clear indication of "formed meat" or "formed fish"; and clear indication of defrosted products.

Britain Reinforces Measures Against Terrorism

Article published in Cafebabel

Home Secretary, Theresa May and PM David Cameron. ukhomeoffice © Flickr

After a public debate on reducing immigration in the UK, which has divided many politicians, British Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced the expansion of police powers in order to deal with the threat of terrorism. 

First, Cameron wanted to close all UK’s borders in order to stop the entrance of new immigrants, initiative extremely criticized by the Chancellor Angela Merkel who warned him of trying to act against the fundamental principles of free movement of the Union. Recently, and under a new framework, Britain has decided to strengthen its police force as a reaction to the several extremists that are coming back from Syria and Iraq. According to UK’s authorities, the danger is now greater than ever before and the country has to be prepared for everything. 

Following the regular governmental process, a new counter-terrorism bill was sent to the Parliament. "When the security and intelligence agencies tell us that the threat we face is now more dangerous than at any time before or since 9/11 we should take notice," British Home Secretary told an audience in London. 

A step towards a surveillance system? 

After the announcement of this protective decision, a suicide bomber attacked a British Embassy vehicle in Kabul, on the 27th of November, the latest explosion in a rising violence campaign in Afghanistan’s capital, the authorities said. Moreover, according to the Scotland Yard, two men were detained at separate residential addresses in south-east London. One was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism. The other was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to possess and provide fraudulent documents. Later, another two men were arrested just two days before Remembrance Sunday, suspects of plotting an attack on British soil. 

As a terrorist attack might be looming, Britain decided it is time for enhanced security measures which are expected to give police the power to seize personal identification of suspects, making stronger the online scrutiny. UK officials are concerned about British militants returning with experience from fighting in the Middle Eastern states and carrying out terrorist attacks in Britain. Nevertheless, the UK is one of the countries that entirely support Al-Qaeda-linked groups fighting the Syrian government. 

This expansion of police powers comes in a moment of political divergence inside the UK, and despite the threat of terrorism being a dreadful reality, it's well possible that Cameron has used this serious threat in order to control his political boat. By announcing an expansion of judiciary powers to curb a possible terrorist attack, Cameron is already opening way to the implementation of a surveillance system. Is the curb on immigration the next step? 

Tusk’s challenges as new President of the Council

Article published in Cafebabel

Donald Tusk and Herman Van Rompuy, Brussels. Kancelaria Prezesa Rady Ministrów © Flickr

Herman Van Rompuy has retired from politics, opening way to former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to continue his European legacy. 

Not everyone was able to fully know former European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, due to his discreet and reserved presence. As of the 1st of December, Polish ex-Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, replaced Mr. Rompuy, ready for the challenges imposed by a recovering Europe. The 67 year old Belgian is leaving politics but his work deserves some consideration. From trying to find solutions to a Europe in crisis, chairing meetings of EU leaders in conflict about bailouts, to decisions about the permanence of Greece in the eurozone, Rompuy managed to leave his functions with better future prospects than when he first assumed the Presidency. 

Tusk's first steps 

But let us focus now on Mr. Tusk and on his first steps as the President of the Council. On his first official statement, Tusk has marked his stance towards Russia urging Putin’s government to withdraw its forces from Ukraine. Moreover, the new leader had also his first phone call with American President, Barack Obama, underlining the meaning he attaches to relations between Europe and the United States, pointing to a clear Western alliance against the East. Naturally, despite the social contest, the TTIP was one of the main topics in discussion between the two leaders, as both sides of the Atlantic are impatient to see the implementation of this trade agreement. 

Nevertheless, Tusk manifested his intention to be more outspoken that his predecessor, a good initiative in order to build the bridge between the maximum exponents of European authority and the European people. It is important to break the concept of a technocrat way of leading and opening doors to a better and stimulated participatory citizenship. 

However, Tusk his also determined in cultivating a political unity able to respond the growing euroscepticism in the European Union, as well as tackling the financial crisis by boosting growth, protecting the European security from potential threats and strengthen European and American ties. Like Rompuy, Tusk will be in charge of EU summits of government’s chiefs of State who normally meet four times a year. The agenda is not easy as the future is uncertain with the crisis in Ukraine as well as with some countries strongly weakened by the economical crisis. 

As a matter of fact, Tusk will have a serious work trying to reorganise Europe and the several disagreements within the Member States. It is not easy task, however, Rompuy appears to have full confidence in the future leader. “I’m confident the European Council is in good hands: Donald Tusk is a man of experience and wisdom, a true European,” said the former President.

The Pipeline Dilemma: Russia turns to Turkey and Juncker calls Putin's bluff

Article published in Cafebabel

Putin's Turkish bluff was called out by the EU. World Economic Forum © Flickr

The construction of the South Stream pipeline supposed to deliver gas from Russia to the South of Europe is facing some hurdles due to the tensions between West and East. 

What is the South Stream Project? 

Back in 2012, Russian energy giant Gazprom began the construction of the South Stream pipeline, which was supposed to deliver gas to Bulgaria, Italy, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Austria via the Black Sea. The pipeline, a €29 billion project, would have supplied the energy needs of southern Europe. According to estimates, the South Stream had the potential to provide 20% of the gas demand in the European Union. 

However, some hurdles sprung up on the development of the pipeline as relations between West and East got colder. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2014, a wave of Western condemnations arose towards the Kremlin, influencing the EU’s desire to find a sustainable solution to the South Stream project. Bulgaria, the country supposed to be the main doorway to Europe for Russian gas, blocked the development of the Russian project under pressure from the US and the EU. 

Gazprom, an ominous figure in the European pipeline dilemma. Martin Griffiths © Flickr 

Back in 2008, Gazprom and the EU countries signed an agreement – known as Third Energy Package – which determines that a single enterprise can’t both produce and deliver oil and gas. Suddenly, Putin was confronted with Bulgaria’s deadlock as well as an EU law which made the project’s continuance difficult. 

The point of South Stream was to deliver gas directly to the EU, avoiding Ukrainian territory due to the rows between Russia and Ukraine. Germany, France and Italy are connected to this project as they were strategic partners in South Stream. South Stream AG was the name of the company created to build and manage this ambitious project, where 50% is owned by Gazprom, 20% by Italian ENI, 15% by French EDF and the last 15% belongs to the German Wintershall. 

Western and Eastern Reactions 

During an official visit to Ankara on December 1st, Putin said he was forced to withdraw the South Stream project in partnership with the EU. However, he announced a new strategic cooperation with Turkey. Moscow will also reduce gas prices for Turkish consumers by 6% from January 1st 2015. “We are ready to further reduce gas process along with the implementation of our joint large-scale projects,” added Putin. He also advanced that Russia is prepared to construct a new pipeline to meet Turkey’s gas demand. Certainly a strategic partnership, as the border between Turkey and Greece is crucial for gas distribution in southern Europe. 

Moreover, the Russian President has instigated possible rows between Bulgaria and the EU, underlining the EU's control over Bulgaria’s sovereignty and urging the Bulgarian government to react. “If Bulgaria is prevented from behaving as a sovereign state, then at least let them ask for money from the European Commission for lost income – the direct budget revenues that Bulgaria would have had from [gas] transit were at least €400 million a year,” incited Putin. 

Juncker refuses to let Russia blackmail Bulgaria about the South Stream pipeline. Jean-Claude Juncker © Flickr 

European Commission President Juncker reacted by saying he wouldn’t accept Russia's blackmail or the Bulgarians and he added that “the South Stream can be built,” yet EU Energy Minister, Gunther Oettinger, said the South Stream project would not move forward if Russia didn’t recognise the new government in Kiev. European countries have been trying to reduce their dependence on Russian energy. Jerome Ferrier, head of the International Gas Union, said, however, that “Europe can’t totally do without Russian gas.” 

From the Bulgarian side, Prime Minister Bojiko Borisov said Russia has not yet given any official announcement about the project’s cancellation. Furthermore, Borisov also manifested Bulgaria’s willingness as well as the Commission’s to keep on going with the project. One thing is certain: Russia's tactic to undermine relations within the EU is working; not only because of the sudden direction's shift in regards to commercial partnership with Turkey, but also because of Putin's alleged financing to extreme far-right European parties.

Andriukaitis wants an EU health system for everyone

Article published in Cafebabel

Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety. European Parliament © Flickr

During his first health ministers meeting in Brussels, the Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis specified further steps towards an effective healthy Europe. 

The first council of health ministers, on the 1st of December, was the starting point for Health and Food Safety Commissioner, Vytenis Andriukaitis, to share his ideas and vision on EU health policy. 

In fact, Andriukaitis seems to be very pragmatic as he wants to see things happen rapidly. “Moving around Europe is taken for granted, so systems should be in place that can take care of everyone wherever they are,” said the Commissioner to the European Voice. What Andriukaitis is proposing is a common EU health system able to respond to the needs of every European citizens in all member states. Naturally, the former minister from Lithuania is well aware of national sovereignty when it comes to health, proposing advanced cooperation between the member states. “I want to work together with MEPs and with prime ministers and national parliaments and all stakeholders,” he said. 

Some of his main priorities include the expansion of mechanisms able to foster health system performance in the member states, this way they can exchange experiences, acquire knowledge and discover best practices. Andriukaitis defends a greater collaboration in delivery, especially when it comes to vaccines distribution. “At present, member states have different timetables for vaccines. We should co-ordinate calendars and bring on new vaccines”. The Health Commissioner is eager to the adoption of Council conclusions seeking to improve the safety and innovation in medical and in vitro devices in the EU as well as patient’s benefits, a topic which will necessarily lead to the issue of medical product prices. “I welcome the member states’ wish for the Commission to support the exchange of information between themselves on prices and price policies,” he said. 

According to the council’s new measures on patient safety and innovation, health ministers asked member states to promote education and training of healthcare staff on patient safety; develop blame-free reporting by healthcare staff or patients and blame-free handling of error; strengthen programmes to prevent infections; encourage patients and their families to have a say about their treatment, and the speeding up of assessment and approval procedures for new medicines. As for the controversial genetically modified organisms, Andriukaitis is about to present alternatives to the revised legislation. Also, the Commissioner is focusing on the reduction of food waste which he considers “unacceptable in a world where too many people go hungry”.

Crisis and far-right parties: guess who is supporting them

Article published in Cafebabel

Nigel Farage and Marine Le Pen in the press. (Mick Baker) rooster © Flickr

With the financial and economic crisis in the European Union, we witnessed the surge of new political parties from the left to the right in the political spectrum. After the elections for the Parliament, we had a clear image of how discontent citizens are across Europe. 

Timo Soini, leader of the True Finns, won 12.9% of the national electorate, electing two parliamentary to Brussels. In Germany, the National Democratic Party leaded by Udo Voigt had 1% of the votes. Voigt had already problems with justice in Germany after declaring that “Hitler was a great man.” In Greece, the Golden Dawn is known as an ultranationalist party, resembling fascists and neo-Nazi’s ideology. Ilias Kasidiaris is the leader of this political party which elected three politicians for the Parliament with 9.3% of the votes. 

Extremist parties on the rise across the EU. © Daily Mail

In the UK we see Nigel Farage, UKIP’s leader, more and more popular with a fresh new seat in the UK Parliament after a byelection triggered by the defection of former Tory Mark Reckless. UKIP won 26.77% of the electorate for the European Parliament, and after these new achievements, the future seems to be smiling for the coming general elections, in 2015. Another dreadfully successful case is happening in France, with Marine Le Pen leading the Front National with 25% of the votes for the European elections. A couple of months before, Le Pen had very good results in the municipal elections. In Austria, Heinz-Christian Strache is leading the Freedom Party of Austria, which collected 27% of the votes for European seats. In Hungary, Gabor Vana is leading Jobbik, considered, in terms of ideology, quite close to Greek Golden Dawn. With almost 15% of the electorate, the party assured a second place in the European elections. In Denmark, Morter Messerschmidt leads the Danish People’s Party, which was the biggest winner in the country, with 26.6%. 

Who votes for them? 

All of these political parties have now representation in Europe, and despite not being guided by the exact same ideology and principles, they all have in common an eurosceptic vision towards the European Union, and immigration is a priority to tackle. 

Matthew Goodwin, a political science expert and associate fellow of Chatham House, has been working on a study trying to find out which kind of population’s segment vote for anti-politics parties. Goodwin revealed that the surge of these parties is related with the way they communicate with people, focusing more on substantial questions rather than complicated political language which normally the common citizen doesn’t understand. “The big problem for the mainstream parties is that the radical right is presenting this as a challenge in a language that is far more resonant for the left behind groups than that used by mainstream parties,” said Goodwin in an interview to New Europe.

Russia supporting far-right parties 

According to the Times, Front National’s leader admitted her party is receiving monetary support from a Russian bank, pointing to clear evidence that Putin is backing eurosceptic political parties all over Europe. The Kremlin’s support has also been reaching Greece’s neofascist Golden Dawn, Vlaams Belang in Belgium, Italian Northern League, Hungarian Jobbik and the Freedom Party of Austria. Reportedly, all of these parties, with exception to Greek Golden Dawn, are supporting Crimea’s annexation by Russia. Some of these far-right parties are solidified by the image of a popular leader, which is the case of Farage in the UK or Le Pen in France, however, this newly announcement of “cash injection” is only going to make them stronger, especially when we know the support is coming from Putin... 

Progressive left wing parties 

On the other hand, we saw the recent formation of Portuguese left-wing party LIVRE, and even more recently, the Spanish party Podemos. As a new left progressive wave, these two Southern political parties were created with the aim of tackling the European crisis in a reaction to the toxic austerity measures implemented in both Portugal and Spain. 

Portuguese LIVRE’s idea came from the former MEP Rui Tavares. In one year this determined political party was able to establish itself as a solid party with future plans of coalitions and counts already with support from influential figures from the left wing political landscape. Unfortunately, LIVRE couldn’t elect deputies for the Parliament, but if the exact same election would have been for the general election, they would have won two seats in the Parliament, which is remarkable for a newborn political party. 

As for Podemos, MEP Pablo Iglesias Turrión was the creator of the party, being now its Secretary-General. Its existence counts less than a year, but in Spain it is already believed to be competing with the main political forces – PP and PSOE – as in the last European elections Podemos obtained 5 seats. This outcome was completely unforeseen and the party has practically quadrupled in six months after gaining 1.2 million votes for the Parliament. Should we tie our hopes for these emerging forces of change?

Divided UK when it comes to Europe

Article published in Cafebabel

Cushion found in the British Museum, London. Doug Wheller © Flickr

As expected, the byelections in Rochester and Strood gave another seat to defector UKIP’s MP Mark Reckless. Politicians are now focused on the general elections and future campaigns. But what about the movements in favour of Britain remaning in the European Union? 

Once again, UKIP overturned a 10,000 Tory majority to take the seat by 2,920 votes, in a byelection triggered by defector Mark Reckless. The political campaign was intense and the environment living in the UK is being pressed by the coming general elections, in 2015. Positions are being firmed and Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, ruled out the hypothese of coalition with UKIP. As for Farage, UKIP’s leader, he has stated that he would make “a deal with the devil”, to get a referendum on British’s membership in the EU. As a reaction, Mr. Clegg said "I will never sit round a cabinet table with Nigel Farage, and I should think the feeling's mutual." As for Cameron, he also ruled out the idea of coalition with UKIP let alone Labour’s leader, Ed Miliband. 

We now look at a divided Britain with internal ideological fights and no solid prospects for the future. According to the Daily Express, a quarter of David Cameron’s Cabinet would vote to leave the EU in its current form if a plebiscite was held now. What about the other UK faction who is silenced by the media and is trying to raise its voice for Britain’s continuance in the EU? Who defends Europe in the UK? 

Reaching out or breaking up? Hartwig HKD © Flickr 

Lately, we have been seeing a variety of new Associations, Movements and Think Tanks who stand up for UK and are trying to make their voices heard. British Influence, Pro Europa, Business New Europe, European Movement and Centre for European Reform are some of the examples of organisations who believe that Britain is better off inside of the Union. All of these social groups are non profit, independent of any political party and don't receive funding from the government or the EU. Their subsistence relies on donations from the private sector and their way of action is through events organisation in order to spread their voices. Through meetings, seminars and conferences, these associations bring together people from the worlds of politics and business as well as opinion-formers. 

One thing is certain, what these organisations share, is the refusal of a referendum, which, according to them, will harm the United Kingdom in several ways. Some of the Pro Europa’s reasons for why Britain should remain in the EU go from employment, exports and investment, trade, clean environment, power to curb the multinationals, freedom to work and study abroad (and easy travel), peace and democracy, influence in the world and researching fund. In fact, as Nick Clegg has already said, “leaving the Union would be an economic suicide”.

Shameless Corruption in Portugal

Article published in Cafebabel

"Most corrupted country, according to the Portuguese", Lisbon. Pedro Duarte Gonçalves © Flickr

Over the past weeks, politics in Portugal have been under fire, delighting the mainstream media. Corruption has been on the top of the agenda with high representatives of the State being caught by the Justice. 

Firstly, following the Golden Visa scheme, which allows citizens from outside Schengen Area to have a residence permit in Portugal in exchange of a minimum investment in the country of 500 thousand euros, a fraudulent scheme was found and it became a public case with the detention of high representatives of the Portuguese political scene. 

“Maze Operation” the designed name for the investigation, was exactly a maze of relationships inside of the government, opening way to bribes in order to issue golden visas. On the top of the net was the President of the Institute of Registry and Notary (IRN), António Figueiredo and Maria Antónia Enes, Secretary-General of the Justice Minister. These two are suspected to negotiate and inflate Real Estate prices in exchange of golden visas issued in a dodgy quick way, through some real estate agencies. 

Is there any way to save us from corruption? Paolo Marconi © Flickr 

According to the Judiciary Police, there is proof of bribes and also illegal transferences financial transactions through this illicit service. Another public figure caught in this scheme was the President of the Foreign and Borders Service (SEF), Manuel Jarmela Paulos, in functions since 2005, suspected of closing his eyes to this fraud. In fact, Manuel Paulos is charged of two corruption crimes, being benevolent with the fraud and charging 10% commissions to accelerate the attribution of golden visas. Between the 11 detained, one of them, Jaime Couto Alves, leads a company, Projects & Business, also suspected of collecting prospective clients. And trough this company is the link to Intern Administration Minister, Miguel Macedo, who resigned when the scandal became public. Macedo was a partner of Project & Business, but he is believed to have sold his shares in 2011. The resigned minister was caught in wiretaps which led to an investigation of his office by the Judiciary Police. The golden visa legislation was launched in Portugal, in 2012, by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Paulo Portas. 

The straw that broke the camel's back 

Last week, the media bomb exploded when former Prime Minister and former Socialist Party leader, José Sócrates, was detained. Despite a large percentage of the Portuguese population have serious issues against Sócrates, his detention has targeted the media with lots of criticism. The former Prime Minister was arriving to Lisbon Airport, coming from Paris, and he had a flashy and shrill reception not only with the police but also with the hungry media. 

José Sócrates is accused of qualified tax fraud crimes, corruption and money laundering. After an exhausting interrogatory, enforcement measures were known yesterday and the former Prime Minister is in custody, in Évora, where he asked to be transfered, moving away from Lisbon. The public opinion is divided regarding this case, with some people strongly supporting the Justice’s way of action and others condemning its invasive conduct. 

This is the first time in the history of the Portuguese democracy that a former Prime Minister is confronted by the Justice, however, corruption cases in Portugal are sadly common. Apito Dourado, Freeport, Submarinos, Taguspark e Face Oculta are some of the many examples that have rotten the state of the Portuguese democracy. Let us not forget the words of the Justice Minister, Paula Teixeira da Cruz, “the time of impunity is over.” 

What is Youth Guarantee?

Article published in Cafebabel

Lost generation? Petra © Flickr

After the financial crises which deeply affected Europe, the lack of job opportunities for young Europeans all over the continent was one of several social consequences. 

Between 2007 and 2013, youth unemployment reached high numbers across Europe, increasing from 15.7% to 23.4%. As a reaction to this social disaster, the European Commission decided to implement a new programme – Youth Guarantee – to benefit all young people under 25 years. This initiative entails jobs, apprenticeships, and traineeships, as well as continuing education. 

Cafébabel decided to interview António Polica, who started working on Youth Guarantee in 2009 when he was a board member of the Italian Youth Forum (delegate to labor and social affairs), and he explained the purpose of this programme better. According to Polica, the Youth Guarantee is a technical measure aimed at fighting long-term youth unemployment and preventing the “NEET” phenomenon, offering a new opportunity to work or train within four months after losing a job or finishing school or university courses. Beneficiaries are young people under 25 years of age. Polica also explained that in some countries, like Italy, the benefits are extended up to 30 years old. 

A successful implementation? 

The programme’s budget is 6 billion Euros. However, the countries most affected by the crisis, Italy and Spain, received half of the total budget (around 3 billion Euros). Only the countries with a youth unemployment rate higher than 25% are beneficiaries of Youth Guarantee funds. Naturally, the implementation of such an ambitious programme faces some problems. Polica warned that Youth Guarantee needs a holistic approach to young people’s lives in order to be really effective. Moreover, Youth Guarantee does not create new job spots; however, it develops guidelines for a new oriented growth approach which Polica considers necessary to definitively solve the problem of youth unemployment as well as unemployment in general. 

When asked about the effectiveness of the programme in different countries, Polica said that it has already been successfully implemented in several countries, like Finland, for instance. But since European Union countries are different from each other , the YG must be implemented taking the differences among the countries into account. “To do copy-paste is not enough,” said Polica.

Naturally, for a successful implementation of the Youth Guarantee programme, there must be strong cooperation between stakeholders in order to assure the necessary quality for the programme’s beneficiaries. Thus, EU countries are currently developing national Youth Guarantee Plans and the Commission is helping each country to develop its plan. If we look at Finland, we have a clear success story. After the implementation of the programme, a study showed that in 2011, 82.5% of young job seekers had received a successful offer. For instance, in Portugal, a country strongly weakened by the crisis, the programme is called “Impulso Jovem,” and it has helped a lot of young students looking for their first experience. 

Limits of the Youth Guarantee 

However, the programme has its disadvantages as many of the beneficiaries complain about the low monthly allowances or even about the work that is given to them, alleging that it’s not the best way of getting ready for the professional world. Despite the measure being a co-partnership with European funds, it is up to each country to know how to better implement the programme, in order to achieve productive and successful results. This is one of the major problems of the programme as many of the European countries seem to ignore how to functionally set up the scheme. Another deterrent factor is, naturally, the underlying bureaucratic process, which delays and muddles the procedure.

A nightmare called EU budget

Article published in Cafebabel

How complex is the EU budget? Dagny Gromer © Flickr

The “budget season” has begun across Europe and all Member States are now in uproar estimating their future spendings for the upcoming year. At a European level, journalists complain about the EU lawmakers, who have created a range of complexities, blaming them of being political forces trying to make the European Budget a complex process of difficult interpretation. 

As a matter of fact, even inside of the Union, the 2015 budget has been reason for some confusion as Budgets Committee MEPs have said that “giving the European Union a budget must take priority over redistributing resources to EU member states”. This statement follows the discussion over the gross national income (GNI), which has been constantly growing after the £1.7 billion bill that the UK was theoretically obliged to pay by the 1st of December. Despite the situation being reasonable under control (after a stubborn Cameron sending out his clear message towards the EU), this topic has brought the discussion to the top of the agenda. Nevertheless, the Commission has already proposed an amendment to the rules on the adjustment of the EU budget contributions from Member States. This amendment offers an extended deadline for payments until the 1st of September 2015, free of interest. 

The Administrative Budget Process 

Stairs to heaven...budget? Jose Antonio Cotallo López © Flickr 

In fact, according to the Commission's website, the bureaucratic budget process goes from “Budget adoption” to “Budget implementation” to “Accounting for the budget”. The first step includes “draft budget”, “amending letters”, “adopted budget”, “mobilisation of contingency margin” and mobilisation of the flexibility instrument”. 

As for the “Budget implementation”, the second step, Commissioners in charge of the Budget have to deal with “amending budgets”, “use of budgetary allocations” and “mobilisation of the European globalisation adjustment fund”. At this point, Europe is facing the “second step”, as there is already a draft budget and Commissioners are now working on the amending budgets. 

The last step, “accounting for the budget” groups topics like “analysis of the budgetary implementation of the structural funds”, “annual activity report”, “financial report”, “annual accounts of the European Union”, “report on budgetary and financial management” and finally, “discharge”. This procedure resembles pretty well a Kafkaesque image of how knotty this process can be, just like his work, “The Trial”, from 1914. 

Outcomes from the Finance Ministers Meeting 

The European Union budget is estimated to be 146.4 billion euros for the 2014-2020 period, which represents a decrease of 3% compared to the last budget. The money is supposed to go to several areas from farming, health, foreign policy, among several others. However, not only the situation regarding the GNI and the Member States is making the process more thorny, but also the dispute between the institutions, with the Parliament wanting to know which unpaid bills from 2014 remain unpaid before renegotiating projects for 2015. Just to give a clear idea, in 2010 there were €5 billion of unpaid bills registered, rising to €23.4 billion in 2014. The forecast for 2015 is of €28 billion. 

Following a ECOFIN press conference chaired by the Italian Economic and Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, on the 7th of November, Commission Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva, who is in charge of the EU Budget, said that "The Commission has acted very quickly to make a proposal that would avoid imposing this kind of burden on national treasuries this year and in the future. We have included flexibility in extraordinary circumstances. However, the rules must remain precise in order to safeguard the EU’s financial soundness, which is important for our citizens, business, universities, farmers and others right across Europe”. 

At stake is the annual automatic adjustment, which normally goes unnoticed, but this year, due to the big disparity in some countries, like UK and Netherlands, the issue has been a priority, overshadowing the EU budget. “We had a very constructive discussion on the broader issue of the European budget and on the specific issue of the GNI [resources based on gross national income at market prices] corrections. On the broader topic there is clearly support from the Council and it was reflected in conclusions for a timely advancement and conclusions of the negotiations on the 2014 Amending Budgets and the 2015 Draft Budget,” said Kristalina Georgieva at the ECOFIN meeting, trying to clarify the EU and Member States financial situation. 

Naturally, people want to know where does the money come from and, most important, where does it go to, and despite the lack of explicitness, the Commission is being urged to clarify this intricate process to all EU citizens. 

Before such a complex and sensitive situation, the European agenda is giving priority to the EU budget. On the 14th of November a meeting was held, in Brussels, where the ministers responsible for the budget reconvened in order to quicken and define the political and economical guidelines to adopt. 

Later, on Monday 17th, the deadline for an agreement to be struck on the EU’s 2015 budget was supposed to be settled but the Parliament and the member states failed to reach a deal on the EU budget for the coming year. According to the Swedish permanent representative, the parliament and governments were "too far apart and a new proposal by the Commission will be the next step.”

 Step-by-step... 

EU budget voted in the Parliament, in 2012. © European Union 2011 PE-EP/Pietro Naj-Oleari 

The EU budget is proposed by the European Commission and afterwards is decided by the Parliament and the Council in negotiations that normally last 21 days. After the results, it must be approved by both institutions before the President of the Parliament can officially sign the budget. Juncker, as the President of the Commission, should simplify all the Budget process along with Frans Timmermans, Dutch Commissioner and first vice-president, who has a mandate for better regulation, and Kristalina Georgieva, the vice-president with responsibility for budget and administration. 

Moreover, the current complex situation commingling the EU budget and the obligations that Member States have towards the EU, is not helping to make the financial picture clear. At least the Commission has already recognised an internal need to make information more accessible and foster more transparency regarding the GNI.

Are we living a new Cold War?

Article published in Cafebabel

Relationship between West and East are getting colder again. © Talk Android

As we follow the recent worldwide developments we can’t help but ask ourselves: is History repeating itself? We witness now the biggest tensions between the West and East since the Cold War. But the similarities have become even bigger, if we look at the other side of the Atlantic, as well as to the Middle East, with the United States sending troops to Iraq. 

The relationships between Russia and the West are freezing, with the European leaders condemning Putin’s order of sending tanks to Ukraine and his motionless stance. In fact, following the G20 Leaders’ Summit last weekend (15-16 November), in Brisbane, Australia, Putin was strongly criticised and once again, he turned his back away saying that he was going back to Moscow, “we have completed our business,” said Putin justifying his departure. 

Putin threats the United States 

A few weeks ago, Russian jets were seen and immediately intercepted over European airspace, raising doubts and suspicions about what Putin is up to. Later, four Russian warships entered international Australian waters, close to the northeast coast, immediately attracting three Australians warships to ascertain. The peak of this ideological war happened when President Putin condemned the United States and its meddling position as an international actor. The Russian President has clearly left a hostile message to the United States. “Is it the exceptionalism of the US its way of leadership beneficial for everyone? And its constant interference on the world’s affairs brings welfare, progress, democracy? Should we stand still and watch? I allow myself to say that it’s not like that. Not at all,” threatened Putin, during the meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

If we put all the puzzle’s pieces together, we know that something very fishy is going on and that Putin’s speech was definitely a threat. The international community has been sanctioning Russia over the Ukrainian invasion led by Russian troops that began in March 2014. Putin’s desire to control the Eastern regions of Ukraine is so hefty, that is leading towards a new “iron curtain” which can have terrible repercussions for Europe and the world. 

European Reactions 

European leaders are not being mild towards Putin. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister David Cameron tried to adopt a more diplomatic way of approaching stubborn Putin by saying "if Russia takes a positive approach towards the Ukraine's freedom and responsibility, we could see those sanctions removed.” 

France is also in this amalgam. At stake is a Mistral-class assault warship retained by Holland’s government over concerns about Putin’s involvement in the situation in Ukraine. Russia has demanded the handover of the war machine by the end of November. 

Meanwhile, Russian Ilyushin transport plane was seen, once again, flying into international airspace in Estonia and Lithuania, without an official flight plan. They were intercepted by two Dutch F16 fighter jets. As a reaction to the growing military activity in Ukraine, Britain’s defense ministers, as well as the three Baltic States and four Nordic countries, have all agreed to enlarge intelligence and air force cooperation. 

Analogy with the past? 

Cold War Map. Jeroen Elfferich © Flickr 

This is not the end of this two-sided hostile and defensive history. Similar to the alliances created during the Cold War, strategical pacts are being made today, in the XXIth century. Strategical pacts or defensive alliances, the truth is that recently the United States has reinforced its partnership with China and Iran (yes, Iran). 

With China, Obama is about to make a deal concerning a trans-Pacific trade which would eliminate tariffs on goods and services and change labour regulations, government procurement, intellectual property, as well as environmental protections. "What we are seeing is momentum building around a Trans-Pacific Partnership that can spur greater economic growth, spur greater jobs growth, set high standards for trade and investment throughout the Asia-Pacific," said the US President. Moreover, the two world’s largest economies have agreed to grant visas to each other's citizens valid for up to a decade in a deal that aims to fortify business ties with China. 

Meanwhile, Iran and the US are getting closer to a historic nuclear deal, following Vienna talks, which could determine the end of 12 years of deadlock over Iran’s nuclear programme. However, this alliance is making too many waves, as France, one of the six nations involved in the negotiation (US, UK, Germany, Russia and China) is more opposed to nuclear concessions and Iran itself has said that the deal is possible but "excessive demands" by the west could derail chances of an agreement. 

Nevertheless, the US has already secured its alliance with China and relies on the European Union for any possible cooperation as well. If the deal with Iran won't be fruitful, then the scenario will be grey. Moreover, we should pay attention, once again, to America's moves in Iraq. Was Putin right on his condemning statement towards the meddlesome US?