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?