Sources and authors
By Jean-Pierre Stroobants
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Humour in Europe (8/10): Belgian punchlines – split personality
29 August 2012612 Le Monde Paris -
Institutions: What action, Lady Ashton?
28 January 20112612 Le Monde Paris -
Roma: Where are the millions in European aid going?
13 August 20103072 Le Monde Paris -
Institutions: Seek them here, seek them there...
28 January 20101 Le Monde Paris
Direct in Flanders or oblique in Wallonia, the different forms of Belgian humour are a reflection of a complex and multifaceted country. But their dominant characteristic continues to be a healthy mix of self-deprecation, modesty and mockery. 
Catherine Ashton was cast as Europe’s international voice, the head diplomat of an EU full of world-wide ambitions. Unfortunately, she is not making her voice heard, is nearly invisible and has already lost the confidence of most of the member states. 
In light of the absence of progress on the issue of Roma integration, host countries and the countries of origin are continuing to bounce accusations and blame back and forth. Brussels, meanwhile, is exasperated by the fact that the projects it is financing are either advancing too slowly, or not at all. 
Catherine Ashton off the radar, Herman Van Rompuy vanished from view, and José Manuel Barroso defending his prerogatives as European Commissioner : the new institutions established by the Lisbon Treaty, which were supposed to simplify the action of the European Union, are clearly undergoing some teething problems, says Le Monde.