Presseurop |

France | Long history of a forgotten massacre (Le Monde, Paris)

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:08:18 +0100

Exactly 50 years ago today, between 100 and 200 Algerians, who were taking part in a peaceful demonstration, were murdered by Paris police. After decades of official cover-up, the collective memory of the events of 17 October 1961 is finally being restored. (Article)

Diplomacy | 5 billion to aid Arab revolutions

Thu, 26 May 2011 14:54:49 +0100

Within the framework of its Neighbourhood Policy, "the EU has made democracy a condition for aid to Arab countries," headlines the daily El País. On 25 May, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, and the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, presented the new strategy for the 16 countries that are the European Union’s neighbours on its eastern and southern borders. Of the seven billion euros of aid to be distributed between now and 2013, five billion has been earmarked for countries on the southern shores of the Mediterranean.

Until now, points out El País, in its approach to countries like Egypt and Tunisia "the EU strategy has been based on the principle of ‘security in exchange for millions of euros.’” The parameters that have now been announced -- free elections, freedom of speech in the press, an independent judiciary, the fight against corruption, and democratic control of security and armed forces -- will enable Europe to measure the level of democracy in these countries. The Madrid daily notes that the plan unveiled by the European diplomacy chief also includes measures for the control of migration flows. However, it points out that "Ashton has denied that the plan offers money to prevent immigration."

(News in brief)

EU-Libya | Gaddafi's last stand, Europe dithers (Presseurop, )

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:28:26 +0100

The bloody repression of the Libyan people by the Gaddafi regime is exacerbating the problem of a Europe faced with revolts in the Arab world, writes the European press, which calls for concrete and coordinated action. (Article)

Arab revolutions | What is really awaiting Europe (El País, Madrid)

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:44:03 +0100

Terrorism, immigration, the economy: for Europeans, the wave of revolts that have shaken the Arab world is fraught with dangers that are not altogether clear. El País has tried to unravel truth from falsehood. (Article)

Charb | The Arabs are coming | Cartoon (Charlie Hebdo, Paris)

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:26:28 +0100

(Cartoon) (Cartoon)

France-Tunisia | How Paris missed the Jasmine Revolution (Presseurop, )

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:18:12 +0100

Overtaken by events, slow in supporting the forces of democracy, the French government seemed to be backing the regime of Ben Ali to the very end. Today, it’s having a hard time justifying its position. (Article)

EU-North Africa | A tragedy in the making (Le Soir, Brussels)

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:45:06 +0100

In turning a blind eye to the corruption, nepotism and human rights violations of North African governments, the EU should share some of the blame for the violence that has recently erupted in Tunisia and Algeria, argues Belgian journalist Baudouin Loos. (Article)

Union for the Mediterranean | The Med's adrift (El País, Madrid)

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:59:13 +0100

The enthusiasm with which the Union for the Mediterranean was launched two years ago has been steadily waning ever since. The main reason why, says French political philosopher Sami Naïr, is the lack of a serious EU commitment to the region. (Article)

Renewable energy | Will Africa's rivers and sun power Europe? (The Independent, London)

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:04:49 +0100

Two massive power-generating schemes have been launched in recent weeks. One offers to create the world's largest solar farm, the other to create the biggest hydroelectric dam on the planet. While situated in Africa, they both aim to export electricity to Europe. The Independent weighs up the pros and cons of two ambitious projects, which, according to many critics, smacks of a colonial style power grab. (Article)

Religion | The Islamisation myth (The Observer, London)

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:00:33 +0100

In the wake of the London and Madrid bombings, predictions proliferated in print and on web that Islam was entering a radicial and violent phase. Dire warnings of the imminent “Islamisation” of Europe have turned out, however, to be of little substance, reports the Observer. (Article)

International Cooperation | Sarkozy's Club Med on the rocks (El País, Madrid)

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:41:21 +0100

Launched on 13 July 2008 in Paris, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) is basically a remodelling of the Barcelona Process that Spain helped get off the ground back in 1995. There was really no need to go to all that trouble, but Nicolas Sarkozy originally had something very different in mind when he initiated this second phase. (Article)