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Slovenia | Conflict with Croatia

slov_shaggyshoo

Slovenia's European election campaign missed any European aspects stated an Austrian newspaper. As in other member states, the financial crisis was a big deal. Moreover, unsolved border issues with Croatia dominated, as usual, the discussions. These problems are not well known within the EU, but postponed accession talks with Croatia this year. Both countries are arguing mainly about the line of demarcation in Piran bay. This all leads to tension between people from both countries. While some Croatians want to boycott Slovenian goods, Slovenians feel validated in judging the others as arrogant and snobbish.

Piran bay.

Picture is reserved under a Creative Commons Licence (shaggyshoo/flickr).

25 comments

Sunday, June 7 2009 By epolitik - Crossing Europe A-Z

Sweden | Potpourri

Here what came to my mind while thinking about Sweden and the upcoming elections. Just extend this list if you'd like:

Snow storms in April | EU presidency from July to December 2009 | A handsome prince | Furniture with do-it-yourself assembly instructions | Funny city names (at least for a German girl.. sorry): UPPSALA rocked already years ago | Not only elks on street signs but also cats | Swedish Jack Sparrows capturing politics | Köttbullar and potatos | Red hair and red houses | High-class music: Mando Diao for the dancers, Kristofer Astrom for the dreamers

pippi_CDrewing.jpginbus_hmboo.jpgswedensignhauskött

Photos are private or reserved under a Creative Commons Licence. All by flickr: Pippi/CDrewing, inbus/hmboo, snow/-12C, köttbullar/incinerator, house/kreativkind.

25 comments

Thursday, June 4 2009 By epolitik - Crossing Europe A-Z

Slovakia | Singing Tail-Light

Slovakia_Pic 1 What a battle: On October the 15th, Poland beat Slovakia in the FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualifiying Match with 2 goals to 1, with a spectacular turn in the 85th and 86th minute by Stanislav Sestak, striker of the German football club VFL Bochum. Currently Slovakia (12 points) is two points ahead of Poland (10 points) in the chart.

On June 7th, the two countries will fight a totally different battle in a totally different qualifying modus: Who will be the tail-light in the European Parliament Elections 2009? In 2004, Slovakia had the least voter participation of all countries, with just 17 percent. Followed by Poland with 21 percent.

Slovakia_Pic 2Old Town Hall in Bratislava
















After all the effort the Slovakian Government doesn´t want a reprise like in 2004. Róbert Hajšel, chairman of the information office of the European Parliament in Bratislava, said, it was the saddest statement in the whole history of European Elections. His explanation: “If you fully trust and support something, you don’t want to change it and if you don’t want to change it, you don’t care to come and vote.”.

Nevertheless, the Slovaks tried to do the best preparation for June the 7th, with the help of a new star in the country’s entertainment business. The 17-year-old Viera Berkyova won the show “Slovakias Next Superstar” in 2008 and wowed the crowd with a special song – about the European currency, the Euro. The song became an unexpected major hit in the charts. May be a good sign for the votes next Sunday – and an appropriate instrument to get the Slovaks ready for the election, too.


Images are preserved under a Creative-Commons-Licence (roblisameehan/flickr and iandanielbrown/flickr).

14 comments

Thursday, May 28 2009 By epolitik - Crossing Europe A-Z

Romania | Party time in Parliament?



Just look at these photos. What do you think who this woman is?
''- An It-Girl?''
Yes.
''- Romania's Paris Hilton?''
Yes.
''- Someone with maybe wealthy or prominent parents?''
Yes.

It is Elena, daughter of Romania's president Traian Basescu. And guess now what comes next? RIGHT: 28-year-old Elena Basescu is a candidate in the upcoming European elections. There will be more than 750 MEP in the new parliament so why not having a sexy female disco queen among them?

44 comments

Monday, May 25 2009 By epolitik - Crossing Europe A-Z

Netherlands | A salamander on the ballot

Newropeans Have you ever tried to turn a map of Europe upside down? Maybe you'll see a salamander just as Franck Bianchari did. The reptile became Newropeans' icon. Newropeans claims to be the first truly pan-European political party. Its members' aim was to run for this year's European Parliament election in all European Union member states simultaneously. But they only campaign now in three countries: in Germany, France - and in the Netherlands.

14 comments

Friday, May 22 2009 By epolitik - Crossing Europe A-Z

More transparency for deputies

What is the deputy I am voted for really doing in the European parliament? Two websites try to close this information gap. While Votewatch.eu is providing pure figure and datas, Parlorama.eu judges the MEP's activities. You can read more about this last project here.

15 comments

Sunday, May 17 2009 By epolitik - Picked up

Hungary | A borderless country?


It´s Pécs. Pécs, fifth-largest city of Hungary, was elected the European Capital of Culture 2010 (together with Essen, Germany and Istanbul, Turkey). It will try to present itself as a "borderless city [...] right in the middle of Europe".

Pécs 2010 The 10th of May Pécs was the focus of mayoral elections. The Socialists (MSZP), prevailing the city since 1998, lost control to the opposition Fidesz party. In Hungary, facing a deep recession in consequence of the Economic Crisis, this result definitely is an outlook on the European Parliament elections taking place the 7th of June. The Conservatives from the Fidesz party are prognosticated to win the majority of the 22 Hungarian seats in the EP. This could lead to quarrels in the MSZP and encourage discussions about snap elections.

We will see, if Hungary really is that open-minded towards European Policy and will keep it´s hopeful promises. Take a virtual tour through Europe´s Capital of Culture 2010 here.

14 comments

By epolitik - Crossing Europe A-Z

Luxembourg | Diplomatic Conflicts with the role model of the EU

Luxembourg

One of the smallest states in the European Union is back in the public news coverage, but not in the way they want to be. The reason: The latest utterances of the German Minister of Finance, Peer Steinbrück, about tax heavens in Europe and his mention of the grand duchy of Luxembourg.

The controversial discussions about the special financial possibilities in Luxembourg (and other states like Austria or Switzerland) and the harsh words from Germany cause an on-going diplomatic crisis in the European Union. Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker responded in an emotional way, but the Luxembourgers are too European to bear a grudge.

Integrated in the Benelux, Luxembourg is one of the grounding states of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957 and one of the most enthusiastic states concerning the European Union. The country is also known for the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Auditors.

A Luxembourger is Europe's leading politician

First and foremost, Juncker is the leading European politician. Under his governmental responsibility, Luxembourg administrated the Presidency of the European Council twice, 1997 and 2005. Juncker also received the German Karlspreis for special achievements concerning the European Union in 2006. Exactly 20 years after the award ceremony in Aachen, where the whole nation of Luxembourg received the award for their European attitude.

Well, and this years voter participation is expected to be in a fine tradition: Since 1979, between 87 and 90 per cent of the voters went to the elections of the European Parliament – one of the highest value in the whole Union. All the Luxembourgers are bent on voting and remain true to themselves, as a perfect example for the other members of the European Union.

The photo is reserved under a Creative Commons Licence (AlfonsoJiménez/flickr).

17 comments

Wednesday, May 13 2009 By epolitik - Crossing Europe A-Z

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