http://www.neurope.eu Eurocentrique - New Europe News: The European News Source. en-us Copyright The Media Company S.A. info@neurope.eu (New Europe) kgougakis@neurope.eu (Kostas Gougakis) Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:09:00 +0200 Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:09:00 +0200 New Europe New Europe 5 http://www.neurope.eu/images/logo.jpg http://www.neurope.eu 100 35 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99637.php Last weekend the Global Agency Responsible for the Amusement of the Masses or what some people call Hollywood were hosting their Oscars. An annual event that comes down to one thing whorsquo;s wearing the best dress. Oh yeah and who wins but that of course we hear all over the... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99637.php Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:38:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99481.php It would not be an understatement to say that some major events have transpired in worlds political and actual since our last meeting. Aside from the Chilean earthquake the aftershocks the damage ravaged and the multitude of infliction on the area plus the threat of tsunamis in 10 different countries... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99481.php Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:49:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99324.php Brussels is a small city itrsquo;s famously small and intimate most Eurocrats are often to be found musing just how lovely and intimate the politics can be as well. The etiquette of Diplomacy and the sheer joie de vivre one can derive from intimate policy in such a lively if... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99324.php Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:07:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99169.php At some point around winter it all gets too much the cold the harsh environment the two months still left until Easter and you start thinking of where you could possibly escape to. Just as yoursquo;d been seeing telecoms companies and the post office and car companies take over the footpaths... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99169.php Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:26:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99121.php A Valentinersquo;s tribute to Presidents Jose Manuel Barroso and Herman Achille Van Rompuyhellip; My parents got engaged on February 9 in 1972 on Valentinersquo;s Day of that year 5 days later they had an official little party so their family and friends has this impression that they got engaged on this... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/99121.php Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:23:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98958.php Last week found me in a typical Brussels setting with a slight difference its import and stature were obvious and yet its modesty pervaded its quiet elegance. I was lucky enough to have been invited to the VIRA inaugural talk for the year a speech by the new European Council president... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98958.php Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:00:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98807.php How do you solve a problem like Ukraine not having enough money to store Chernobylrsquo;s waste past the next 25 years? You hold a conference in Brussels. How do you solve a problem like more popular growth and opinion on Afghanistanrsquo;s centuries old warfare and hilly terrain being impenetrable? You hold a conference... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98807.php Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:38:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98653.php Remember when Dallas the 80s mega rich and oil slick series started season 5 with Bobby Ewing coming back to life after hersquo;d been shot in season 4 as his wife awoke to see him showering and realizing that he entire second half of the previous series ldquo;had been a... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98653.php Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:39:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98355.php Politics just like fashion one could say has to find ways to make itself appealing every week some new trend some media frenzy some debate and idea that will become a catch phrase and keep things buoyant at least till the next week or next big decision needs to be... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98355.php Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:30:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98193.php I as much as the next person am a sucker for numerical formations that blend into a seemingly correlatory logistical pattern which leaves one appreciative for mathematicians. Someone has to be appreciative of them I am really. nbsp;As far back as I can remember primary school grade 3 my teacher impacted... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98193.php Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:24:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98058.php Itrsquo;s not every day you get to be a part of an event the whole world is watching almost every diplomatic corp. is a part of every NGO you can think of and another 1000 you hadnrsquo;t is present and claiming vocal opposition to anything but success although what success... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/98058.php Sun, 13 Dec 2009 00:31:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97798.php In life as in politics many have been speculated as having been ldquo;the right person at the right place a the right time.rdquo; This certain electricity surrounded by shall we shorten it? serendipity chance or fate hovered over Brussels for an instant whilst Commission President gave out portfolios to keep... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97798.php Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:53:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97651.php Itrsquo;s not every day you get to be a part of major changes in history. For most people it never happens. But being in Brussels sometimes can feel like an overwhelming steamroller paving a new path through history and marking every second of every move into a universe that the... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97651.php Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:27:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97511.php The last time I checked my European Law this federation wasnrsquo;t what I thought would eventuate at all. In 2000 when I was wrapping up a law degree we were just looking at South Eastern Europe Spain Greece and Portugal to catch up let alone handing out visas to the Balkans... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97511.php Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:22:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97361.php When I was 9 years old my father decided after having already published and edited a newspaper that for mostly political reasons was burnt down in Melbourne Australia to start up another called Neoi Dromoi new paths . My father is one of these people that will never stop sharing information... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97361.php Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:00:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97232.php Someone once said in one of those synchronistic moments where it was overheard repeated and then became a clicheacute;: ldquo;Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today?rdquo; When you see something like the European Council Summit in action you start thinking maybe just maybe this can apply to politics. Albeit... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97232.php Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:46:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97087.php Have you seen this little logo? Woman @ EU Top? My twitter friend @linotherhino has this at the bottom of her photo on her twitter account. I think it has something to do with my preferred choice for President of the European Council Mary Robinson? @linotherhino although a lobbyist that wersquo;ll... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97087.php Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:41:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97028.php But does that clicheacute; still apply when the change is so intrinsic that it may just change your genetic makeup? The genetic makeup of your food? And what are the implications for the future if small sectors start mutating will the rest follow? Extreme you cry? Sensationalising an issue that could... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/97028.php Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:54:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96856.php Last week spending time on my beloved social networking site laughing with amusement at some peoples lost sheep on a game synonymous to town of agriculturehellip; and checking out one of my friendrsquo;s baby photos I received a call to arms from our European Commission Vice President herself Margot Wallstrom. I... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96856.php Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:08:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96676.php Whether you travel in journalistic circles diplomatic circles Olympic circles or just good old nuclear power circles or no circles of course ndash; your prerogative but if you had paid any attention to these aforementioned over the past week US Affairs would have jumped out at you as being a... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96676.php Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:14:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96504.php All the leaves are falling. Chestnuts are roaming the streets more than tiny Yorkshire teacup terriers all the rage among the 55 -75 set and yet the sky is still blue and the sun is shining in a city thatrsquo;s built for rain made for it and traditionally drenched by... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96504.php Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:44:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96320.php ldquo;When you never get to have something you become obsessed by it rdquo; said Madonna in her tribute to Michael Jackson at last weekrsquo;s MTV VMA awards. She was referring to her motherrsquo;s passing when she was young and for Jackson to his childhood which they both missed out on from... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96320.php Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:39:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96138.php Walking down Avenue Tervuren last week on the way to a slightly different press meeting I couldnrsquo;t help my building excitement I tried I really did but it really is moments like this that make me glad Im a journalist!. Next week Irsquo;ll write up and let you have a read... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/96138.php Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:33:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95951.php nbsp; nbsp; Democracy in Europe has a funny connotation. It exists maybe is run by those who havenrsquo;t considered it as a reputable path to power and yet seems to come up in almost every sentence referencing public life as a reverent term. Aristotle once in Ancient Greece circa 384 BC ndash; 322... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95951.php Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:02:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95773.php On the last week of August when many a wearied see overly tanned and hungry see Delhaize shoppers instead of the glorious days of al fresco fruit de mer clams or melono et prosciutto by the water traveler will be back in Brussels embracing the heart of Europe once more... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95773.php Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:12:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95580.php Settling into Brussels after three weeks in the south of France is an interesting procedure. The weather just when I thought further clicheacute;d speculation of Brussels weather was impossible is surprisingly warm and summery. At times leaving you wishing for a beach nearby like most normal countries would have but... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95580.php Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:50:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95531.php Shakespeare was not unused to etching a picture one fine line at a time to depict emotions characters and seasons in blossomed fullness. Innbsp; A Midsummer Nights Dream summer was captured lovingly ldquo;I know a bank where the wild thyme blows Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows Quite over-canopied... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95531.php Sun, 26 Jul 2009 23:44:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95362.php Very few people have the confidence to say they can change the world. Over history and time some such leaders have been plucked from obscurity and happened to be the right person at the right time in the right place who was then pushed towards the limelight. President Baracknbsp; Obama for example... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95362.php Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:56:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95313.php In Ancient Greece more specifically in the bustling trading capital Athens of the all powerful state of Athens around the fourth century BC there lived a man who changed the course of history. He founded the first educational institution of the western world came up with a phrase to describe a... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95313.php Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:09:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95127.php When you write a column every week your mind gets trained to look for concurrences in public affairs media original ideas and politics the two should never be confused by the way that may give you a lsquo;story.rsquo; You keep searching for those clues that will shift into place unexpectedly... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95127.php Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:12:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94942.php In Brussels on average based on figures Irsquo;ve come up before around May of 2008 and not audited in any way about 50 events may take place per week. The majority are called conferences some arenbsp; termed lsquo;talksrsquo; and some roundtables all with one agenda or another bringing people of various... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94942.php Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:52:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94768.php nbsp; In the late summer of 2007 Athens the one in Greece held its first Biennale. In a move which could be termed either coincidence or a premonition the creative team decided to label the extravaganza ldquo;Destroy Athensrdquo;. Besides bringing to mind any destructive tendencies the Greek youth have now notoriously displayed... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94768.php Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:04:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94594.php Ancient Greek philosopher Thales of Meletus was known mostly because Socrates mentioned him in his final speech before execution but also for his theories centred on change ndash; ldquo;all is in fluxrdquo; was his motto. Change and evolution has been incremental to humans in every step of the way. Most people... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94594.php Sun, 07 Jun 2009 17:54:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94567.php Politics seems to spark off a thread of thought in me lately that leads back to power games games in general and for anyone whorsquo;s ever watched Westminster sessions kind of a ride by a school ground at lunch. Last week a headline in a London newspaper seemed the best... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94567.php Sun, 31 May 2009 00:51:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94260.php nep-o-tism [nep-uh-tiz-uh m] ndash; noun patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship as in business and politics: She was accused of nepotism when she made her nephew an officer of the firm. Over the last week and a half I witnessed a process more extraordinary than ordinary.... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94260.php Tue, 26 May 2009 14:07:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94212.php OR How I learnt to start worrying about cleaning up a continent nbsp; Last year I travelled to my partnerrsquo;s home country of Morocco for my summer vacances ndash; we were en congee for approximately two weeks where I got to discover a world not so far away can be completely dissimilar to the... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94212.php Mon, 18 May 2009 15:25:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94173.php Back in high school many many years ago Irsquo;m afraid I decided I could not stand the thought of killing animals was thoroughly obsessed with all activism ecological movements did a traineeship what we call work experience in Australia at The Wilderness Society and decided to become a vegetarian. It... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94173.php Mon, 11 May 2009 15:59:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94118.php Last night finishing up the work I had for this issue of New Europe due to a fashionable seasonable cold leaving me incapacitated at the beginning of the week sorting through my tonnes of fan mail ndash; see one coworker and one boyfriend - all worried sick should I have... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94118.php Mon, 04 May 2009 12:53:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94063.php Not every day is Earth Day? Paradoxical as it may seem the earth has one specific day allocated to its wonder celebration April 22 one day to be more in tune with its environmental concerns that seem to plague not only politicians and Greenpeace but the community as a whole. In... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/94063.php Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:51:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93990.php Enjoying an animated feature at the movies during the last week a little too much for an under 10 feature animation by Steven Spielbergrsquo;s Dreamworks Studios I couldnrsquo;t hold back the burst of laughter that came out when in a time of dire crisis a battle between Monsters and Aliens... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93990.php Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:11:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93975.php Or what I like to call ldquo;lessons for speechwriters of heads of state sponsored by Harvard Law School.rdquo; Everyone loves a free seminar almost as much as Brusselites seem to enjoy a free lunch. Some may call it Obamamania others the parler de ldquo;Changerdquo; or the extended version: what to do... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93975.php Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:39:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93745.php I have confidence in sunshine I have confidence in rain I have confidence that spring will come again Besides what you see I have confidence in me! Confidence is such a strong word confidential a deep dark bond of some sort a sacred place in the words of the English language and a sacred... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93745.php Mon, 30 Mar 2009 05:38:00 +0300 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93586.php For the rest of my life if anyone happens to ask me what were you doing when Natasha Richardson died? I will have the answer ready. RIP and farewell pretend mother of young Lindsay Lohan in the newer version of Parentrap ndash; I like that movie even though I could... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93586.php Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:14:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93525.php On Friday afternoon despite crisis crisis crisis friends going on about how this is only the beginning ndash; we ainrsquo;t seen nothing yet and banks ready to crumble even more I received an email that was unsettling for all its optimism. The Commission had sent out a press release saying... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93525.php Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:21:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93220.php The quote may come from See No Evil Hear No Evil but Gene Wilder is forever imprinted in my mind as the lead in a classic 80s B-movie Lady In Red. Itrsquo;s a fascinating ! commentary on the male psyche and the all so unfamiliar idea of a husband with... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93220.php Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:16:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93185.php A year ago this issue we were thinking of a column for me for this newspaper another means another voice and another view to bring it further to life. Sitting in our conference room swiveling on a chair in an editorial meeting I thought ndash; yes ndash; Eurocentrique ndash; what a... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/93185.php Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:07:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92986.php Walking to work this week on Avenue Tervuren between Merode and Montgomery there was a striking difference that I just couldnrsquo;t put my finger on. Every morning I head off from somewhere around the Parc De Cinquantenaire pass the office of Human Rights Watch glad to know they are at... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92986.php Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:54:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92656.php As already heavily discussed in the pages of New Europe this week within the writings of the Australian PM on Page 3 the economic analysis and notebook on pages 4 amp; 6 on previous comments from Monsieur President Sarkozy and in the week prior to that on Barack Obama not... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92656.php Mon, 16 Feb 2009 08:00:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92603.php Like all great love stories my infatuation with England is a cog mire of serendipitous moments in time brought together to bring me to my appreciation and dare I say it obsession of the British in Brussels today. Some may say it is a nurture as opposed to nature situation that... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92603.php Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:04:00 +0200 http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92262.php Back in June 2008 after the No vote from the Irish Europe had to rethink itrsquo;s stance itrsquo;s administrative costs and itrsquo;s Europhiles. But judging ones cooperators also means judging ones not so friendly opposition as well.The leader of the European Parliament Socialist Group Martin Schultz had at the time... info@neurope.eu (New Europe) Eurocentrique http://www.neurope.eu/articles/92262.php Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:09:00 +0200