German experts are to advise the Bulgarian government on how to improve its management of EU funding. The daily Sega sees a conflict of interests here: "What could be better - German consultants, who are regarded as the Mercedes Benz of the branch, in management. Those in power have long had a preference for the Mercedes brand, and spend plenty of money on it. For their part the German consultants also have no intention of tightening their belts. Experience has shown that the German consultants who serve the Bulgarian government generally go easy on their clients on official occasions. However in their reports to their main employer, the German government, they complain that their advice is not being followed. That's the way it is when one serves two masters at the same time. ... Such diplomatic games do no one any good. If Germany wants to achieve something by putting Bulgaria under pressure, its consultants are welcome. Because what Bulgaria really needs are monitors. The government does not need to be taught - it needs to be forced to work. One should call things by their proper name: even German brooms will be no help if we continue to sweep the problems under the carpet."  (19/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Svetoslav Tersiev

Ukraine will most likely present an even bigger trial of strength between Western Europe and Russia than Georgia, writes Postimees newspaper: "The Kremlin has never really gotten used to the loss of the Baltic states, and so it is all the less keen on having Ukraine become a member of Nato or the EU. However to this day the promises made to Kiev have not been honoured, and nothing has come of Western integration for the last four years. ... Ukraine is the largest European state in terms of area, and number five in terms of population. This will certainly have an effect on Europe's geopolitical situation. 'Ukraine' means borderland. And that is what it is, seen from both Brussels and Moscow. ... Whether it ever becomes a member of the major Western organisations is by no means certain. But whatever its orientation, it will not fail to have a noticeable effect on the rest of Europe." (19/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Enlargement / Neighbourhood Policy, » Ukraine, » Russia, » Europe
All available articles from » Enn Soosaar

The daily Politis argues that the Caucasus conflict will also influence the Cyprus problem. "From now on ... Russia will exercise greater influence on international problems. The times when [US] policy was the one and only policy have come to an end. Our country will also be ... affected. Some argue that if South Ossetia is granted the right to independence and sovereignty, the same rights should be granted to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Those who demand this are ignoring the fact that Turkey's position is more contradictory now than it was in the past. On the one hand it backs the US and Europe and calls for the withdrawal of the Russian army from Georgia, but [in doing so] it puts itself in the position of having to explain its refusal to withdraw the army it has had stationed in Cyprus for 34 years now."    (18/08/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Cyprus, » Russia, » Georgian Republic
All available articles from » Sever Levent

Der Standard writes that the EU lacks a unanimous foreign energy policy. Not surprising, the newspaper comments, because "the differences between the member states are based on their energy markets. ... In fact there we have 27 different energy markets and 27 different import dependency structures. ... The much proclaimed 'speaking with one voice' will only be achieved when the 27 member states have aligned their external energy policy interests. This can be attained in two ways. On the one hand by creating a functional European domestic energy market, and on the other by establishing mutual crisis reaction mechanisms. Increasing the cross-border alliance of energy networks, removing barriers to market entry for foreign competitors, obliging member states to stockpile a minimum of gas, and encouraging mutual aid in the event of a crisis would automatically lead to a Europeanisation of energy policy perspectives for every government. ... This would make it impossible for a supplying country to put pressure on a single EU member state, because the country could be supplied at any time by its European partners. In addition, a 'united domestic energy market' would bring far greater diversification for all EU states than any new pipeline project." (19/08/2008)

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Czech President Václav Klaus has come out in support of Russia in the Caucasus conflict and incurred the wrath of the Czech government, which accuses him of being blind in one eye. The business newspaper Hospodářské noviny comments: "Finally a voice of reason on the war in Georgia. President Klaus is free of anti-Russian hysteria and resentment. Klaus is right - you cannot progress on the basis of lies. Neither in Iraq nor in Georgia. Yet in modern wars a quick glance is not sufficient to identify the culprit. ... The eye of reason sees both sides, the crazy Georgians and the mad Russians. If the president fails to see the second, it is because he is looking through Moscow's glasses." (19/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Petr Fischer

Poland and the US have reached agreement on the stationing of a missile defence system aimed at fending off a potential attack from Iran. The daily De Volkskrant writes that the agreement comes at an inconvenient moment in view of the crisis in the Caucasus: "[The defence system] has yet to prove its true value; it is supposed to offer protection against a danger that does not yet exist but will place an increased burden on the already tense relations with Moscow. ... Following the gesture of solidarity with Warsaw a gesture of understanding towards Moscow would not be an unnecessary luxury in this area, particularly considering that the defence system will not be fully operational until 2012 at the earliest. There are many arguments in favour of postponing construction of the facilities in Eastern Europe and examining whether it would not be possible to ward off the Iranian threat through increased diplomatic and economic pressure instead." (18/08/2008)

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"Spain is against nuclear power but its opposition is weakening," the Spanish daily El Mundo comments with reference to a recent survey: "Spain's heavy energy dependence is still one of the greatest hurdles to our development. Above all in times of crisis like the current one - with oil prices at astronomic levels - each and every citizen is feeling the squeeze in their own pockets. ... And yet if there is one thing all the governments of the past 30 years have in common it is the lack of courage to tackle the energy problem seriously and give atomic energy higher priority as almost all our European neighbours who are currently building new power plants are doing. In our country ... half of the Spanish are opposed to all applications of this energy source. ... [However] the citizens also reject the double standards in this area, because 53 percent find it makes no sense to refuse to build new nuclear power plants yet at the same time import nuclear power from France." (18/08/2008)

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World Water Week begins today in Stockholm. Researchers and experts from all over the world will meet in the Swedish capital to discuss the consequences of dwindling water supplies worldwide. The daily Dagens Nyheter notes that poor countries are the worst affected: "Climate, food, water and energy are all closely interconnected and call for a holistic understanding of the system among those who are working towards sustainable solutions. Climate change threatens to aggravate the unjust distribution of water supplies, and the responsibility for feeding the world population thus lies with those regions in our part of the world that have a more favourable climate." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Jenny Jewert

At the request of the Serbian government, the UN General Assembly is to request the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of the secession of Kosovo. die tageszeitung newspaper sees hidden political manoeuvring behind the initiative: "The Russians, for example, have always supported Serbia and warned the Kosovo Albanians from a putatively illegal secession. ... Meanwhile the 'territorial integrity of states' is in everyone's mind, at least concerning Georgia. These inconsistencies could lead to there being no majority in the UN General Assembly in favour of an ICJ opinion. Perhaps the Serbian government is even speculating that this will be the case. For Serbia, the key thing is not to give up Serbia's claim to Kosovo without a fight - while avoiding annoying its new partners in the West. ... Certainly it would be better if the UN court was able to present the criteria for a legitimate secession. Although such an opinion would not be binding, it could also not be ignored." (18/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Christian Rath

According to Estonian news portal Delfi, the accession of Estonia and Latvia to the Schengen area has facilitated tourism but is also causing trouble: "Our dear neighbours to the south have come up with a new method for boosting their budget. Each month, around a dozen Estonians are forced to pay fines at Latvia's borders because in their enthusiasm about a Europe without borders they forget to carry travel documents. Under the Schengen agreement there are no more controls at internal borders, so you can travel from Tallinn to Helsinki or Riga in the same way you would travel to Tartu. But if you read the small print you see that although the border crossing points have disappeared there are still controls, and the fine for forgetting your documents can be as hefty as 200 euros in Latvia." (15/08/2008)

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All available articles from » Andres Putting