EU-DIGEST

Would you let your son become an altar boy? - Catholic church riddled with Phedophiles

2010-03-21T00:51:00.000+01:00

More than 250 people in Germany were abused at Catholic church-run schools in past decades. The scandal has personally drawn in Bavarian-born Pope Benedict, whose brother ran a Regensburg choir for 30 years which has been linked to cases of abuse. The Pope's brother, Rev. Georg Ratzinger, has admitted to slapping boys in his Regensburg choir. Ettal Abbey, scene of brutal beatings and sexual abuse in the past, is located in the archdiocese the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger ( now Pope) once headed.

What puzzles many Catholics today is why in Pope Benedict's letter of apology to the victims of child sexual abuse by clergy in Ireland no reference was made to the deplorable situation in Germany, and many Catholics are asking why their countryman in Rome had no comment about the terrible situation of abuses in his homeland.

"Pope says nothing about German abuse cases," the popular Bild daily headlined in its recent website report on Benedict's letter. "Pope silent on abuse in Germany," the weekly Der Spiegel's website headline read.

EU-Digest

Spain Weighs 10-Year Plan to Overhaul Economy - by Daniel Woolls

2010-03-20T23:57:00.000+01:00

Spanish ministers approved Friday a wide-ranging 10-year reform plan designed to wean the economy off its dependence on construction and create broader, more sustainable growth as the country fights to climb out of recession. The bill, which now goes before Parliament, features everything from tighter supervision of the financial sector — and forcing listed companies to tell shareholders how much their executives earn — to measures making it easier for Spaniards to start up small businesses.

The plan also calls for bigger tax breaks for companies that invest in research and development, more help for Spanish exporters and changes that force government agencies and other businesses to pay faster for services or goods bought from private-sector suppliers.

It also boosts vocational training in a country that turns out armies of university graduates who often end up underemployed.

For more: Spain Weighs 10-Year Plan to Overhaul Economy - ABC News

USA: Historic health plan will pass says Obama

2010-03-20T23:51:00.000+01:00

US President Barack Obama led Democrats in a triumphant, fist-pumping rally on Saturday and confidently predicted Congress would rise to a century-old challenge and pass his health care overhaul. "It is in your hands, it is time to pass health care reform for America, and I am confident that you are going to do it tomorrow," told his allies on the eve of a cliffhanger House of Representatives vote.

Using a blend of expanded government health programs and subsidies for millions to buy private insurance, the bill would add some 32 million Americans to the ranks of those covered for a total of 95 per cent of Americans a century after Theodore Roosevelt called for a national approach to US health care.

As Obama spoke, thousands of protesters outside the Capitol chanted "kill the bill" and waved signs branding the president and his proposal "socialist" and politicians "corrupt," cheered on by the Republican minority.

For more: Historic health plan will pass: Obama

From St.Petersburg to Istanbul: Cruise liners look to Europe for 2011 - by Phil Reimer

2010-03-20T22:22:00.000+01:00

Cruise lines are climbing over each other to announce their Europe itineraries for 2011, and with so many competing in that market, it may mean good news for consumers.

With Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean and many of the deluxe and luxury lines sounding the European theme for next summer, and with more new European ships and Carnival returning to the continent, the confluence of all those ships could create the potential for too much capacity. Only time will tell if the fast-growing European market can fill those ships, or if the glut will lead to lower prices.

Princess is calling 2011 their most extensive summer ever in Europe. They're offering more departure and itinerary options, more overnight stays, seven new routes, and the most ships in Europe -- seven.

On some of Princess's routes, they will offer overnight stays in Venice, Alexandria, Dublin, Istanbul and Edinburgh, along with St. Petersburg, which is an overnight stop for most cruise lines.

For more: Cruise liners look to Europe for 2011

When is Daylight Saving Time worldwide?

2010-03-20T22:03:00.000+01:00

"Today, approximately 70 countries utilize Daylight Saving Time in at least a portion of the country. Japan, India, and China are the only major industrialized countries that do not observe some form of daylight saving."

For the complete report go to: When is Daylight Saving Time worldwide?:

U.S., UK, Cayman Islands Top Destinations for Private Deposits Offshore

2010-03-20T00:12:00.000+01:00

The rate of growth of offshore deposits in secrecy jurisdictions has expanded at an average of 9 percent per annum since the early 1990s, significantly outpacing the rise of world wealth in the last decade. The gap between these two growth rates may be attributed to increases in illicit financial flows from developing countries and tax evasion by residents of developed countries.

For more: Tax Justice Network

Europe: A New Superpower on the Rise - by Melvin Rhodes

2010-03-20T00:03:00.000+01:00

This year is going to be a test year for the post–Lisbon Treaty European Union. What lies ahead? An article in the British magazine The Economist, in its year-end special publication The World in 2010, states: "The fear of irrelevancy will haunt European leaders in 2010. They devised a new rule book, the Lisbon treaty, to come into force in 2010 and give their union the political heft to match its might as a trading and regulatory power. Its first year will reveal whether the design really does the job" (David Rennie, "More Than a Museum?").

The Dec. 24, 2009, issue of the Canadian newspaper Ottawa Citizen included an article titled "The Decline of America" by Karl Moore and David Lewis. It concluded with the following remarkable assessment of the near future: "In spite of all the arguments of the Euroskeptics, the European Union has transformed itself into a unique global superstate. Europe now has a president, a foreign minister, a common currency, a passport, a defence industry, a supersonic fighter, and an international role in peacekeeping.

For more: Europe: A New Superpower on the Rise > The Good News: March/April 2010

Israel the spoiled child of America - Netanyahu Offers an Apology, but No Shift in Policy - by Mark Landler and Ethan Bronner

2010-03-19T23:55:00.001+01:00

An ill-timed municipal housing announcement in Jerusalem has mutated into one of the most serious conflicts between the United States and Israel in two decades, leaving a politically embarrassed Israeli government scrambling to respond to a tough list of demands by the Obama administration.

The Obama administration has put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a difficult political spot at home by insisting that the Israeli government halt a plan to build housing units in East Jerusalem. The administration also wants Mr. Netanyahu to commit to substantive negotiations with the

Palestinians

, after more than a year in which the peace process has been moribund.

There is a feeling among officials in Washington that the Netanyahu government does not fully grasp how angry Obama officials have grown. But there are signs that it is sinking in.

For more: Netanyahu Offers an Apology, but No Shift in Policy - NYTimes.com

EU Calls for Bank Collapse Fund

2010-03-19T12:47:00.000+01:00

The European Union's finance executive called Friday for banks to pay into a fund that could be drawn upon in case of collapse, an effort to shield taxpayers from the fallout of future crises.

Officials are also calling for new ways to deal with insolvent financial groups that operate in multiple countries to avoid a repeat of the messy and expensive cross-border wrangling that followed the September 2008 collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers.

For more: EU Calls for Bank Collapse Fund - ABC News

US No. 1 arms exporter, China, India top importers

2010-03-19T01:56:00.002+01:00

While the United States remains the world's biggest arms supplier, China and India are the biggest importers of conventional weapons, the sale of which rose sharply by 22% globally during the 2005-2009 period a leading Swedish peace research group said.

While China's arms imports accounted for nine per cent of the global defence sales, the same figure for India was seven per cent, SIPRI said. Eighty-nine per cent of China's arms imports originated from Russia, it said while identifying France and Ukraine (three per cent each) as the other major sources of conventional weapons. In the case of India, Russia supplied 77 per cent of the country's imported conventional defence equipment while United Kingdom supplied eight per cent and Israel providing five per cent of its arms requirements.

The SIPRI said combat aircraft accounted for 27 per cent of the volume of international arms transfers during 2005-2009. Orders and deliveries of these potentially destabilising weapon systems have led to arms race concerns in the following regions of tension: the Middle East, North Africa, South America, South Asia and South East Asia.

For more: US No. 1 arms exporter, China, India top importers: SIPRI- Politics/Nation-News-The Economic Times

PM Erdogan continues "sanitizing" Turkish military and detains an additional 20 people In alledged coup plot case

2010-03-19T00:26:00.001+01:00

Turkish police on Thursday detained around 20 people in connection to an alleged plot to topple the Islamist-rooted government, and the detainees included retired and active military officers, state media said.

The operation was part of an investigation into the "Ergenekon" network, an alleged right-wing militant group that prosecutors say had planned to overthrow Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party government, broadcaster NTV said. State-run news agency Anatolian said the detentions took place in eight cities and that the operation was still going on.

For more: Turkey Detains 20 People In Coup Plot Case - Media - NYTimes.com

CAMERA: Presbyterian Committee Member Supporter of One State Solution

2010-03-18T23:59:00.001+01:00

Earlier this month, a committee created by a 2008 vote of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s General Assembly issued a report that asserts Israel is largely responsible for the continued existence of the Arab-Israeli conflict. One section of this report also affirms Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

Note: EU-Digest: also see: http://www.pcusa.org/gamc/business/feb10/actions/C107.pdf

For more: CAMERA: Presbyterian Committee Member Supporter of One State Solution

French leader: No mercy for Basque terrorists

2010-03-18T23:56:00.000+01:00

Speaking Thursday at a ceremony for the officer killed outside Paris by suspected ETA militants, he said those responsible would be sternly punished and that France stands at Spain's side in fighting the separatist group.

He called for "no mercy" against ETA and said he would not allow France to be a "calm staging ground for terrorists and assassins."

Tuesday's killing was the first time ETA, which seeks an independent Basque homeland, has been accused in the death of a French police official.

For more: French leader: No mercy for Basque terrorists | rgj.com | The Reno Gazette-Journal

Merkel Urges Stricter Rules for Euro Zone

2010-03-18T13:28:00.000+01:00

Speaking before a session of Parliament in Berlin, Mrs. Merkel referred to a proposal made last week by Wolfgang Schäuble, the German finance minister. As she described the proposal, “It would even be possible to exclude a country from the euro zone when over the long term it no longer fulfills the conditions.”

“Otherwise, we can’t work together,” Mrs. Merkel said, though she stopped short of explicitly endorsing the idea. This week, finance ministers for the 16 countries in the euro zone promised loans, if necessary, to help Greece overcome its debt problems.

The ministers have not yet agreed about how to structure the aid, and Mrs. Merkel’s statement on Wednesday seemed to suggest that European leaders were interpreting the aid promise in different ways.

For more: Merkel Urges Stricter Rules for Euro Zone - DealBook Blog - NYTimes.com

China and Germany unite to impose global deflation- by Martin Wolf

2010-03-17T20:58:00.002+01:00

You may have heard of Chimerica – a neologism invented by Niall Ferguson the Harvard historian, and Moritz Schularick of the Free University of Berlin, to describe a supposed fusion between the Chinese and American economies. You may also have heard of Chindia, invented by Jairam Ramesh, an Indian politician, to describe the composite new Asian giant. Let me introduce you to Chermany, a composite of the world’s biggest net exporters: China, with a forecast current account surplus of $291bn this year and Germany, with a forecast surplus of $187bn . China and Germany are, of course, very different from each other. Yet, for all their differences, these countries share some characteristics: they are the largest exporters of manufactures.

Both also believe that their customers should keep buying, but stop irresponsible borrowing. Since their surpluses entail others’ deficits, this position is incoherent. Surplus countries have to finance those in deficit. If the stock of debt becomes too big, the debtors will default. If so, the vaunted “savings” of surplus countries will prove to have been illusory: vendor finance becomes, after the fact, open export subsidies.

In this battle, the surplus countries are most unlikely to win. A disruption of the eurozone would be very bad for German manufacturing. A US resort to protectionism would be very bad for China. Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad. It is not too late to look for co-operative solutions. Both sides have to seek to adjust. Forget all the self-righteous moralising. Try some plain common sense, instead.

For more: FT.com / Columnists / Martin Wolf - China and Germany unite to impose global deflation

Credit Rating Company Moody's fears social unrest as AAA states implement austerity plans - Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

2010-03-17T20:36:00.002+01:00

The world's five biggest AAA-rated states are all at risk of soaring debt costs and will have to implement austerity plans that threaten "social cohnesion", according to a report on sovereign debt by Moody's.

The US rating agency said the US, the UK, Germany, France, and Spain are walking a tightrope as they try to bring public finances under control without nipping recovery in the bud. It warned of "substantial execution risk" in withdrawal of stimulus.

"Growth alone will not resolve an increasingly complicated debt equation. Preserving debt affordability at levels consistent with AAA ratings will invariably require fiscal adjustments of a magnitude that, in some cases, will test social cohesion," said Pierre Cailleteau, the chief author.

For more: Moody's fears social unrest as AAA states implement austerity plans - Telegraph

Swedish tourists tightest on Cyprus

2010-03-17T18:10:00.000+01:00

Revenues from Cyprus's vital tourism sector dipped 5.7 percent in the first two months signalling another rocky year for the Mediterranean island's economy.

The average daily spending by tourists in February was 62.2 euros - and the Swedes spend the least.

The Irish were the biggest spenders at 168 euros a day, while the Swedish were the most frugal, spending just 39.1 euros a day on average.

Income from tourism makes up 12 percent of gross domestic product. On the back of disappointing tourism income, the Cyprus economy contracted by 1.7 percent in 2009 to end decades of robust growth.

For more: Swedish tourists tightest on Cyprus

Are Dutch still Europe's least prejudiced people? - by Marijke Peters

2010-03-17T14:07:00.000+01:00

The Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence at Germany’s Bielefeld university spoke to 8,000 Europeans about attitudes towards migration, religion and minority groups. Half of respondents said there are too many immigrants in their home country and 43 percent said homosexuals should not have equal rights.

Social distance: Professor Andreas Zick, who led the team, found the Netherlands is the country with the least hostility towards minority groups. But he also warns appearances can be deceptive:

“The Netherlands – as well as France and even the UK – seems to be very tolerant according to the attitudes against groups. But if it comes to discrimination intentions like ‘would you move into a district where there are many immigrants?’ you can see people are more resistant. So there’s high diversity…. But the social distance is still there.”

Lack of self-awareness: Others agree the study offers little cause for celebration. The Swiss-Egyptian Muslim thinker Tariq Ramadan said on a recent trip to Amsterdam he feels the Dutch lack self-awareness on the subjects of racism and prejudice.

“I think there is a deep problem in this country, a self-projection as a very liberal society that says… ‘this is our tradition, so by definition we cannot be racist; by definition we are open; by definition we are dealing with all of these people and then if we have a problem with Muslims it should be the Muslims [that solve] the problem.’ And I say this is wrong.”

For more: Are Dutch still Europe's least prejudiced people? | Radio Netherlands Worldwide

EU's Ashton: "Israeli Settlements are illegal, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two state-solution impossible."

2010-03-17T00:07:00.000+01:00

EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton has said Israel's decision to build new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem endangers peace talks. She was speaking to Arab League members in Cairo, as she began a Middle East tour amid tensions over Israel's move.

Speaking in Cairo, she said: "Recent Israeli decisions to build new housing units in East Jerusalem have endangered and undermined the tentative agreement to begin proximity talks.

"The EU position on settlements is clear. Settlements are illegal, constitute an obstacle to peace and threaten to make a two state-solution impossible."

For more: BBC News - EU's Ashton chides Israel over Jerusalem settler plan

China and the U.S.: The Indispensable Axis - 10 Ideas for the Next 10 Years - by Christina Larson

2010-03-16T23:32:00.000+01:00

The quest to secure Middle Eastern oil and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan consume much of the foreign policy establishment in Washington today. But in the next decade, more of the U.S.'s attention will shift to the new Middle East: China.

Economists have been predicting this shift for decades. China is already the world's top manufacturer, top auto market, top cement producer and top polluter. Its military and naval capacity is growing. Its construction-driven hunger for natural resources, especially timber and energy, is reshaping the landscapes of Africa, Southeast Asia and South America. Experts may argue about the pace of China's economic ascent — Nobel laureate economist Robert Fogel predicts that China's economy will be an eye-popping 40% of global GDP by 2040, while others project somewhat more modest growth — but few question that it's happening dazzlingly fast.

Some see a threat to our way of life in China's rise. Martin Jacques, author of When China Rules the World, imagines the rise of China toppling the cherished Enlightenment principles of the West. Others persist in using faulty cold war analogies, substituting China for the old U.S.S.R.

Rather than being cold war adversaries, however, the U.S. and China will form an indispensable axis for global governance.

For more: China and the U.S.: The Indispensable Axis - 10 Ideas for the Next 10 Years - TIME

Dutch Insurer Eureko Scales Down Europe Ambitions

2010-03-16T21:21:00.000+01:00

Eureko BV, the Netherlands' largest insurer by gross premiums, Tuesday said it will focus on making its Dutch businesses less complex and more efficient as it is scaling down its ambitions to expand in Europe after a failed attempt to turn Poland into its second home market. After years of growing through mergers and acquisitions, nonlisted Eureko wants to focus on reducing the complexity of its operations in the Netherlands while making better use of economies of scale, Chief Executive Officer Willem van Duin said in an interview with Dow Jones.

For the complete report: 2nd UPDATE: Dutch Insurer Eureko Scales Down Europe Ambitions - WSJ.com

Turkish president sees Africa as Turkey's strategic partner

2010-03-16T21:12:00.000+01:00

The Turkish president saw on Sunday Africa as Turkey's strategic partner. Turkey's President Abdullah Gül said he considered Africa Turkey's strategic partner, and he would meet high-level executives and his counterparts in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

For more:Turkish president sees Africa as Turkey's strategic partner

Greece Avoids S&P Downgrade - by John Kell

2010-03-16T21:09:00.000+01:00

Greece avoided a downgrade to its credit rating by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, which had warned last month that it was considering such a move, although the ratings firm slapped on a negative outlook.

The euro also rose in the minutes following S&P's announcement.

S&P credit analyst Marko Mrsnik said the Greek government's plans to reduce its deficit was supportive of the nation's current triple-B-plus long-term credit rating, which is three notches into investment-grade territory. S&P said the government's reduction measures were "appropriate to achieve its 2010 fiscal target."

For more: Greece Avoids S&P Downgrade - WSJ.com

Israel-US: Is the honeymoon finally over ?

2010-03-15T23:14:00.000+01:00

The United States thwarted an Israeli attempt to play down a diplomatic rift on Sunday by renewing its condemnation of plans to build settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem.

Biden was left fuming last Tuesday after Israel announced plans to build 1,600 settler homes in predominantly Arab East Jerusalem just hours after he had succeeded in persuading the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships to begin indirect talks.
The move was widely interpreted in Washington as a calculated snub designed to humiliate Obama's peacemaking efforts in the Middle East, which have proved unpopular in Israel.
"This was an affront, it was an insult but most importantly it undermined this very fragile effort to bring peace to that region," David Axelrod, Obama's most senior political adviser, told NBC News. "This was not the right way to behave."

For more: U.S. rebuffs Israel's attempt to downplay rift over settlements

Safer Flying in Europe

2010-03-15T22:54:00.000+01:00

I In the past EU member states' safety investigation authorities have cooperated with each other on an informal basis. A recently approved draft regulation will formalize this cooperation by creating a European network of civil aviation safety investigation authorities. The network will facilitate the exchange of information and sharing of resources.

The new rules clarify the roles of various actors. For example, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Commission will be involved in cooperation and information-sharing with the member states.

The regulation are expected to be adopted jointly by the Council and the European Parliament in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedures.

For more: CONSILIUM - Homepage