Ονειρεύτηκα μια Προσωπική Επανάσταση ικανή να ανατρέψει τα νοητικά πρότυπα της εποχή μου, απελευθερώνοντάς την παντοτινά από την αντιπαλότητά της, από την αμφιβολία, το φόβο και τον πόνο.
Τρίτη 30 Απριλίου 2013
ΕΛΛΗΝΟΡΩΣΙΚΟ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΗΜΑΤΙΚΟ FORUM
04/30/2013 - 13:03
Έλληνες και Ρώσοι επιχειρηματίες θα έχουν την ευκαιρία στις 16 και 17 Μαϊου να συναντηθούν στο 1ο Ελληνορωσικό Forum με την ονομασία ΕΡΜΗΣ, στη Θεσσαλονική με σκοπό την προώθηση των εξαγωγών Ρωσικών και Ελληνικών προϊόντων στις αγορές των δυο χωρών.
Είναι η πρώτη φορά που διοργανώνεται ένα τέτοιο επιχειρηματικό γεγονός που θα βοηθήσει στην ανάπτυξη των επιχειρήσεων της Ελλάδος σε μια δύσκολη οικονομική εποχή.
Στόχος του Forum είναι να συμβάλλει στην προώθηση της συνεργασίας μεταξύ των δύο αυτών χωρών, επιτυγχάνοντας παράλληλα επιχειρηματικές επιδιώξεις, όπως την προώθηση των εξαγωγών των Ρώσικων και των Ελληνικών προϊόντων και υπηρεσιών στην Ελληνική και Ρώσικη αγορά αντίστοιχα, καθώς και τη επενδυτική δραστηριότητα Ελλήνων και Ρώσων επιχειρηματιών.
Κατά τη διάρκεια του διήμερου Forum θα πραγματοποιηθούν συναντήσεις Ελλήνων με Ρώσους επιχειρηματίες, ενώ θα υλοποιηθούν ενημερωτικά panels ποικίλης θεματολογίας με διακεκριμένους ομιλητές που θα καλύψουν θέματα σχετικά με την επιχειρηματικότητα, την εξωστρέφεια των επιχειρήσεων, τις εξαγωγικές διαδικασίες, κ.α. Με το πέρας του Forum, οι ενδιαφερόμενοι συμμετέχοντες θα έχουν τη δυνατότητα να ακολουθήσουν οργανωμένες μονοήμερες ή διήμερες εκδρομές σε πολιτιστικά ιδρύματα, μουσεία, περιηγητικές διαδρομές σε αξιοθέατα εντός και εκτός της Θεσσαλονίκης (ΆγιονΌρος, Σιθωνία, Σέρρες). Το 1ο Ελληνορωσικό Επιχειρηματικό Forum ΕΡΜΗΣ διοργανώνεται από το Μη Κερδοσκοπικού Χαρακτήρα φορέα, το Ελληνορωσικό Κέντρο ΕΡΜΗΣ, με την ενεργό συμμετοχή 17 Επιμελητηρίων από όλη την Ελλάδα και σε συνεργασία με την εταιρία Συμβούλων Alpha Plan Consultans, επικεφαλής του οποίου είναι ο κ. Αλεξιάδης.
Το επιχειρηματικό event θα πραγματοποιηθεί στο Μακεδονία Παλλάς, όπου είναι πολύ πιθανόν να μιλήσει και ο Ιβάν Σαββίδης.
Τμήμα ειδήσεων defencenet.gr
ΟΡΓΙΣΜΕΝΟΙ ΠΟΛΙΤΕΣ ΕΠΙΧΕΙΡΟΥΝ ΝΑ ΕΙΣΒΑΛΟΥΝ ΣΤΗ ΒΟΥΛΗ
04/30/2013 - 19:33
Έξω από την κυπριακή Βουλή επικρατεί ένταση, λίγα λεπτά μετά την έγκριση του Μνημονίου, με ψήφους 29 υπέρ και 27 κατά.
Οι διαδηλωτές εξαγριωμένοι από το αποτέλεσμα επιχείρησαν να μπουν στη Βουλή και να επιτεθούν σε βουλευτές, με την Αστυνομία να προσπαθεί να ελέγξει την κατάσταση.
Οι διαδηλωτές φωνάζουν συνθήματα όπως «Εξω η Τρόικα από την Κύπρο», «η Κύπρος δεν θα γίνει προτεκτοράτο», «Λαέ πολέμα σου πίνουνε το αίμα».
Οι διαδηλωτές εξαγριωμένοι από το αποτέλεσμα επιχείρησαν να μπουν στη Βουλή και να επιτεθούν σε βουλευτές, με την Αστυνομία να προσπαθεί να ελέγξει την κατάσταση.
Οι διαδηλωτές φωνάζουν συνθήματα όπως «Εξω η Τρόικα από την Κύπρο», «η Κύπρος δεν θα γίνει προτεκτοράτο», «Λαέ πολέμα σου πίνουνε το αίμα».
Tμήμα ειδήσεων defencenet.gr
MΑΖΕΥΟΥΝ ΟΤΙ ΒΡΟΥΝ
04/30/2013 - 17:52
Οι Νοτιοκορεάτες μαζεύουν ότι έχουν στη βιομηχανική ζώνη Κεσόνγκ δείχνοντας έτσι ότι οι όποιες προβληματικές σχέσεις υπήρχαν με την Βόρειο Κορέα έχουν διαρραγεί ολοκληρωτικά και χωρίς γυρισμό. Ο φόβος ενός πυρηνικού πλήγματος παραμένει και γίνεται πιο ισχυρός από ποτέ. Οι Βορειοκορεάτες δείχνουν να αδιαφορούν για μια οποιαδήποτε επίλυση της κρίσης σαν να μη συνειδητοποιούν το κακό που μπορεί να συμβεί.
Οι τελευταίοι Νοτιοκορεάτες εργαζόμενοι στην βιομηχανική ζώνη Kaesong, εντός του εδάφους της Βορείου Κορέας, σε μια πραγματικά «μεγάλη έξοδο», κατά την οποία μάλιστα απομακρύνουν κυριολεκτικά ό,τι μπορούν να κουβαλήσουν, ένδειξη πως δεν σκοπεύουν να επιστρέψουν σύντομα στις διακορεατικές βιομηχανικές εγκαταστάσεις.
Ουσιαστικά η κολοσσιαία βιομηχανική ζώνη του Kaesong έχει αναστείλει το σύνολο των εργασιών της από τις 3 Απριλίου, όταν το καθεστώς της Πιονγκγιάνγκ απομάκρυνε τους περισσότερους από τους 53.000 εργάτες του.
Η Νότια Κορέα αντέδρασε δίνοντας ολιγοήμερη προθεσμία στο βορειοκορεατικό καθεστώς να αποδεχτεί την πρότασή της για επανεκκίνηση των εργασιών στην περιοχή. Η διορία παρήλθε και η Σεούλ διέταξε τους Νοτιοκορεάτες εργαζομένους στην ζώνη να απομακρυνθούν. Το περασμένο Σαββατοκύριακο εκκενώθηκε η ζώνη, ενώ οι τελευταίοι έφυγαν λίγο μετά τα μεσάνυχτα της Μεγάλης Δευτέρας...
Είναι εμφανές ότι ο νέος βορειοκορεάτης ηγέτης και το κατεστημένο που βρίσκεται από πίσω του είναι αποφασισμένοι να "τραβήξουν" την ιστορία μέχρι τέλους. Το ερώτημα είναι γνωρίζει ο νεαρός ηγέτης τις επιπτώσεις των ενεργειών του; Η μήπως σκέφτεται ότι είναι ένα απλό videogame που παίζεται σε κάποιο από τα όμορφα gadjets που τόσο αγαπά; Πολλοί πιστεύουν ότι η κρίση αυτή απότελεί την "ηγετική" ενηλικίωση του Κιμ Γιονγκ Ιλ, το θέμα είναι αυτός πως το αντιμετωπίζει, και αν έχει καταλάβει ότι "πυρηνικά" παιχνίδια, έχουν ακολουθούνται πάντα και από το "the day after".
ΕΡΧΟΝΤΑΙ ΕΞΕΛΙΞΕΙΣ
04/30/2013 - 18:59
Διαψεύστηκαν παταγωδώς τα σενάρια άνετης υπερψήφισης του Μνημονίου από την Κυπριακή Βουλή, καθώς το εν λόγω νομοσχέδιο εγκρίθηκε με μόλις 1 ψήφο(σε διαφορετική περίπτωση θα υπήρχε ισοψηφία και δεν θα εγκρινόταν). Η συγκεκριμένη εξέλιξη σημαίνει ότι πολύ δύσκολα θα επιβιώσει η κυβέρνηση Αναστασιάδη και το Μνημόνιο, στα διαδοχικά crash test που θα ακολουθήσουν στη Βουλή τους επόμενους μήνες.
Είχε προηγηθεί οργιώδες παρασκήνιο και εκβιασμός βουλευτών της συμπολίτευσης, που ήθελαν να καταψηφίσουν το νομοσχέδιο.
Τμήμα ειδήσεων defencenet.gr
Επιστήμονες μετατρέπουν το “κακό” λίπος σε “καλό”
Επιστήμονες σε ένα από τα κορυφαία ανώτατα εκπαιδευτικά ιδρύματα του κόσμου, το Ομοσπονδιακό Ινστιτούτο Τεχνολογίας (ΕΤΗ) της Ζυρίχης στην Ελβετία – ανάμεσά τους και η Ελληνίδα Αλίκη Περδικάρη – κατάφεραν για πρώτη φορά να ανακαλύψουν τον μηχανισμό με τον οποίο τα κύτταρα του λευκού (“κακού”) λίπους μετατρέπονται σε κύτταρα καφέ (“καλού”) λίπους σε ένα ζωντανό οργανισμό.
Το επίτευγμα αυτό, που έγινε σε ποντίκια, θα βοηθήσει στην ανάπτυξη νέων θεραπειών κατά της παχυσαρκίας στους ανθρώπους.
Στα θηλαστικά γενικά και στους ανθρώπους ειδικότερα υπάρχουν κύτταρα καφέ και άσπρου λίπους. Τα τελευταία λειτουργούν κυρίως ως “αποθήκες” ενέργειας, που γεμίζουν όταν ο οργανισμός αφομοιώνει πολλές θερμίδες και το λίπος αυτό αποθηκεύεται με τη μορφή σταγονιδίων λιπιδίων, τα οποία το σώμα κινητοποιεί όταν χρειάζεται ενέργεια.
Από την άλλη, τα “καφέ” κύτταρα ειδικεύονται στο “κάψιμο” ενέργειας με τη μορφή λίπους και σακχάρων για να παράγουν θερμότητα. Τα νεογέννητα κατέχουν σημαντικές ποσότητες καφέ λίπους και το χρησιμοποιούν για να διατηρούν τη θερμοκρασία του σώματός τους.
Από τη στιγμή που πριν από λίγα χρόνια ανακαλύφθηκε ότι και οι ενήλικοι άνθρωποι συνεχίζουν να έχουν καφέ λίπος, οι προσπάθειες των επιστημόνων έχουν εστιαστεί στο να αυξήσουν το καφέ (καλό) λίπος και να μειώσουν αντίστοιχα το λευκό (κακό) λίπος, έτσι ώστε ο οργανισμός να καίει πιο πολλές θερμίδες και να χάνει βάρος.
Η νέα έρευνα με ελληνική συμμετοχή έδειξε ότι αυτά τα κύτταρα δημιουργούνται μέσα στις «αποθήκες» των λευκών κυττάρων από την μετατροπή μιας μερίδας των τελευταίων σε καφέ κύτταρα. Οι ερευνητές έκαναν πειράματα με γενετικά μεταλλαγμένα πειραματόζωα σε διάφορες συνθήκες θερμοκρασίας στο εργαστήριο και έδειξαν ότι, όταν έπεφτε ο υδράργυρος, τα ποντίκια σχημάτιζαν καφέ (καλά) κύτταρα) ανάμεσα στα λευκά (κακά). Όταν η θερμοκρασία ανέβαινε, αυτά τα καφέ κύτταρα γίνονταν πάλι λευκά.
Οι επιστήμονες θεωρούν πολύ πιθανό ότι ένας παρόμοιος μηχανισμός αυτόματης μετατροπής των κυττάρων του λίπους υπάρχει και τους ανθρώπους, όταν πέφτει η θερμοκρασία του περιβάλλοντος.
Ο επόμενος στόχος θα είναι να βρεθούν τρόποι ώστε αυτή η κυτταρική μετατροπή να γίνεται πλέον με ελεγχόμενο τρόπο, είτε με νέου τύπου φάρμακα, είτε μέσω της κατάλληλης διατροφής ή με άλλη μέθοδο, με τελικό σκοπό την καταπολέμηση της παχυσαρκίας.
Μια 17χρονη Ελληνίδα νικήτρια διαγωνισμού κόμικς της NASA
Σπουδαία διάκριση αποκόμισε μια νεαρή Ελληνίδα η οποία έλαβε μέρος σε διεθνή διαγωνισμό κόμικς που διοργάνωσε η NASA και βρέθηκε ανάμεσα στους τελικούς νικητές.
Η 17χρονη Αντζέλικα – Μαρία Μέρου από το Αργος δημιούργησε μια ιστορία για έναν άνθρωπο – ρομπότ ο οποίος πρόκειται να εξερευνήσει διάφορους «φιλικούς» πλανήτες για να φθάσει τελικά στον Αρη και συγκαταλέγεται ανάμεσα στους νικητές του διαγωνισμού της NASA «Humans in Space – Youth Art Competition».
Οπως αναφέρει η ιστοσελίδα ellines η Αντζέλικα είχε δείξει το ταλέντο στο σχέδιο από πολύ μικρή ενώ είναι η μοναδική Ελληνίδα που συμμετείχε στο διαγωνισμό και διακρίθηκε ανάμεσα σε 2.076 παιδιά από 52 χώρες.
ΣΤΟ ΕΞΩΤΕΡΙΚΟ ΕΦΥΓΕ ΤΟ 10% ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΟΝΙΚΗΣ ΚΟΙΝΟΤΗΤΑΣ
Σε 120.000 υπολογίζονται οι Έλληνες επιστήμονες που εργάζονται - για τουλάχιστον ένα χρόνο - στο εξωτερικό, σύμφωνα με έρευνα που ολοκληρώθηκε στις αρχές του 2011.
"Ισοδυναμεί με το 10% του επιστημονικού προσωπικού της Ελλάδας και θεωρείται υψηλό ακόμη και για τις υπανάπτυκτες χώρες".
Αυτό εξήγησε στο ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ ο καθηγητής οικονομικής γεωγραφίας του Πανεπιστημίου Μακεδονίας, Λόης Λαμπριανίδης.
Τη μελέτη εκπόνησε ο ίδιος και τα στοιχεία που συγκέντρωσε προέρχονται από προσωπική έρευνα, καθώς δεν υπάρχουν επίσημα δεδομένα, όπως σημείωσε. Η έρευνα έγινε για τη συγγραφή του βιβλίου του "Επενδύοντας στη Φυγή". Ο κ. Λαμπριανίδης εξήγησε ότι η διαρροή Ελλήνων επιστημόνων στο εξωτερικό δεν είναι αποτέλεσμα της οικονομικής κρίσης, ωστόσο η κρίση επέτεινε το πρόβλημα.
"Η γενεσιουργός αιτία είναι η αναντιστοιχία που υπάρχει στην προσφορά και τη ζήτηση. Αφενός γιατί στην Ελλάδα δεν υπάρχουν επιχειρήσεις που παράγουν σύνθετα προϊόντα, ώστε να χρειάζονται εξειδικευμένους επιστήμονες, αφετέρου δε, επειδή οι ελληνικές επιχειρήσεις επένδυσαν στη βάση του χαμηλού κόστους εργασίας. Μετά το 1990, όμως ο ανταγωνισμός σε αυτό το πεδίο αυξήθηκε δραματικά, καθώς μπήκαν στο "παιχνίδι" πολλές χώρες με ακόμη χαμηλότερα κόστη", τόνισε ο καθηγητής.
"Το κακό είναι ότι η κοινωνία μας μεγαλώνει αυτά τα παιδιά, τα σπουδάζει και δεν απολαμβάνει τους καρπούς αυτής της εκπαίδευσης", πρόσθεσε. "Δημιουργούμε επιστήμονες και τους εξάγουμε. Μάλιστα το ισοδύναμο της "απώλειας" που προκύπτει, είναι πολύ μεγαλύτερο αν αναλογιστεί κανείς το εξής: Περίπου το 40% αυτών των επιστημόνων έχει αποκτήσει τουλάχιστον ένα από τα πτυχία του σε κάποιο από τα 100 καλύτερα πανεπιστήμια του κόσμου", επεσήμανε ο καθηγητής.
Ο κ. Λαμπριανίδης μίλησε για το φαινόμενο αυτό με αφορμή εκδήλωση που οργάνωσε σήμερα το γραφείο διασύνδεσης του Πανεπιστημίου Μακεδονίας με τίτλο "Εργασία στο Εξωτερικό". Ερωτηθείς αν τα στοιχεία της έρευνάς του μπορούν να αποτελέσουν αντικίνητρο για όσους ενδιαφέρονται να φύγουν στο εξωτερικό, απάντησε χαρακτηριστικά:
"Η φυγή στο εξωτερικό ως προσωπική επιλογή, μπορεί να είναι η καλύτερη. Το πρόβλημα δεν είναι πρόβλημα των νέων επιστημόνων αλλά της Πολιτείας, που πρέπει να αντιληφθεί πόσο καταστροφικό είναι αυτό που συμβαίνει και να αναζητήσει λύσεις".
Σύμφωνα με τη Σύμβουλο Σταδιοδρομίας του γραφείου διασύνδεσης, Ναταλία Μουτοπούλου, οι νέοι που ενδιαφέρονται να συνεχίσουν τις σπουδές τους στο εξωτερικό ή να εργαστούν εκεί είναι πολλοί. "Το γραφείο μας λειτουργεί συμβουλευτικά και βοηθά τους ενδιαφερόμενους να συγκεράσουν όλα τα δεδομένα και να κάνουν το επόμενο βήμα", ανέφερε η κ. Μουτοπούλου.
Μεταξύ των ενδιαφερομένων, σύμφωνα με την κ. Μουτοπούλου, υπάρχουν και άτομα που αποφοίτησαν πριν από το 2005, και τα οποία, είτε έμειναν χωρίς εργασία, είτε αναζητούν ένα καλύτερο μέλλον. Η ίδια τόνισε πάντως ότι η εργασία στο εξωτερικό δεν είναι μια απλή και εύκολη λύση και ότι χρειάζεται μεγάλη προσπάθεια και σωστή προετοιμασία.
Πηγή: ΑΜΠΕ
ΟΛΛΑΝΔΙΑ: ΕΝΑΣ ΑΠΕΡΑΝΤΟΣ "BIG BROTHER"
Τουλάχιστον 200.000 κάμερες ασφαλείας 24ωρης παρακολούθησης λειτουργούν στην Ολλανδία.
Σύμφωνα με έρευνα που πραγματοποίησαν από κοινού το ειδησεογραφικό site Sargasso.nl και το πρακτορείο ειδήσεων APN, η Ολλανδία είναι γεμάτη από κάμερες παρακολούθησης, σε ιδιωτικούς και δημόσιους χώρους.
Οι αριθμοί δείχνουν οτι σήμερα στην Ολλανδία αναλογεί 1 κάμερα για κάθε 82 κατοίκους!
- Η μεγάλη πλειοψηφία των καμερών παρακολούθησης (περίπου 180.000) αφορά ιδιωτικούς χώρους (εταιρείες, κατοικίες).
- Το δίκτυο των δημόσιων συγκοινωνιών ελέγχεται από 17.500 κάμερες, που είναι κυρίως εγκατεστημένες σε μέσα μαζικής μεταφοράς (λεωφορεία, τραμ κλπ.).
- Άλλες 2.700 κάμερες είναι εγκατεστημένες από την Αστυνομία, κυρίως σε δημοφιλείς ή τουριστικούς δημόσιους χώρους και σε περιοχές με έντονη νυχτερινή ζωή.
- Το οδικό δίκτυο της Ολλανδίας ελέγχεται από 1.700 κάμερες που είναι εγκατεστημένες σε όλο το μήκος του.
- Τέλος, στο αεροδρόμιο Schiphol λειτουργούν 1.400 κάμερες.ασφαλείας.
Αν και το νομικό πλαίσιο περί προστασίας των προσωπικών δεδομένων στην Ολλανδία είναι ιδιαίτερα αυστηρό και σε γενικές γραμμές τηρείται, υπάρχουν πολλοί σκεπτικιστές που θεωρούν οτι ο αριθμός των καμερών είναι υπερβολικός και εκφράζουν αμφιβολίες για το πόσο τελικά βοηθούν στην πρόληψη τέλεσης αξιόποινων πράξεων.
- Πόσες κάμερες παρακολουθούν εσάς; Βρείτε το εδώ: http://reportacam.nl/
Κυριακή 28 Απριλίου 2013
Photo: Peter Parks/AFP
China seeks more balance in France trade
Published: 27 Apr 2013 08:46 GMT+02:00 | Print version
Updated: 27 Apr 2013 08:46 GMT+02:00
Updated: 27 Apr 2013 08:46 GMT+02:00
French President Francois Hollande wrapped up a two-day visit to China Friday, confident that France could achieve more balanced trade with the world's second largest economy.
- Hollande visits China on sales mission (25 Apr 13)
Hollande became the first Western leader to meet China's new president Xi Jinping and picked up a deal potentially worth billions for 60 new Airbus aircraft.
France runs a €26 billion ($34 billion) trade deficit with China and Hollande said Beijing "responded perfectly to the requests that we made".
On the second and final day of his visit, his first to China, Hollande met Premier Li Keqiang.
"China is not looking for a trade surplus but wants to import more French goods," Li said, according to a source close to the delegations.
China's rapid development, far from scaring France, presented a "significant opportunity", Hollande said, urging Beijing to ease market access.
France accounts for just 1.3 percent of China's foreign trade compared with around five percent for Germany but Hollande said the food industry and urban development could help diversify cooperation from its traditional aviation and nuclear sectors.
Jean-Pierre Raffarin, a former prime minister travelling with Hollande, said the visit had been very useful and would contribute to narrowing France's trade deficit with China.
On Thursday, the first day of Hollande's visit, the two sides announced a lucrative deal for 60 Airbus planes.
The deal, signed in the presence of Hollande and Xi, was part of the French leader's attempt to press China to help reduce its trade surplus with France.
China's pact with Airbus could be worth at least $7.7 billion at list prices, although customers generally negotiate discounts from plane manufacturers.
The French president later vowed to remove obstacles to Chinese investment in France as he vies to drum up anaemic rates of growth in the eurozone's number-two economy.
Hollande told a press conference Thursday that during his talks with Chinese leaders he also raised the issue of Tibet and human rights, with all topics discussed in a "frank and respectful manner".
He said such discussions were not the only purpose of his trip, and that they wanted to talk about political partnership, the Chinese presence in Europe and economic growth.
On Friday, Hollande highlighted the importance of cooperation between the two countries on a range of issues.
"The world needs China and France to deepen regulations, strengthen certain procedures, govern the planet better and to resolve certain conflicts or stave off threats," Hollande told Li.
"We are, like China, aware that we must fight against global warming."
A French source said that both countries' finance ministers would begin to hold regular dialogue, which would provide a forum for discussing sensitive issues such as the view -- shared by Paris -- that China's yuan is undervalued.
Hollande had lunch with Xi on Friday with their respective partners, Valerie Trierweiler and Peng Liyuan -- both women credited with bringing glamour to their career-politician other halves.
Both Hollande and Trierweiler described the lunch as "friendly".
Twice-divorced former journalist Trierweiler made waves in France by winning Hollande away from the mother of his four children while Peng, a popular soprano who carries the rank of general, was until recent years far better known than Xi.
Speaking to students in Shanghai, Hollande said stronger ties between the European Union and China were essential to both sides.
Europe is "the world's top economic power... China's top trade partner and the main destination for Asian exports," Hollande said.
"There will be no recovery in Europe without China, without Asia, and there will be no sustainable development in China without Europe," he said.
Every institution has its founding myths. Assumptions that, in the best case are only partly true, but still vital to getting the day's work done. Among the European Union's founding myths is that its officials, though they may come from different countries, set aside their national identities to work together for European unity.
But doubts about this assumption arise repeatedly. For instance, when Mario Draghi became head of the European Central Bank and many Northern Europeans suggested that mega-inflation was a foregone conclusion. Since Draghi is Italian, a country where two-digit price increases aren't unusual, he's had to work that much harder to emphasize his reliability.
Then there is European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, who has tried to ensure that he isn't perceived primarily as a Portuguese man. As the Commission's leader, he is expected to embody cross-border consensus more than any other. Since Monday, however, it seems possible that even Barroso doesn't always leave his national identity at the door.
In a think-tank dialogue in Brussels, Barroso cautiously criticized the austerity measures that the EU has so far imposed on the mainly Southern European members states in economic crisis. While the policy may be "fundamentally right," he said, it had "reached its limits." In the short-term, "a stronger emphasis on growth" is needed, he added.
The commotion created by his statements was great, particularly in the English-language press. "Era of Austerity Has Run its Course, EU Says," a Reuters headline read. "Limit Austerity, EU Official Says," was the headline in the Wall Street Journal.
The angry reaction from Germany wasn't long in coming. "Growth cannot be purchased with new debts," Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warned. "The Commission president is putting the euro rescue in question," said Herbert Reul, who as head of the German conservatives in the European Parliament even belongs to the same party family as Barroso.
Perhaps the perturbation was so great because Barroso is one of the last people expected to make such criticisms. He is thought to be bland and hasn't earned a reputation for taking clear positions in the euro crisis -- much less against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to whom he owes much of his controversial re-election.
Growing Criticism of Austerity
But has Barroso really initiated a major change in course? It wouldn't be entirely surprising, given that anti-austerity sentiments are growing in many crisis countries, where the recession has shown few signs of lifting. Several days ago, it emerged that a study often quoted by austerity proponents contains major miscalculations.
But at the European Commission, no one wants to hear about a turning point. Barroso certainly wasn't talking about putting an end to austerityor taking on new debts, officials in Brussels are saying. He was merely suggesting that there should be a stronger emphasis on growth, something that should come from structural reforms and targeted use of EU subsidies, they say.
These suggestions, however, are not new. From the outset reforms were part of the bailout packages. As early as 2011, a group of experts was tasked with the job of improving the efficiency of EU structural funds in Greece. The fact that Cyprus is now set to receive early payments from an EU structural fund is a side note in the larger EU bailout drama.
Nevertheless, Barroso has not been completely misunderstood. The EU has been negotiating for a while with several countries about whether they should be given more time to reach their deficit targets. This includes not only Greece, Portugal and Spain, but also France.
'The Treaty Means Nothing'
Ultimately, though, the Commission will have little choice but to relent. New figures released on Monday, almost at the same time Barroso made his statements, indicate that the new borrowing in the crisis countries has further increased. In Greece, the figure for last year was 10 percent, significantly higher than the 6.6 percent expected by the European Commission. And things don't look too rosy in Barroso's home country either. Although long considered a model reformer among the euro-zone's debt-crisis nations, Portugal's budget deficit rose to 6.4 percent instead of the 5 percent expected by the EU.
In his debate in Brussels, it's possible that the question asked by the panel's host momentarily injured Barroso's pride as a Portuguese and Southern European man, and that he offered his fellow nationals the prospect of easing austerity measures in response.
According to a transcript of the think tank discussion swiftly released by the Commission in response to the media furore, panel host Matina Stevis ridiculed the Commission for not taking enough action. She accused Barroso and his fellow commissioners of limiting their work in the crisis to making sure that crisis countries obeyed the European treaties.
"It means nothing to an Athenian that you are the guardian of the Treaty," Stevis said. "The treaty means nothing. You are to be the guardian of that citizen, of your compatriot in Lisbon." The panel host made clear that her comments were directed at Barroso. "That is an existential moment for you, sir," she said.
The transcript indicates that Barroso then explained in detail why contracts actually are important. The violation of them, he reminded his audience, is what led to the crisis in the first place. It was after that point that he made the statements that are now being widely interpreted as signs that Barroso is turning away from the EU's austerity path. In Monday's conversation, it is likely that not only Barroso's nationality played a role in the discussion, but also that of Stevis, a Greek national who is a journalist with Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal. After a prominent Greek blogger began tweeting about her plea on behalf of Greeks, journalist Stevis proudly tweeted back, "Hey! That was me!"
Given the rarity with which Barroso makes a splash in the headlines these days, one might not have blamed him for tweeting similar sentiment. In the end, however, Barroso quickly backpeddled away from his cautious push against austerity. A spokesperson for the Commission said on Tuesday that reports suggesting an end to Europe's austerity drive were an unfair interpretation of Barroso's remarks.
ANZEIGE
Then there is European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, who has tried to ensure that he isn't perceived primarily as a Portuguese man. As the Commission's leader, he is expected to embody cross-border consensus more than any other. Since Monday, however, it seems possible that even Barroso doesn't always leave his national identity at the door.
In a think-tank dialogue in Brussels, Barroso cautiously criticized the austerity measures that the EU has so far imposed on the mainly Southern European members states in economic crisis. While the policy may be "fundamentally right," he said, it had "reached its limits." In the short-term, "a stronger emphasis on growth" is needed, he added.
The commotion created by his statements was great, particularly in the English-language press. "Era of Austerity Has Run its Course, EU Says," a Reuters headline read. "Limit Austerity, EU Official Says," was the headline in the Wall Street Journal.
The angry reaction from Germany wasn't long in coming. "Growth cannot be purchased with new debts," Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle warned. "The Commission president is putting the euro rescue in question," said Herbert Reul, who as head of the German conservatives in the European Parliament even belongs to the same party family as Barroso.
Perhaps the perturbation was so great because Barroso is one of the last people expected to make such criticisms. He is thought to be bland and hasn't earned a reputation for taking clear positions in the euro crisis -- much less against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, to whom he owes much of his controversial re-election.
Growing Criticism of Austerity
But has Barroso really initiated a major change in course? It wouldn't be entirely surprising, given that anti-austerity sentiments are growing in many crisis countries, where the recession has shown few signs of lifting. Several days ago, it emerged that a study often quoted by austerity proponents contains major miscalculations.
But at the European Commission, no one wants to hear about a turning point. Barroso certainly wasn't talking about putting an end to austerityor taking on new debts, officials in Brussels are saying. He was merely suggesting that there should be a stronger emphasis on growth, something that should come from structural reforms and targeted use of EU subsidies, they say.
These suggestions, however, are not new. From the outset reforms were part of the bailout packages. As early as 2011, a group of experts was tasked with the job of improving the efficiency of EU structural funds in Greece. The fact that Cyprus is now set to receive early payments from an EU structural fund is a side note in the larger EU bailout drama.
Nevertheless, Barroso has not been completely misunderstood. The EU has been negotiating for a while with several countries about whether they should be given more time to reach their deficit targets. This includes not only Greece, Portugal and Spain, but also France.
'The Treaty Means Nothing'
Ultimately, though, the Commission will have little choice but to relent. New figures released on Monday, almost at the same time Barroso made his statements, indicate that the new borrowing in the crisis countries has further increased. In Greece, the figure for last year was 10 percent, significantly higher than the 6.6 percent expected by the European Commission. And things don't look too rosy in Barroso's home country either. Although long considered a model reformer among the euro-zone's debt-crisis nations, Portugal's budget deficit rose to 6.4 percent instead of the 5 percent expected by the EU.
In his debate in Brussels, it's possible that the question asked by the panel's host momentarily injured Barroso's pride as a Portuguese and Southern European man, and that he offered his fellow nationals the prospect of easing austerity measures in response.
According to a transcript of the think tank discussion swiftly released by the Commission in response to the media furore, panel host Matina Stevis ridiculed the Commission for not taking enough action. She accused Barroso and his fellow commissioners of limiting their work in the crisis to making sure that crisis countries obeyed the European treaties.
The transcript indicates that Barroso then explained in detail why contracts actually are important. The violation of them, he reminded his audience, is what led to the crisis in the first place. It was after that point that he made the statements that are now being widely interpreted as signs that Barroso is turning away from the EU's austerity path. In Monday's conversation, it is likely that not only Barroso's nationality played a role in the discussion, but also that of Stevis, a Greek national who is a journalist with Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal. After a prominent Greek blogger began tweeting about her plea on behalf of Greeks, journalist Stevis proudly tweeted back, "Hey! That was me!"
Given the rarity with which Barroso makes a splash in the headlines these days, one might not have blamed him for tweeting similar sentiment. In the end, however, Barroso quickly backpeddled away from his cautious push against austerity. A spokesperson for the Commission said on Tuesday that reports suggesting an end to Europe's austerity drive were an unfair interpretation of Barroso's remarks.
German Jihadists: Officials Fear Return of Syrian War Veterans
By Matthias Gebauer and Raniah Salloum
AFP
The trail of Ibrahim R. ran cold in March 2013. The young man from the southwestern German town of Pforzheim had already appeared on the radar of the German domestic intelligence agency when he participated in demonstrations with other Salafists in Germany. But then he got on a bus headed for Turkey and disappeared. Authorities suspect he is now fighting in Syria. The police were able to block his first attempt to enter Syria with a group of fellow Muslim extremists. But now they classify him among those who have made their way or are in transit to Syria.
The case of Ibrahim R. is one of many precarious movements being closely followed by German security officials. Though outside the view of the public, the issue has long been treated as a domestic priority. In a SPIEGEL ONLINE interview Thursday, Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich officially confirmed for the first time that there were German "jihadists" in Syria. Friedrich particularly expressed concern about "calls for those Europeans who have been trained in battle (in Syria) to return home and pursue jihad."
The findings of German officials mirror the general picture of international intelligence agencies, which holds that Muslim extremists are streaming into Syria more rapidly than anywhere else. Since the revolution began there in March 2011, the country has become a virtual training camp for al-Qaida sympathizers. There, they learn how to use weapons and explosives -- and they forge new, dangerous ties with likeminded individuals from around the world.
German officials believe that 20 German nationals are currently fighting in Syria. Some have reportedly even taken their wives there and live directly on the frontlines. In July 2012, the US State Department estimated that somewhere between a few dozen and 100 foreign jihadist fighters were active in Syria. But a recently published study posits that this figure has since grown to between 2,000 and 5,500, and the European Union's top counter-terrorism officials have stated that at least 500 of those come from EU countries. Of these, some are reportedly immigrants holding European passports, while others are native-European converts to Islam.
German Salafists Mobilizing for Syria
For months now, Germany-based preachers of Salafism, an ultra-conservative branch of Islam, have been championing the cause of Syria more than any other. They appear at regularly held large benefit events, where they call for donations for humanitarian relief. At the same time, the preachers leave no doubt that they are not opposed to Muslims who want to do more than just donate money. "Our brothers and sisters in Islam are being killed around the world because they are Muslims. Our brothers and sisters in Syria need our support," said well-known Salafist preacher Ibrahim Abou-Nagie in December. For him, the civil war in Syria is part of a global war between religions.
Another star of the German Salafist scene may have already set off for Syria: the jihad-rapper Denis Cuspert, better known among his cohorts as Deso Dogg. After fleeing to Syria out of fear that he would be arrested, Cuspert is rumored to have made repeated attempts to enter Syria along with other fellow Muslims. Officials cannot confirm whether Cuspert is already fighting on the Syria front. A few months ago, rumors circulated that he had been killed during a firefight in Aleppo. Since then, however, he has apparently re-established contact with people close to him in Germany.
German officials are particularly worried about Deso Dogg's abilities to serve as a propaganda mouthpiece. Analysts say a video he made before going to the front, in which he called on Muslims to go and fight in Syria, prompted some hesitant members of his scene back home to follow his example. If he soon starts disseminating videos from Syria itself, officials are concerned the material could have an even stronger effect.
International jihadists took a rather long time before joining the uprising in Syria. Indeed, it was only in February 2012, almost a year after the revolt began, that leading al-Qaida figures publicly mentioned it. That was when al-Qaida head Ayman al-Zawahiri said in a video: "I call on every Muslim to help his brothers in Syria as much as he can." In March 2013 came the first German-language summons to Syria. Hajan M., who lived in the central German city of Kassel for several years, called on Germans in a video to come and join the "holy war" in Syria.
Easier to Get to Syria than Waziristan
German security officials have been seriously concerned about Syria's ability to attract German jihadists for months. In late 2012, Gerhard Schindler, head of Germany's BND foreign intelligence service, told a small group of senior security officials in Berlin that joining the rebellion against Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and, even more so, the brigades of the extremist Muslim Al-Nusra Front had become much more attractive for volunteer fighters than traveling to the austere mountainous region straddling the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Al-Nusra Front is an offshoot of the Iraqi branch of al-Qaida, and the US State Department says the group is also in regular contact with top al-Qaida leaders in Pakistan.
One of the main reasons that European and German jihadists are making their way to Syria is simple: The journey to this front is considerably easier than traveling to Waziristan. Many of the people headed for terrorist camps of the Taliban or other militant groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been held up in Iran or other neighboring countries. But volunteer fighters in Europe can in most cases fly to Turkey without a visa. From the south of the country, it is only a short distance to Syria, and the border is easy to cross.
Given the large number of veteran extremists fighters already present in the region, German officials now believe that jihadists from Germany are not playing a leading role in Syria. They do, however, note that at least a portion of the funds the rebels are using to arm and equip themselves is coming from Germany. Police are aware, for example, of the frequent trips that Berlin native Reda Seyam has been making to the front. Each time, he is reportedly carrying in his luggage several thousand euros in donated money collected from people in radical circles across Germany.
What has German analysts most worried are the experience that these fighters are gaining in Syria, as well the contacts they are making there. As has been the case with Afghanistan and Pakistan, they fear that these guest warriors -- particularly given the usefulness of their passports for all terrorist plans -- will return to their home or adopted countries in Europe with concrete terror missions. "There is a host of disillusioned people," warned Hans-Georg Maassen, the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany's domestic intelligence agency, a few weeks ago. "We have to particularly keep an eye on these people since they could possibly be returning with weapons know-how."
ANZEIGE
The findings of German officials mirror the general picture of international intelligence agencies, which holds that Muslim extremists are streaming into Syria more rapidly than anywhere else. Since the revolution began there in March 2011, the country has become a virtual training camp for al-Qaida sympathizers. There, they learn how to use weapons and explosives -- and they forge new, dangerous ties with likeminded individuals from around the world.
German officials believe that 20 German nationals are currently fighting in Syria. Some have reportedly even taken their wives there and live directly on the frontlines. In July 2012, the US State Department estimated that somewhere between a few dozen and 100 foreign jihadist fighters were active in Syria. But a recently published study posits that this figure has since grown to between 2,000 and 5,500, and the European Union's top counter-terrorism officials have stated that at least 500 of those come from EU countries. Of these, some are reportedly immigrants holding European passports, while others are native-European converts to Islam.
German Salafists Mobilizing for Syria
For months now, Germany-based preachers of Salafism, an ultra-conservative branch of Islam, have been championing the cause of Syria more than any other. They appear at regularly held large benefit events, where they call for donations for humanitarian relief. At the same time, the preachers leave no doubt that they are not opposed to Muslims who want to do more than just donate money. "Our brothers and sisters in Islam are being killed around the world because they are Muslims. Our brothers and sisters in Syria need our support," said well-known Salafist preacher Ibrahim Abou-Nagie in December. For him, the civil war in Syria is part of a global war between religions.
Another star of the German Salafist scene may have already set off for Syria: the jihad-rapper Denis Cuspert, better known among his cohorts as Deso Dogg. After fleeing to Syria out of fear that he would be arrested, Cuspert is rumored to have made repeated attempts to enter Syria along with other fellow Muslims. Officials cannot confirm whether Cuspert is already fighting on the Syria front. A few months ago, rumors circulated that he had been killed during a firefight in Aleppo. Since then, however, he has apparently re-established contact with people close to him in Germany.
German officials are particularly worried about Deso Dogg's abilities to serve as a propaganda mouthpiece. Analysts say a video he made before going to the front, in which he called on Muslims to go and fight in Syria, prompted some hesitant members of his scene back home to follow his example. If he soon starts disseminating videos from Syria itself, officials are concerned the material could have an even stronger effect.
International jihadists took a rather long time before joining the uprising in Syria. Indeed, it was only in February 2012, almost a year after the revolt began, that leading al-Qaida figures publicly mentioned it. That was when al-Qaida head Ayman al-Zawahiri said in a video: "I call on every Muslim to help his brothers in Syria as much as he can." In March 2013 came the first German-language summons to Syria. Hajan M., who lived in the central German city of Kassel for several years, called on Germans in a video to come and join the "holy war" in Syria.
Easier to Get to Syria than Waziristan
German security officials have been seriously concerned about Syria's ability to attract German jihadists for months. In late 2012, Gerhard Schindler, head of Germany's BND foreign intelligence service, told a small group of senior security officials in Berlin that joining the rebellion against Syrian dictator Bashar Assad and, even more so, the brigades of the extremist Muslim Al-Nusra Front had become much more attractive for volunteer fighters than traveling to the austere mountainous region straddling the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Al-Nusra Front is an offshoot of the Iraqi branch of al-Qaida, and the US State Department says the group is also in regular contact with top al-Qaida leaders in Pakistan.
Given the large number of veteran extremists fighters already present in the region, German officials now believe that jihadists from Germany are not playing a leading role in Syria. They do, however, note that at least a portion of the funds the rebels are using to arm and equip themselves is coming from Germany. Police are aware, for example, of the frequent trips that Berlin native Reda Seyam has been making to the front. Each time, he is reportedly carrying in his luggage several thousand euros in donated money collected from people in radical circles across Germany.
What has German analysts most worried are the experience that these fighters are gaining in Syria, as well the contacts they are making there. As has been the case with Afghanistan and Pakistan, they fear that these guest warriors -- particularly given the usefulness of their passports for all terrorist plans -- will return to their home or adopted countries in Europe with concrete terror missions. "There is a host of disillusioned people," warned Hans-Georg Maassen, the head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, Germany's domestic intelligence agency, a few weeks ago. "We have to particularly keep an eye on these people since they could possibly be returning with weapons know-how."
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