‘Eurostat regional yearbook 2008 - EU27 regions under the magnifying glass’ was published, according to a EU press release.
As you can see, in 2006, 4.4% of the EU27 labour force was employed in high-tech sectors. The percentage was less than 2% in 23 EU27 regions: 6 of these regions were found in Romania (hear that, monsieur de Ciofliceni?), 5 in Greece, 4 each in Spain and Poland, and 2 each in Bulgaria and Portugal.

In Romania, the region with highest rate was Bucharest - Ilfov (quite predictible) - 5.8% (above EU27 average), and the lowest rate was in South-West Oltenia and South - East - 1.1%.

The surprise comes with the figures related to deaths in road traffic accidents per million inhabitants by region, 2006.
For Romania, the highest rate was in the West (161) (wild, wild west), and the lowest rate in Bucharest -Ilfov (93). Could it be because in this region the vehicles mostly stay in traffic, not … fly? (they wish)

I was afraid that maybe my yesterday post on Sarkozy was kind of malicious (actually, I was told it was mean :D). Seems to me I am not the only one fed up with Sarkozy’s desperate need to be the centre of the Universe. Also on 21st of October he decided to rescue the Europe from crisis with an astonishing proposal: partial nationalisation of key European companies.
Several reactions to this odd idea you may find in Cafebabel press review.
Czech president Václav Klaus criticises the ‘crazy’ suggestions:

‘Those who were fortunate enough not to have lived under communism should not succumb to the fatal fallacy that central planning can eliminate crises. This idea is a misconception. Crises were always used by irresponsible politicians as an excuse for massive state intervention in the economy. Popular fear gives politicians a blank cheque. Let us try to revive trust in the banking and financial system. But let us not attempt to erect new, artificial systems that are directed even more than before against a normally functioning market. Sarkozy’s proposals (and also those of German chancellor Angela Merkel) will not lead to a ‘new capitalism.’ What they really represent is a return to ‘old socialism’.’

What a strange and unbelievable situation! West-European countries, the core of democracy on our continent - France and Germany - try to impose communist solutions to the very model of capitalist market, and former communist countries are strongly against this. Unfortunately, state intervention, if will happen, will be a disastrous acceptance of failure, the little trust the citizens might still have will be vanished. And I don’t want to think about long-term effects.

Handelsblatt (Germany) also have nothing but harsh words for the tempestuous French leader:

‘But now success seems once again to have gone to Sarkozy’s head. Sovereign wealth funds with investments in key industries? And that coming from leading conservative politicians of all people. What on earth will come next? How about a central planning authority, preferably one for the whole of Europe. It is high time to bring Super-Sarko back down to earth. The banks are in dire straits, state investments are necessary for a transitional period. But nationalising entire sectors of industry, however ’strategic’ that may be, we’d better leave that to the Russians.’

As I understood, The French president has called another summit for 7th of November, in Brussels and, only a week after, there is an international financial-crisis meeting in the U.S. I wonder - what other surprises does he have in his hat?

P.S. Of course, our very own president, Traian Basescu (’Sarkozy de Bucarest’ - sure, a beta version, little Paris - little Sarkozy) is too busy to inform Romanians on these matters, even though he loves the summits as much as his friend. I bet it is the translator’s fault.

.. according to a live broadcasting of Euronews, it looks like Ireland has just rejected the Lisbon Treaty (they are still waiting for the official result announcement), throwing the EU into a new crisis.

What went wrong? Many things, but no doubt the EU lack of communication is the most important factor. Once again, the European Institutions are rushing in, without trying first to obtain if not the agreement at least the opinion of the ‘masses’. Or making sure they do really know what they are voting for.

Most of the European citizens are not really informed on EU matters, so when they have to make a decision they feel they are pressured to vote according to others’ interests, not to their own, and the natural reaction is ‘NO’, no matter what.

Conclusion - don’t treat them as sheep, if you want them to sing like birds.

Later edit: it’s official, it’s a ‘NO’. I think it was 53% NO and 47% YES (I do not know Irish language;strange that Euronews did not have particularly today an Irish translator. No wonder the small countries feel ignored). I just hope the European Institutions have learned their lesson and try a different approach, like addressing to common people, too, not only to the politicians (who, anyway, are not trusted in their countries).

PS. I tried to see the breaking news on Romanian channels. Fat chance! Nothing beyond the football match with Italy and here and there something about the local elections. Unfortunately, I don’t think Romania is an exception. QED.

The average inflation rate in the 13 countries in Euro area has increased to 3,1% in November (year-on-year inflation: 2,6% in October, 2,1% in September 2007). This is the highest level since single currency introduction, in 2002.
The Member State with the highest inflation rate in Euro area was the new-comer Slovenia (5,7%), and the lowest rate was in The Netherlands 1,8% (both in Euro zone and in the entire EU).
Main reasons: prices were pushed up by factor such as: transport fuel and heating oil and higher costs for basic foods: milk, cheese and eggs etc.).
In the entire EU the average rate was also 3,1% in November, and the highest point was reached in Latvia: 13,7%.
N.B.: For Romania: 6,67%, while the target was 4% +/- 1%.

“This calls for renewed attention and moderation from governments, social partners and companies to avoid second-round effects,”

said Amelia Torres- EU Commission spokeswoman

Monsieur Valéry Giscard d’Estaing is making in his blog (yes, he had started a blog at the age of 81, and, as you can see, the venerable is very active) a detailed comparison between former (or should I say ‘the late’?) Constitutional Treaty and the present Lisbon/Reform Treaty.

(I really like how it sounds in French: ‘billet’, it reminds me somehow of Arghezi’s ‘Bilete de papagal’)

Profesorul Witold A. Zatonski conduce de trei ani proiectul ‘Closing the Gap‘, avand ca subiect de studiu ‘inegalitatile’ dintre primii 15 membri ai UE (EU15) si noile tari membre est-europene in ceea ce priveste starea de sanatate.

Studiul a constatat ca rata mortalitatii din cauze cardio-vasculare este mult mai ridicata in tarile est - europene. Unul dintre motive ar fi consumul excesiv de alcool. Nimic surprinzator.
Paradoxal, numarul cazurilor de deces ca urmare a bolilor cardio-vasculare a scazut totusi in ‘EU5′ (Cehia, Ungaria, Polonia, Slovenia si Slovacia) din cauza inlocuirii progresive in alimentatie a grasimilor animale cu cele vegetale (un factor important se pare ca a fost evolutia dupa 1990 a preturilor la diferitele alimente de baza ).
In schimb, in ce priveste EU2 (Bulgaria si Romania), exista o ipoteza conform careia preferintele legate de tipurile de uleiuri vegetale alimentare ar putea fi o cauza. Mai precis, in aceasta zona predomina consumul de ulei de floarea-soarelui, care nu contine acizi grasi tip omega-C (omega-3- o sursa cunoscuta fiind ‘uleiul de peste’), care, potrivit studiilor, ar duce la scaderea riscului bolilor cardio-vasculare. O solutie ar putea fi amestecarea uleiului de floarea soarelui utilizat in bucatarie cu alte uleiuri vegetale.

Concluzia studiului: ‘inegalitatile’ in ceea priveste sanatatea dintre cele doua ‘grupe’ de tari europene se datoreaza stilului de viata diferit.
In interviul de pe EuroActiv, profesorul Zatonski explica faptul ca aceasta nu este o problema legata de saracie, ca poti fuma, manca incorect sau duce o viata dezordonata si daca ai destui bani. Pana aici corect. Dar … romanii mananca in general dupa cum ii tin buzunarele … unii manaca sanatos … multi sunt fericiti ca au ce manca … altii…

A survey of public opinion was conducted in 52 countries, by Gallup International in collaboration with the European Council on Foreign Relation (ECFR).
Released today, the result shows that the EU is the only great power in the world whose leadership is widely supported, due to the fact that the people want a more multi-polar world, and one in every three citizens around the world (35%) would like to see the European Union’s influence to grow.

According to the authors authors of the policy brief, Ivan Krastev and Mark Leonard:

the EU is unique among the four big powers (the other three being the US, China and Russia) in that no-one wants to balance its rise.

The survey, based on interviews with 57,000 people from 52 countries - shows that world citizens most disapprove of an expansion of Iran (39%) and USA (37%), while one in every three citizens around the world (35%) would like to see the European Union to become a super power.

Well, this was probably the main idea behind of EU - to balance the power of USA.

“Stop early retirement schemes, reduce unemployment, stimulate part-time employment. Keep them in the job, get them in the job, in every way possible,”

This is what Peer Ederer says in the second volume of the “European Human Capital Index”, that focuses on Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey.

It’s a very interesting and documented analysis regarding the human capital in the region. Including in Romania, where politicians like to say that the human capital is the strongest and the most valuable resourse of our country. A(nother) waisted resource, as you can see.

Among other things, the report strongly criticises Eastern European governments for not investing in people older than 45 years – about one-third of the population, with 20 ore more productive years ahead - thereby creating a “lost generation”. Another one.

The report also presents the demographic situation and the quality of the education systems in the region .
Let’s not forget that an important economic goal of the European Union is to become a knowledge-based economy.
In every aspects, the former communist states, now EU members, should not only to catch up with Western Europe, but also to start compete with them. A goal that may never be reached.

Romania (although one of the biggest state) is somewhere in the middle in the index’ ranking of the region.

The countries that trail the index’ ranking – Slovakia, Bulgaria and Poland – are likely to remain stuck in relative poverty for a very long time when compared to the EU average.

At the other pole, the optimistic one, are: Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Estonia and Lithuania – they might still have a small chance of achieving Western standards of living within the next twenty years.

So, Romania will achieve Western living standard sometime right in between of 20 years and…never. Bad news, very bad news.

Only Turkey, not yet EU member, is the only country with a young and growing population, that might be able to respond to the Europe’s human capital needs. The report states that by 2050, an estimated 19% of the European working population will be Turkish.

Un articol de azi din Gândul face câteva referiri la preferinţele românilor, aşa cum sunt prezentate în Eurobarometrul 67 (Primăvara lui 2007).

In esenţă, ‘încrederea românilor în instituţiile statului, mai exact în Parlament şi în Guvern, este în scădere accentuată, în timp ce încrederea în UE se menţine ridicată. […] Astfel, încrederea în UE s-a menţinut la acelaşi nivel (65%)’, iar, conform Eurobarometrului, încrederea în Parlament şi în Guvern se află în cădere liberă: 19% (in ambele cazuri) faţă de 24% respectiv 27% anul trecut.

Nu este o surpriză, desigur, nici nu pot spune că aceste păreri sunt incorecte. Problema este dacă încrederea deplină a unor conaţionali în Instituţiile Uniunii Europene are la bază argumente reale, daca ‘noi, românii’, ne construim simpatiile în cunoştinţă de cauză sau doar din disperare, pentru că vedem integrarea europeană ca pe un colac de salvare şi ne imaginăm că ‘ei , europenii’ (oare cand vom putea rosti fără să ezităm ‘noi, europenii’?) sunt buni şi cinstiţi şi nu au altă grijă decât să ne scoată pe noi din mizerie. Altruismul european este un mit, totul se negociază, vai de ţara care nu ştie să-şi aleagă reprezentanţi în mult-lăudatele instituţii.

Păi să vedem, sa judecăm prin prisma imaginii unora dintre cei mai cunoscuţi reprezentanţi ai integrării europene, adevărate simboluri ale istoriei comunitare:

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