Inside Europe: The inside take on European affairs 06.01.2011

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DATE : Thu, 6 Jan 2011 17:30:00 GMT
Entered in Database : 2011-01-06 17:30:00
length : 26517422
Link to the Show / Show Notes

On the program: Controversial new media law overshadows Hungary's EU presidency - Euro skepticism infects accession candidate Croatia - Germany's Bundeswehr does away with conscription - Plastic bag ban hits Italians - Greece tries to stem the tide of illegal immigration - Disillusioned Greeks emigrate to Turkey - Tallinn muses the sea as European Culture Capital - Battling the bulge in BritainControversial new media law overshadows Hungary's EU presidencyHungary has just taken over the EU's rotating presidency from Belgium.However, the country's six-month stint at the helm of the 27-member bloc is off to a bumpy start. This is mainly due to its new media laws which were introduced by the country's center-right Fidesz government and took effect earlier this week. Under the law, a new media authority - currently dominated by the country's ruling party - is to oversee all public news production. The body can also levy big fines on private media. Some Hungarian newspapers say the law effectively means the end of press freedom. So, just how restrictive are the new measures? Neil King put that question to Jean-Francois Julliard, the secretary-general of the Paris-based media watchdog Reporters Without Borders.Euro skepticism infects accession candidate CroatiaThis year, Croatia is hoping to wrap up membership negotiations with the European Union and sign its accession treaty.The country would then aim to become the EU's 28th member some time in 2012 or early 2013. But Croatia has a problem: most polls show a serious lack of support among ordinary Croats to join the European bloc. So why has Euro skepticism infected Croatia, and how serious is it? Mark Lowen reports from the former Yugoslav republic.Germany's Bundeswehr does away with conscriptionAfter more than 50 years, Germany's army or Bundeswehr is doing away with conscription.The last group of men was drafted earlier this week. The decision to switch to a solely professional army brings Germany into line with other European countries, which have long moved away from a citizens' army of conscripts. The German government hopes the reform and downsizing of the Bundeswehr will save some eight billion euros and enhance the force's reputation abroad. But as Natalia Dannenberg reports, there are also some unwanted side-effects.Plastic bag ban hits ItaliansItaly has officially binned the plastic bag. It's a revolutionary move for a country which accounts for one-fifth of Europe's plastic bag consumption.A new law came into effect on January 1 that requires stores to supply their customers with biodegradable bags. However, customers are also being encouraged to cart home their goods in reusable cloth bags or shopping carts. But as Nancy Greenleese points out in this postcard from Rome, that may be going a little too green for many fashion-conscious Italians.Greece tries to stem the tide of illegal immigrationGreece has defended its controversial plans to build a barrier along part of the border with Turkey.Initially, the barrier was to cover the entire 200-kilometer land border with Turkey. But following staunch criticism from the EU and human rights groups, the government said it would for the time being only erect a 12.5-kilometer barrier at a crucial crossing point. The Greek government says the move is aimed at stemming the tide of illegal immigrants. In 2010, an average of 200 refugees from around the globe reportedly crossed into Greece from Turkey every day. And around 80 percent of the illegal immigrants in the EU arrive via Greece. Simone Troller is a senior analyst with Human Rights Watch in Geneva. She told Neil King more about Greece's battle against illegal immigration and the plight of stranded refugees. Disillusioned Greeks emigrate to TurkeyWhile Greece is struggling to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, a growing number of Greeks are emigrating in search of a better life.The Greek economy is in tatters, and ironically some Greeks are moving to the Turkish city of Istanbul in search of work. It's a remarkable development, considering the two countries have been on the brink of war on several occasions, most recently in 1995. Those rivalries saw most of Istanbul's Greek minority, once numbering around 100,000 leaving the city. But as Dorian Jones reports from what was once known as Byzantium, the returning Greeks are seen as testament to a decade of rapprochement between the ancient rivals.Tallinn reflects on the sea as European Capital of Culture2011 is a big year for Estonia - the country's capital Tallinn to be precise.Together with Turku in Finland, it is one of the European Capitals of Culture. Over the next 12 months, a series of exciting projects that draw on the culture of the Baltic region are on the agenda. Deutsche Welle's Bernd Riegert visited Tallinn to find out more about the events. Sabina Casagrande presents his report.Battling the bulge in Britain with drastic measuresMany Brits are probably still struggling to lose the pounds they put on over Christmas after gorging themselves on Christmas Turkey and all the trimmings.According to a recent study, Brits should be taking these excess calories just as seriously as their gravy and custard. The UK has the highest obesity rate in Europe. While the EU average is just over 15 percent, in Britain nearly 25 percent of the population is obese. As Nik Martin reports from a clinic in Northamptonshire, a growing number of people feel so overburdened by their weight problems that they are opting for rather drastic measures.Colorful fashion dandies make inroads into France's African communityA colorful subculture has developed in France's African community.It involves fashion dandies that call themselves Sapeurs. It comes from SAPE, a French acronym which roughly translates as the Society of Revelers and Elegant People. Followers of this movement, who are mostly from Congo, like to out dress each other by spending all their money on designer labels and colorful suits, which they mix and match with equally showy dandy accessories. Genevieve Oger has more from Paris.

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