EU demands that US airlines pay for carbon dioxide emissions

by Anna Brones on

This past week, European Union transport commissioner Jacques Barrot clearly stated that US must pay for carbon dioxide emissions or risk a curb on flights to Europe. As the Open Skies agreement lifts limits on flight between the US and the EU this month, Barrot is calling for a second phase of the treaty that would demand US airlines to join the EU emission trading scheme, or to create a similar one in the US.

Tension between the US and the EU regarding the airline industry is already high. In February, the Bush administration gave the EU its own expectations — more data should be provided to the American government on European passengers flying to the US — which Barrot deemed as a step “not proportionate” to existing security problems.

While the Bush administration threatened to require citizens of countries that did not comply with its demands to apply for visas, the EU says that if US carriers don’t “go green” they could face equally frustrating consequences. “It’s always possible to imagine reducing the number of flights or suspending certain rights,” Barrot said. That would mean less transatlantic flights, which could subsequently lead to higher prices for passengers.

The New Europe: Prague now one of EU’s richest regions

by Iva Skoch on

If you visited Prague fifteen years ago, you probably didn’t think it was on its way to becoming one of the richest regions of the entire EU. Prague now ranks No 12 among all EU regions. Tourism, of course, is partially responsible for the vast influx of cash.

The development of Prague has been fast and steady. Unfortunately, the development hasn’t really affected other areas of the country. Prague is becoming, much like London, its own state. Per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in the Czech capital is 60 percentage points higher than the European average (EU=100), however, other Czech regions are below 75 percent of the EU average and are therefore regarded as developing, which entitles them to subsidies from European funds, Prague Daily Monitor reports.

To sample the “real” Czech culture–not the one diluted by excessive tourism–it is becoming necessary to venture out of Prague.

Wealthiest regions of the European Union per capita GDP in pct
Inner London (UK) 303
Luxembourg (Luxembourg) 264
Bruxelles-Cap. / Brussels Hfdst. (Belgium) 241
Hamburg (Germany) 202
Wien (Austria) 178
Ile de France (France) 173
Stockholm (Sweden) 172
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire (UK) 168
Oberbayern (Germany) 166
Groningen (Netherlands) 164
Hovedstaden (Denmark) 161
Praha (Czech Republic) 160
Utrecht (Netherlands) 158
Southern & Eastern (Ireland) 158
Darmstadt (Germany) 158

Bush administration demands that Europe beef up travel security

by Anna Brones on

With all the caucuses and primary elections going on, it’s easy to forget that we Americans are still living with the Bush administration. And although Super Tuesday may have made you feel like change was just around the corner, the current administration is still working on getting some last thrills in before the run is over, and one of them regards transatlantic travel security.

The administration is pushing for a whole lot of changes that irk the Europeans, including armed guards on all flights from Europe to America by US run airlines. As for those countries who don’t follow the administration’s demands, their citizens will be forced to apply for visas for travel to the US. Currently citizens of Western European countries and the UK participate in the visa waiver program which allows those travelers staying in the US for up to 90 days sans official visa. Changing that policy who make a whole lot of people pretty upset.

Even worse, the Department of Homeland Security is soon to kick off a new permit system for Europeans traveling to the US which will require them to go fill out an online application to receive permission to enter the country. The people at DHS like to have as many personal details on file as possible.

I think some officials in Brussels said it best when they referred to the administration’s proposed policies as “blackmail.”

Read more about the administration’s demands and the EU’s frustrations here.

Nine more countries enter Europe’s border-free zone

by Neil Woodburn on

It was with mixed emotions that I came across the recent news that nine more countries are being allowed into the European Union’s border-free Schengen zone.

The Schengen zone is an area within the EU where passports are no longer required to travel between countries. Once a visitor has passed through the first layer of security entering the Schengen, he or she is free to travel onwards without having to pull out their passport until they leave–it’s sort of like traveling between states within the USA.

On December 21, the Schengen will expand to include Malta, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Most of these countries were once locked behind the Iron Curtain and protected by some of the most heavily guarded borders in the world. Before the end of the year, their citizens–and all international tourists–will be able to travel overland from places like Prague to Madrid without passing through passport controls a single time.

So why do I have mixed emotions about this?

No more passport stamps to collect, obviously.

Brussels: A City Without a Soul?

by Iva Skoch on

I just spent a few days in Brussels. It’s been a long time since I visited the capital of Belgium, well before it became the EU-conglomerate that it is now. Back then, the only thing I remembered about Brussels is that I didn’t really remember anything. Not because I was intoxicated, mind you. The city just didn’t make a huge impression on me.

Still, I wanted to keep an open mind about Brussels. Although I went there for a journalism conference hosted by the EU, not for pleasure, I liked it. The old town is picturesque and diverse, both architecturally and culturally. I had a couple of good Belgian beers, overdosed on pralines and even had a decent falafal.

On the plane back I was thinking about Brussels. I liked it but it didn’t really make an impression on me. I didn’t love it. I didn’t even hate it. I think I figured it out. Brussels is a city you visit for its particularly good elements (chocolate, beer, buildings…) not for the city’s soul.

(Thanks to Melanie & John for the picture of Brussels.)