Nädal välismeedias: 17. - 30. november 2003

EUROOPA LIIT
Siseareng, Välis- ja julgeolekupoliitika, Laienemine, EMU, Majanduspoliitika

JULGEOLEK

EESTI VÄLISAJAKIRJANDUSES
Poliitika, Majandus, Varia

Siseareng

Uudisteagentuurid

The EU struggled to overcome big divisions at constitutional talks that left a leaders' summit in two weeks facing an uphill task to finalise the historic document. EU foreign ministers ended two days of talks with lots of ideas in the air but little on the table, diplomats saying the bloc's Italian presidency would keep its cards close to its chest until the summit. The constitution is supposed to overhaul the EU's creaking institutions to get the bloc in shape for the entry of 10 more member states in May next year. But major divisions were left exposed by the Naples meeting, including voting rights for member states and the size of the EU's executive Commission. One idea floated was for the EU to postpone any changes to countries' voting power until after 2009, in a bid to get the recalcitrant Poles and Spanish on board. "It is only 2003 now. Why do we have to have an unnecessary argument about this?" British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said. (Afp, 29.11)

The stakes in the EU's constitutional poker game have got higher as EU leaders prepare to battle it out at a crunch summit in two weeks. A two-day meeting of foreign ministers left some of the biggest issues still outstanding -- including voting rights for member states when the EU expands from 15 to 25 countries next year. But on the size of the EU's executive Commission, which the draft constitution proposes slimming down to 15 voting members and 10 non-voting ones, Italian FM Franco Frattini hailed a "broad convergence" in favour of giving each EU country a commissioner of its own in Brussels. That is one of the key demands of smaller states, which can point to Franco-German violations of the EU's budget rules as justification for their fear that the traditional heavyweights will ride roughshod over them. (Afp, Reuters, 30.11)

French FM Dominique de Villepin said that Paris would be prepared to stall agreement on a new EU constitution rather than sign off on a flawed document. Failure to agree a new treaty at a EU summit in a fortnight would "seriously weaken the EU," de Villepin told on the sidelines of a deadlocked EU foreign ministers meeting in Naples. "We must do all we can to avoid a failure which would seriously weaken the European Union. We must help the Italian presidency to thrash out an agreement,” De Villepin said. (Reuters, 25.11, Afp, 29.11)

Britain has signalled for the first time that it may veto the EU's constitution rather than lose its right to retain national control of defence, foreign and tax policies, London newspapers said, quoting an unnamed Foreign Office official. Ahead of talks on the constitution between Britain and EU partners later this week, the official said the treaty was "highly desirable but not absolutely essential", according to the Financial Times. "If there were no agreement it would complicate all sorts of things," the official was quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph, under the front page headline "Britain threatens veto on EU". (Afp, 26.11; Reuters, 27.11)

Britain pledged to work for the successful implementation of a new EU constitution, a day after a senior minister threatened to veto the project if pushed into a corner. "My government will play an active role in preparing the EU for the accession of 10 new member states next May," Queen Elizabeth told parliament to mark the opening of its new session. "They will work hard to conclude the negotiations on a new constitutional treaty for the European Union, following which they will introduce legislation to implement the treaty." Government sources confirmed that a "senior government minister" had raised the prospect of vetoing the whole constitution if Britain's national control of key policy areas was threatened. (Reuters, 26.11)

Spain and Poland voiced renewed opposition to a EU constitution which would cut their voting powers, undermining claims by current EU president Italy that it had taken big steps towards a consensus. Spain and Poland have emerged as the strongest opponents of the draft and threatened to sink a deal if proposals to cut their voting powers in EU decision-making stay in the document. The two dissidents want to retain the formula set out in the Nice treaty three years ago, giving them almost the same number of votes as the bloc's biggest powers in the intergovernmental arm of the EU, the Council of Ministers. (Reuters, 25.11)

Spanish FM Ana Palacio stuck to a hard line at talks on the EU's first constitution, rejecting as "unacceptable" provisions that would dilute her country's voting rights. "This text is unbalanced because it give solutions for lots of problems for lots of countries but not for Spain," she told reporters as EU foreign ministers tried to thrash out the constitution at a meeting in Naples. "It is unacceptable," she warned. (Afp, 28.11)

A eurozone deal letting France and Germany temporarily off the hook over ballooning deficits proves that Poland is right to insist on maintaining the EU voting rights it gained in the bloc's Nice Treaty, PM Leszek Miller said. "What happened yesterday proves that Poland is right, Spain is right, countries which think like we do are right, to defend the treaty of Nice to avoid a "possible dictat" within the EU," Miller said. (Afp, 26.11)

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Poland would not fight to protect the voting rights it achieved in an EU summit three years ago "at any price." "We absolutely have to fight to keep the Nice principles, but not at any price," he said. "To make Europe collapse, to make the EU collapse does not make any sense," he said. Kwasniewski said that he could imagine a compromise under which the Nice system ran its course until 2009. "Then, let's see," he said. (Afp, 19.11)

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder called for compromises from Poland and Spain in the wrangle over an EU constitution, even though they would lose voting powers. Speaking to parliament two days ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers on the issue, Schröder said that "I expect some willingness to compromise on the part of those whom this involves." (Afp, 24.11)

Britain threw its heavyweight backing behind demands by Poland to retain a powerful say in EU decision-making in the bloc's first constitution. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the EU, which is striving to meet a December deadline to agree the new constitution, must take account of everyone's concerns including Poland in the negotiating process. (Afp, 18.11)

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi tested the ground for a possible compromise with Poland over a draft EU constitution as a deadline to wrap up negotiations neared, diplomats said. Berlusconi, in Warsaw for a meeting of central and east European prime ministers, met President Aleksander Kwasniewski to discuss Poland's staunch opposition to key provisions of the proposed EU charter, especially voting rights. (Afp, Reuters, 21.11)

Polish PM Leszek Miller strongly criticised a decision by the Belgian parliament to put back a debate on the ratification of the landmark EU treaty on enlargement. "We will not be intimidated and we will not give in to blackmail," Miller said, an indication that he thought the decision by the Belgian lower chamber was a way of exerting pressure on his country for its critical stand on the future EU constitution. "If anyone expected that Poland, within an enlarged EU, would cower in the corner, drop its head and deprive itself of the right to vote has made a mistake," said Miller. (Afp, 22.11)

Belgium said it would join a drive for closer cooperation among several existing EU states if negotiations on a new EU constitution produced a weak outcome. Like France and Germany, Belgium wants the draft adopted in its original form, or as close to it as possible, in talks among EU member states on a new treaty due to be concluded next month. But Spain and Poland are leading a drive for key changes. "If the results of the IGC risk eroding the text of the Convention too much, then that will give a strong impetus to reinforced cooperation which Belgium will join," PM Guy Verhofstadt's spokesman said. Although the spokesman did not elaborate on which countries he was referring to, French officials last week raised the prospect of closer Franco-German union as a centre of gravity as the EU expands eastwards from 15 to 25 member states next year. (Reuters, 20.11)

Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi appealed to the five founding members of the EU to shoulder their responsibilities and adopt a new controversial constitution. "It is our duty to ensure the adoption of a constitution which will allow the EU to become a political subject in its own right," he wrote to the presidents and heads of state of Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. (Afp, 25.11)

French FM Dominique de Villepin said he was confident the 25 current and future EU states would reach an agreement on the bloc's new constitution. Two British newspapers quoted government sources as saying Britain was prepared to veto the new constitution if it failed to keep national control of key policy areas. (Reuters, 25.11)

French FM Dominique de Villepin said a deal giving France and Germany more time to bring their deficit in line with EU limits must have no impact on talks over a European constitution. Villepin dismissed fears that the easing of the Stability and Growth Pact which underpins the euro currency would prompt smaller states, some of whom feel betrayed by the deal, to seek greater compromises on the constitution. EU foreign ministers were due to meet to iron out final details before a mid-December summit in Brussels. However, EU president Italy has angered some countries by throwing its weight behind Berlin and Paris on the budget issue and now has less clout to assuage countries which oppose a text that gives major powers more influence in EU decision-making. (Reuters, 26.11)

EC President Romano Prodi warned the Italian EU presidency against any attempt to modify the economic rules in the draft of the EU's first constitution. Prodi issued the warning in a letter to an Italian newspaper as EU foreign ministers headed into talks on the constitution in Naples. He said Italy's Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti has signalled Rome's intention to modify the economic rules underpinning the draft EU constitution. Italy "proposes to modify the text approved by the convention to eliminate some rules, which are few but very important, on some aspects of economic policy which we need to manage our currency and our development," Prodi said in the letter to Corriere della Sera. (Afp, Reuters, 28.11)

The EP lashed out at attempts to limit its oversight of the EU's 100-billion-euro budget as EU foreign ministers held another round of talks on the bloc's first constitution. The EPt's two representatives to the IGC, Klaus Haensch and Elmar Brok, wrote to Italian FM Franco Frattini to defend the delicate compromises reached by a convention that drafted the constitution. They warned in particular that MEPs, whose support is needed to push the constitution through, "could not back" amendments sought by EU finance ministers to erode the assembly's rights to vet annual and multi-year spending by the bloc. Such a move, the two leading legislators said, "would represent a big step backwards, not only in relation to the text proposed by the convention but also in relation to the current situation". "To continue down this road would mean upsetting the balance of the convention's draft text and jeopardising our work," they warned. (Afp, 18.11)

Chirac was welcomed to London with a guard of honour before heading into the PM's Downing Street office for about three hours of talks. French PM Pierre Raffarin will also take part in discussions. The Anglo-French summit comes just three days after a state visit by U.S. President George W. Bush and analysts say it will test to the limit Blair's claim to be able to act as a bridge between Europe and America. (Afp, Reuters, 24.11)

EU ministers chose a French site as their candidate for the world's biggest nuclear fusion reactor. "There has been an agreement between all member states to promote the site at Cadarache," a diplomatic source said. Cadarache is near Marseille in southern France. Spain dropped out of the contest to build the project to strengthen the European position against contenders Canada and Japan, the source added. (Reuters, 26.11)

Poland will increase the number of customs officers at its eastern border -- the EU's future outer border -- ahead of its May 1 membership of the bloc, the finance ministry said. "In total some 4,600 customs officers will work at the eastern border, after May 1, 2004, against some 3,000 today," Leszek Jasin, the director of the customs department at the finance ministry said, saying the increase was taking place through redeployment of existing resources. (Reuters, 25.11)

USA ajakirjandus

Belgia peaminister Guy Verhofstadt lahkab ELi põhiseaduse tagamaid ja vajalikkust. Ta leiab, et alates Maastichti lepingust oleme olnud tunnistajaks, et EL liigub föderaalriigi suunas, kus respekteeritakse ka liikmesriike, seda eelkõige läbi toetussüsteemide ning liidu ja liikmesmaade võimu piiristamise. Põhiseaduslik lepe oleks seni läbiviidud reformide ja suunavõttude tipuks. Samuti leiab ta, et ELil tuleb paratamatult välja arendada oma usaldusväärne välispoliitika, mis baseeruks Euroopa kaitsevõimel. Belgia peaminister kirjutab, et kuigi USA on viimasel neljal aastakümnel Euroopa integratsioonile tugevat toetust avaldanud, näeb ta praeguses kaitsekavas ohtu. Verhofstadti arvates on ameerika seisukoht muutunud viimase kümnendi jooksul. Ta kahetseb, et USA näeb Euroopa integratsiooni taha üha enam ohtu oma võimupositsioonidele. Verhofstadt selgitab, et eurooplastele ei ole oma kaitsekava loomine strateegiliseks sammuks USA või NATO vastu. Pigem vastupidi: ühine kaitse teeb Euroopast USAle adekvaatse liitlase, mis täiendaks NATOt ning kindlustaks, et EL võtab üle osa vastutusest ja  missioonidest - asi, mida ameeriklased ootavad juba 20 aastat. Keeratakse uus lehekülg transatlantilistes suhetes, algab samu väärtusi kaitsvate võrdsete partnerite ajastu. (Guy Verhofstadt, The Wall Street Journal, 26.11)

Erinevatel riikidel on eri põhjused, miks neile ELi põhiseaduslik leping praegusel kujul ei meeldi ja mõned neist põhjustest on tundlikumad kui teised. Näiteks Eesti nõudmine, et igal riigil oleks oma volinik EKs, näib olevat halvasti läbimõeldud. Hiljuti avaldas ühe liituva riigi diplomaat kahtlust, kas Euroopa pisikesed maad tõepoolest tahavad voliniku kohta EKs, kui selleks kujuneb pea kindlalt midagi "volinik kaslastesse puutuvais asjus" sarnast? Kaugelt parem otstarbetust ministriportfellist oleks ehk leppida roteeruva süsteemiga, mille kaudu nad säilitaksid võimaluse olulistes küsimustes kaasa rääkida. Pealegi, kõigist liberaalsem Eesti peaks mõistma, et rohkem volinikke tähendab ka suuremaid jõupingutusi asjade kooskõlastamisel, suuremat eelarvet ning rohkem bürokraate, kes otsivad teid, kuidas end maksma panna. (Review, The Wall Street Journal, 26.11)

Suurbritannia ajakirjandus

Üha enam kasvavad kartused, et ELi põhiseadusliku leppe osas ei pruugita üksmeelt leida ning et mitmed riigid võivad eelnõule rahvahääletustel veto panna. Seda, et ametnikud räägivad nüüd nagu võiks laienemine toetuda ka Nizza leppele, tuleb pidada hämmastavaks pöördeks seisukohtades. Kõigile, kes on julgenud EL põhiseaduse vajalikkuse kahtluse alla seada, on Suurbritannia valitsuse poolt osaks saanud kinnitused, et lepe on ülioluline kui tahetakse ära hoida ELi "halvatust" pärast tuleva aasta esimest maid. Argument, et konstitutsioon on laienemiseks hädatarvilik, andis alati võimaluse ettekäändeks nagu oleks tegu "soojendusharjutusega". Tegelikkuses võib aga dokumendi vastuvõtmine lahendada kahel viisil võimaliku patiseisu: esiteks, andes suurtele riikidele rohkem võimu kui väikestele ning teiseks,  vähendades valdkondade arvu, mille osas on riikidel vetoõigus. (Juhtkiri, The Times, 25.11)

Euroopa välisasjade volinik Chris Patten kirjutab, et juba 1988. aastal mõistis toonane Briti peaminister Margaret Thatcher, et Euroopale oleks kasulikum välispoliitilistes seisukohavõttudes rääkida ühel häälel. Järgmiste aastate sündmused viisid 1993. aastal Maastrichti leppeni, milles määratleti ühine välis- ja julgeolekupoliitika. Kuigi see ei tähendanud ühtset välispoliitikat, süvendas lepe veendumust, et Euroopa on koos tegutsedes tugevam kui riikhaaval toimides. ELi põhiseadusliku leppe mustandisse sisse kirjutatud välissuhete paragrahvi kontsept on palju laiem kui Maastrichtis kinnitatud leppega määratletu. Patten leiab, et ELi välisministri ametikoha loomine on igati tervitatav idee. Tema kinnitusel saab välisminister teha täisväärtuslikku tööd vaid juhul, kui ta on täielikult hõivatud Komisjoni töösse samas koordineerides poliitikat valdkondades nagu näiteks arenguabi- ja energiaküsimused, mis annavad tõelise väärtuse ELi suhetele kolmandate riikidega. (Chris Patten, Financial Times, 27.11)

Viimane asi, mida Euroopa vajas, oli meeldetuletus, et ELis on kahte tüüpi riike: suured "riiukuked" nagu Saksamaa, Prantsusmaa, Suurbritannia ja Itaalia, kellele on lubatud oma naha päästmine seaduste rikkumise ja väänamisega, ja väiksemad riigid, kes peavad läbi rääkima ja kuuletuma. Peel arvab, et  üsna suur on võimalus, et väikesed riigid hakkavad VVKl trotslikult ühte jalga marssima ning keelduvad alla kirjutama igasugusele leppele, mis vähendaks nende mõjuvõimu. On kuulda nostalgiat Nizza leppe aadressil, mis klopsiti kokku Prantsuse eesistumise ajal 2000. aasta detsembris ning mida kandis Jaques Chiraci kangekaelsus Saksamaa ja Prantsusmaa võrdse häältearvu osas. Chirac oli toona toetuse pälvimiseks valmis Poolale ja Hispaaniale ükskõik mida lubama. Lisaks on Nizzas kinnitatud süsteem väga keeruline ning põhiseaduslik leping lihtsustaks seda tunduvalt. Quentin Peel leiab, et Euroopale oleks tohutuks poliitiliseks tagasilöögiks kui VVKl ei suudeta põhiseadusliku leppe osas kompromissi saavutada või kui mõni riik selle kinnitamise tagasi lükkab. Tema arvates tähendaks see ühtlasi, et laienemine blokeeriks liidu töö juba kaugelt enne kui uued liituda soovijad uksele koputavad. (Quentin Peel, Financial Times, 26.11)

Saksamaa ajakirjandus

Poola ja Suurbritannia soovivad üheskoos viia põhiseadusliku leppe kavandisse sisse põhjalikke muudatusi. Välisminister Jack Straw avaldas "sügavat sümpaatiat" Varssavi seisukohtade suhtes, mis puudutavad häälte jaotust Ministrite Nõukogus. Poola kardab, et leppe praeguse variandi puhul kaotab ta võimaluse blokeerida häälteenamusega tehtavaid otsuseid. Poola välisminister Cimoszewicz hoiatas "unipolaarse Euroopa" eest, kus Prantsusmaa ja Saksamaa domineerivad. Brüsseli diplomaadid nimetavad Straw ja Cimoszewiczi avaldusi "lehmakauplemiseks": Suurbritannia toetab Poolat häältejaotuse küsimuses, Poola toetab omakorda britte julgeolekupoliitika ja maksude küsimustes. EK on nimetanud kartusi prantsuse-saksa ülemvõimu ees absurdseteks (ka tulevikus nõudvat iga Ministrite Nõukogu otsus 13 riigi poolthäält) ning põhiseadusliku leppe võimalikku läbikukkumist ohtlikuks. (Christian Wernicke, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 20.11)

Tegelikkus on purustanud kõik lootused, mis konvendi töö lõppedes olid. Niit niidi järel lagundavad valitsuste esindajad hoolega kootud põhiseaduse kangast. Samas võiks Euroopale eeskujuks olla USA põhiseaduse loojate saavutus - keskvõimu ja osariikide vaheline tasakaalustatud võimujaotuse süsteem. Saksamaa ja Prantsusmaa käituvad üleolevate hegemoniaalvõimudena, kes ei kuula väiksemate partnerite õigustatud etteheiteid. "Me ei tohi oma saatust suurte riikide otsustada jätta", hoiatab Hollandi rahandusminister Gerrit Zalm. "Kui kumbki suurriik jätkab senisel kombel, satub stabiilsuspakti kõrval intensiivravile ka põhiseaduslik leping", kurdab Hispaania valitsusjuht Aznar. Elu on viimasel ajal tõestanud, et EK ei suuda end liikmesriikide ees maksma panna. Sellal kui ELi välisministrid stabiilsuspakti ruineerisid, istus Romano Prodi üheksa tundi järjest sealsamas laua taga ning vaikis. Kes teda nägi, võis veenduda, et tegemist on kustunud, juhtimistahte kaotanud inimesega. Varasema EK presidendi Jaques Delors’i puhul poleks selline stseen olnud mõeldavgi. Aasta enne volituste lõppemist tegeleb komisjon meelsamini ühtsete kassi- ja koerapasside kehtestamisega. Kui kuue kuu pärast kümme uut riiki laua taha istuvad, näevad nad, milline korralagedus tegelikult valitseb... (Peter Hort, FAZ, 30.11)

Prantsusmaa ajakirjandus

Euroopa põhiseaduse projekti ei saa muuta muidu, kui selleks on vaja kõikide riikide nõusolekut. Nii otsustasid oma VVK raames toimunud kohtumisel liikmesriikide välisministrid. Põhiseaduse osas valitsevad erinevate liikmesriikide vahel vastakad seisukohad. On neid, kes leiavad, et uus põhiseaduse ei lähe piisavalt kaugele föderaalse valitsemissüsteemi loomisel ja on neid, kes leiavad just vastupidist. Erinevuseks põhiseaduse ja lepingu vahel on see, et põhiseaduse võib vastu võtta siis, kui selle poolt hääletab enamus (Prantsusmaal on selleks kolm viiendikku parlamendi liikmetest) samas kui lepingut pole võimalik vastu võtta siis, kui eranditult kõik osapooled selle poolt ei ole. Praeguse projekti täisnimetuseks ongi Euroopa põhiseadusliku lepingu projekt. (Thomas Ferenczi, Le Monde, 20.11)

Uudisteagentuurid

The EU agreed to set up a defence agency to bolster and coordinate military capabilities across the bloc, but remained split over a proposed headquarters that has angered the United States. France sought to soothe Washington's concerns that its ambition -- shared by Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg -- to set up an independent planning and operation headquarters for EU crisis management missions was a challenge to NATO. In an interview ahead of a meeting with her EU counterparts, Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said Paris had in mind a "cell of 30 or 40 people" rather than a fully fledged headquarters with hundreds of staff. "The Americans must understand...that for us, European defence complements the (NATO) alliance," she told the Belgian daily La Libre Belgique. "It will not work against NATO." (Reuters, Afp, 17.11)

A new EU weapons agency should avoid protectionism despite a US law agreed this month requiring Washington to "buy American" in its military procurement, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said. The agency was set to be approved by EU defence ministers for launch next year, to help the bloc's member states coordinate their purchases of military hardware. "It's our job to ensure our own governments deliver improvements in military capabilities, not only at the national level but working with our colleagues in Europe," Hoon said. (Afp, 17.11)

Britain, France and Germany have agreed plans to give the EU its own facility for military planning independent of NATO, officials said. "We have defined the basis for a proposal with our British and German friends and we will submit it to the conference tonight," French FM Dominique de Villepin said. "This is a key issue. We can't have a Europe without defence," de Villepin said. A British Foreign Office spokesman said: "I can confirm we have a set of several ideas in draft. "We will be discussing it with our key allies and partners," he said on condition of anonymity, indicating further discussions with the rest of the EU and the US. (Afp, Reuters, 28.11)

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that plans by Britain, France and Germany to bolster the EU's military capabilities would still leave NATO in the driving seat of Europe's defence. Straw said that nothing in the plans would undermine NATO, a key concern of the US. "The conclusions which we reached was one in which NATO is accepted as the alliance par excellence of all participating member states in NATO, and it is the prime means by which we guarantee each other's mutual defence," he said. (Afp, 27.11)

EU foreign ministers reported big strides towards a deal on future defence arrangements for the bloc as talks on a new constitution addressed the toughest power issues. "I think it was an important breakthrough. I believe that in defence we should be able to reach an agreement," Greek FM George Papandreou said, after Britain, France and Germany put joint proposals to the 25 present and future EU member states. Michel Barnier, the EC's representative at the talks, said the parties were nearing a deal under which all states would endorse a mutual defence pledge compatible with NATO commitments and acceptable to the four non-aligned nations. (Reuters, 29.11)

Britain is willing to lead an EU peacekeeping operation in Bosnia once NATO decides to pull out, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said. Hoon said much remained to be worked out, "not least crucially getting an appropriate conclusion to the NATO operation so that then if there is to be an EU operation, it can be taken forward". "But certainly the United Kingdom would be willing to lead such an operation once all of those conditions have been satisfied," he told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of EU defence ministers. Sources say the EU force could be deployed in the middle of next year and comprise 6,000 troops under British command. (Afp, 17.11)

EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten and several ministers criticized an outburst by Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi backing Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to one source, Berlusconi's comments earlier this month -- in which he defended Putin over Chechnya and the Yukos affair -- sparked a "heated debate" at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Dutch minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Denmark's Per Stig Moeller, Sweden's Leila Freivalds and Finland's Erkki Tuomioja expressed themselves "very forcefully," as did a number of incoming EU members of the ex-communist bloc, criticizing Italy for not standing by agreed EU positions with Putin. Italian FM Franco Frattini, whose country holds the EU presidency, sought to counter criticism by telling fellow ministers that "the issues which are close to their hearts were broached during this meeting." (Afp, 17.11)

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and the EU clashed over how to handle Iran's nuclear programme, taking the shine off what was billed as a post-Iraq war fence-mending visit to Brussels. After what he called a "very candid discussion" with EU foreign ministers, Powell said a draft resolution on Iran proposed by the bloc's three major powers was not tough enough on Tehran's non-compliance with nuclear treaty obligations. Along with tension over steel trade and European prisoners held at the U.S. Guantanamo Bay jail in Cuba, the divide over how to deal with Iran marred determined efforts by both sides to put months of bitter wrangling over Iraq behind them. (Reuters, 18.11)

Visiting German FM Joschka Fischer called on Turkey to speed up democracy reforms but pledged support for its bid to join the EU and in the fight against terror. "Reforms should be accelerated," Fischer said. But he said he was "in favour of moving forward" regarding Turkey's EU membership, with EU leaders set to assess progress by the mainly Muslim country in December next year. (Afp, 24.11)

Georgia must now hold democratic elections in line with international norms to restore stability after the resignation of president Eduard Shevardnadze, the EC said. "The decision of president Shevardnadze opens the way to restoration of constitutional law and order in Georgia," the EU's executive arm said in a statement. "The Commission welcomes the fact that all sides have refrained from violence and we are confident that they will continue to do so," it said. "It is essential that developments will give way to democratic elections according to international standards. Georgians need to restore a climate of trust and confidence in their country and their political system." (Afp, 24.11)

Ireland's PM Bertie Ahern said he expected progress to be made during his country's presidency of the EU next year on a border treaty between EU member-to-be Latvia and its neighbour Russia. "I said to the PM Einars Repse that this is a disappointment, that the border treaty has not been signed. Ireland, at the EU helm for six months on January 1, "will dutifully work...on the issue of Russia," he said. (Afp, 27.11)

Saksamaa ajakirjandus

ELi välispoliitika volinik Javier Solana jättis Euroopa julgeolekudoktriini kavandist välja brittide pakutud ennetavate sõjaliste löökide võimaluse. Seda eeskätt Saksamaa vastuseisu tõttu. Vaidlusi Ministrite Nõukogus tekitavad endiselt ELi ja NATO suhteid ning ELi sõjalist võimekust puudutavad formuleeringud. Kui ELi ühise välis- ja julgeolekupoliitika aluspõhimõtete osas üksmeelele jõutakse, järgnevad vaidlused selle ümber, kuivõrd siduv see doktriin peaks liikmesriikidele olema. (Rainer Koch, Financial Times Deutschland, 24.11)

VVK istungjärgul Napolis ei püütudki lõplikku kokkulepet saavutada, algusest peale oli selge, et otsused tehakse kahe nädala pärast toimuval Ülemkogul. Siiski saavutati üht-teist ühise välis- ja julgeolekupoliitika osas. Ettevalmistava töö tegid ära Pariisi, Londoni ja Berliini diplomaadid. Brüsseli lähedale otsustati rajada Euroopa sõjalise planeerimise ja juhtimise keskus, mis aga ei tähenda sõjalise peakorteri loomist. Põhiseaduslikus lepingus sisalduv "struktureeritud sõjalise koostöö" klausel sõnastati (ja kirjutati lahti eraldi protokollis) nii, et see peaks sobima ka neile, kes seavad NATOt esikohale või kardavad "struktureeritud koostöö" mudelitest välja jääda (näiteks väikeriigid). (Horst Bacia, FAZ, 30.11)

Prantsusmaa ajakirjandus

Lord Robertsoni ametlik visiit Prantsusmaale oli tema hüvastijätuvisiidiks kuna jaanuarist hakkab allianssi juhtima hollandlane Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Robetrsoni sõnul on Prantsusmaa olnud NATOle suurepäraseks liitlaseks ja toeks kõikides olulisemates operatsioonides nii Balkanil kui ka Afganistanis. Samas on aga tõsi, et osa NATO liikmetest on ärevil ELi uue kaitsevõime arendamise projekt pärast. Ärevust on nii USAs, Suurbritannias, Poolas ja ka Soomes, kuid sellel pole mingeid ideoloogilisi põhjuseid vaid puudutavad asjade praktilist korraldust. Kui inimesed kuulevad euroopa kaitsevõime tõstmisest, mis aga reaalsuse ei tähenda sõjalise võimekuse tõstmist, siis võib see tekitada umbusaldust. Sest siin on olemas reaalne risk, need teated võivad tekitada ootusi ja lootusi, mis reaalsuses kunagi teoks ei saa. Näiteks võiks siin tuua selle, et on ohtlik jätta Euroopa põhiseadusesse artikkel vastastikuse kaitse kohta, kui pole vahendeid selle elluviimiseks. Euroopa sõjalise peakorteri loomine ei peaks Robertsoni arvates saama ELi esmaseks prioriteediks. Soovides luua veel ühte planeerimisega tegelevat struktuuriüksus ähvardab EL kaotada silmist kõige olulisema: sõjalise võimekuse. (Alexandrine Bouilhet, Le Figaro, 19.11)

Jacques Chracil on vaja Tony Blairi selleks, et ehitada üles usaldusväärne Euroopa kaitsepoliitika. Ilma Briti armeeta, mis on maailmas üks paremini varustatud ja tegusemisvõimelisemaid armeesid, oleks Euroopa kaitsevõimekus vähe usaldusväärne. Samas on aga Blairil vaja Chiraci, et tugevdada oma positsioone eurooplasena ning vähendada George Bushi varju oma mainel. Paar viimast kuud on Pariisi ja Londoni ühiseks huviks olnud Euroopa kaitsepoliitika arendamine. Viimase 50 aasta jooksul pole koostöö võimalused selles vallas olnud kunagi nii head kui praegu. Eurooplased on edukalt ellu viinud kolm ühist sõjalist operatsiooni Bosnias, Makedoonias ja Kongos. (Luc de Barochez, Le Figaro, 24.11)

Uudisteagentuurid

The French National Assembly ratified the treaty permitting the expansion of the EU to take in ten new member states next May. To pass into law the bill must now be approved by the upper house, the Senate. The Athens treaty, which was signed in April by the EU's existing 15 members, opens the way for the accession of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus and Malta. (Afp, Reuters, 26.11)

Border controls between the current 15 EU states and the 10, mainly eastern European, countries joining the EU next year will remain in place, at least until 2007, officials said. While travel within the EU is mostly passport-free under the Schengen agreement, west Europeans traveling to a new EU state like Hungary will still have to present their passports to border police. The 10 new states -- the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia -- will technically belong to the Schengen agreement, which is designed to do away with borders within the EU. But the implementation of the no-border policy that began in 1995 has had problems along the way, and the EU wants to iron out the wrinkles before they expand the policy to the new, mostly former communist states. (Afp, 30.11)

The 10 countries due to join the EU on May 1 next year began testing thousands of candidates for jobs as translators and secretaries. A total of 1,215 translators and 1,620 secretarial staff are to be hired in the 10 countries: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Another 25,000 people are expected to compete next month for 1,340 higher-ranked administrative posts. (Afp, 27.11)

Leaders of 17 central and eastern European countries gather in Warsaw for their last summit before the EU's eastwards expansion next year. The two-day meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) will start with various leaders meeting with PM Leszek Miller of Poland which currently presides the grouping and is hosting the meeting. Among the leaders attending the summit will be Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency. The summit would focus on the grouping's role after the EU's enlargement to take in another 10 countries next May, including five CEI countries -- Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. (Afp, 19.11)

EU leaders will give encouragement to four potential new members, over and above the 10 already scheduled to join the bloc next year, when they meet for a summit next month. The Italian Presidency of the EU emphasised the accession aspirations of Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia in a draft agenda for the summit, scheduled for December 12-13 in Brussels, giving generous words to each. The draft emphasised the "continuity and irreversibility" of the enlargement process of which Bulgaria and Romania form an integral part, saying: "Welcoming (them) in January 2007 as members of the Union, if they are ready, is the common objective of the Union of 25." (Reuters, 26.11)

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder made an unusually strong endorsement of Turkey's bid to join the EU, arguing a bridge into the Islamic world could greatly improve security in Europe. In a speech to parliament, Schröder again lambasted a conservative opposition politician who had suggested that this month's Istanbul bomb attacks hurt Turkey's membership chances because the EU did not want to risk importing militant Islam. Schröder went further than before, saying the opposite would be the case if Turkey, a secular Muslim democracy and NATO ally, were to win EU entry, after decades of futile efforts, when its application is reviewed by EU leaders late next year. (Reuters, 26.11)

The deadly bomb blasts in Istanbul will not knock Turkey's EU hopes off course, the EC said. "This in no way changes the EU's strategy towards Turkey," said a commission spokesman. "It underlines that we need a Turkey which is politically stable and respectful of the values which the EU defends," he said. The spokesman added that the timetable for Turkey's long-running EU bid was "clear": the commission will submit a report late next year evaluating the country's progress before EU leaders decide at a summit in December 2004 on whether to start entry negotiations. (Afp, 21.11)

European Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen said that the recent attacks on Istanbul brought Turkey closer to the EU but ruled out an early start to the country's membership negotiations. "The terrible attacks on a (EU) candidate country and a member country which we experienced must not influence Europe's view of Turkey," Verheugen said. He urged Turkey to continue its reforms, saying it would receive the EU's full support in its efforts. (Afp, 21.11)

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said bombings in Istanbul had been a response to Turkey's move towards Europe, but added it was too early to say whether its EU entry decision could now be sped up. Asked whether a decision on Turkey's wish to join the European Union could now be sped up, Solana said: "It is too soon to take decisions of this nature...But you can be sure that there will be reflections on how one can respond in a satisfying way to the current situation." (Reuters, 22.11)

German Interior Minister Otto Schily called on the EU to encourage Turkey's membership bid in the wake of the deadly suicide attacks in Istanbul. He urged the bloc to give Turkey, which has long campaigned for membership, "real prospects" of entry. Germany is home to around two million people of Turkish origin, thought to form the largest Turkish expatriate community in Europe. "The response to what happened in Istanbul must be that we cooperate closer with Turkey," Schily said. He called for "an honest dialogue" between the EU and Turkey" in order to "seriously negotiate the prospects of Turkey's EU entry, no matter how long that takes." (Afp, 21.11)

Irish PM Bertie Ahern promised to help Bulgaria and Romania in their efforts join the EU, prior to leaving for a visit to both countries. As part of preparations for Ireland taking over the revolving six-month presidency of the EU on January 1, Ahern is due to hold talks with Bulgarian PM Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in Sofia and Romanian PM Adrian Nastase in Bucharest. "I will be assuring the prime ministers of Bulgaria and Romania that Ireland will do everything in its power to ensure their early accession to the EU," Ahern said in a statement. (Afp, 20.11)

French President Jacques Chirac backed Romania's bid to join both NATO and the EU, as his Romanian counterpart Ion Iliescu wrapped up a three-day visit to France. "France will help Romania in any way that it can to ensure that this objective is met," Chirac said. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is expected to welcome Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia into its military alliance at its next summit in 2004. (Afp, 21.11)

Romania could join the EU in 2007 even if its accession talks are not concluded before 2005, Dutch PM Jan Peter Balkenende said during a two-day visit to Bucharest. "Romania has come along on the road to European integration and the date set for its accession -- January 1, 2007 -- could be respected even if the negotiations were to be concluded during the first part of 2005," he said. (Reuters, 26.11)

Romanian FM Mircea Geoana said he was confident his country's EU membership talks would conclude successfully on schedule by the end of next year. Romania, whose average monthly wage of $130 makes it the poorest of the ex-communist East European nations in line to enter the EU, is expected to join in 2007 with Bulgaria, extending the bloc's south-eastern border to the Black Sea. Its 22 million people, nine out of 10 of whom support EU entry, and investors holding its state bonds are watching the accession negotiations with keen interest, not least as the final phase may be marred by political bickering in the run-up to elections late next year. (Reuters, 27.11)

Bulgarian President Georgy Parvanov is due in France to seek support for Bulgaria's bid to join the EU in 2007. He will also be seeking more French investment for his eastern European country. Parvanov, a former communist, will meet with French President Jacques Chirac, the president of the National Assembly, Jean-Louis Debre, European Convention president Valery Giscard d'Estaing and the former head of the European Commission Jacques Delors. (Afp, 25.11)

Almost half of all Norwegians, 48%, want to join the EU while just 39% are opposed to the idea, a poll published by the ANB news agency showed. Norway, which enjoys huge oil revenues from the North Sea and has a major fishing industry, has rejected EU membership twice, in referendums held in 1972 and 1994. (Afp, 25.11)

Prantsusmaa ajakirjandus

Ees on seismas ajaloolised sündmused, mis on võrreldavad selliste suursündmustega, nagu Vestfaali rahu, Viini kongress ja Jalta konverents. Nüüd seisab ees ELi laienemine, kuid kõige olulisem selle juures on see, et kui mainitud möödunud suursündmused on toimunud teatud sõjalise tegevuse tulemusel ning nende tulemuseks on olnud uus poliitiline ja sõjaline surve, siis 2004. aasta 1. mail toimuv ELI laienemine on rahus ja vabaduses toimunud läbirääkimiste tulemus. Ning õigem oleks rääkida ilmselt mitte Euroopa laienemisest vaid taasühinemisest. (Günter Verheugen, Le Monde, 25.11)

Euroopa personalivaliku ameti (EPSO) direktor Erik Halskovi peamiseks mureks on praegu see, mitu tõlkijat tuleb Maltal Valettas korraldatavatele testidele. Kuueteistkümnes linnas ELi uutes liikmesriikides toimuvad eksamid, mis on esimene osa konkursist, mille põhjal valitakse välja ametnikud, kes peavad Brüsselisse ELi institutsioonidesse tööle asuma alates esimesest maist 2004. aastal. Juba praegu on aga Parlament, Komisjon ja Nõukogu mures, sest hoolimata 45 000 kandidaadist kõigist kümnes uuest liikmesriigist on institutsioonidel raskusi 4000 konkursile pandud koha täitmisega kõigi konkursi tingimuste kohaselt. Eriti suur puudus on tõlkidest ja tõlkijatest. Näiteks vajatakse 130 leedu keele tõlkijat ning konkursile registreerus neid üksnes 125, pole aga teada, kui paljud neist konkursi läbi teevad. (Pierre Avril, Le Figaro, 28.11)

Uudisteagentuurid

EU finance ministers effectively suspended the bloc's budget rulebook in a bitterly disputed deal to spare giants Germany and France from disciplinary action over their excessive deficits. The EC, guardian of rules meant to underpin the euro, immediately cried foul. Hinting at a legal challenge, the EU executive said it reserved the right to examine the implications and decide on possible subsequent actions. The Commission insisted on a rare vote on its recommendation that the euro zone's two biggest economies be forced to make deeper deficit cuts in 2004 under the Stability and Growth Pact on budget discipline, but failed to win the required majority. (Reuters, 25.11)

France and Germany ran roughshod over the EC in persuading their EU partners to allow the euro zone's two biggest economies to fix their budget deficits on their own terms. Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pedro Solbes was furious after falling victim to the equivalent of a political mugging at the hands of the EU's two most influential member states. The Spanish commissioner, normally the picture of affability, accused finance ministers from the 12-nation euro zone of tearing up the rule-book, and refused to rule out the threat of court action to uphold EU law. (Afp, 25.11)

EC chief Romano Prodi announced plans for a new "initiative on better economic governance" but made no mention of legal action, after EU ministers let France and Germany off the hook over budget violations. In a statement issued after an extraordinary commission meeting to discuss the deal, he restated the EU executive's regret at the decision, which EU monetary affairs commissioner Pedro Solbes said had no legal basis. "The Council (of ministers) cannot use ad-hoc measures to suspend or amend the pact every time it deems that its provisions are too stringent or inopportune," he said. (Afp, 26.11)

France and Italy urged an overhaul of Europe's Stability and Growth Pact, only a day after EU finance ministers defied the EC and ran roughshod over its budget rules. The pact is practically dead in its current form and needs to be reborn, according to EU president Italy, which brokered a deal to suspend disciplinary action against France and Germany despite repeated breaches of the deficit limits. French Finance Minister Francis Mer, who had fought alongside Germany for more budget leniency, said the EU should consider revising the pact in 2005 -- the year by which Berlin and Paris are to comply with the pact under the compromise. (Afp, Reuters, 26.11)

Spanish Secretary of State for Finance Luis de Guindos said that reforming the eurozone's Stability and Growth Pact was premature and could spark economic turmoil via higher interest rates. "This is not the moment to talk of making modifications to the Stability Pact," said Guindos, dousing the flames of Spanish fury at decision by EU finance ministers to allow France and Germany to escape disciplinary measures for having overshot public defict ratios stipulated in the Pact. (Afp, 26.11)

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel called for a "new" Stability and Growth Pact, after the crisis triggered by the suspension of strict budget rules underpinning the euro. "We need a new, modern stability pact which will include the elements that are perhaps lacking today," he said after talks with his German counterpart Gerhard Schröder. He said he hoped the EC would take the initiative. Austria is one of four eurozone countries which wanted the Commission to launch disciplinary proceedings against France and Germany to force them to reduce their deficits. (Afp, 27.11)

German Finance Minister Hans Eichel called on the EC to rethink its strategy on deficits, after a row over the suspension of eurozone deficit rules in favour of France and Germany. He said the decision earlier week to allow the two countries off the hook over their spiralling deficits had been taken by "more than two thirds of the countries in the eurozone" representing "more than 80% of its domestic product." In such conditions, he told parliament during a budget debate, "has the time not come for the Commission to re-examine the way it works? I think the answer is yes." (Afp, 28.11)

The EU agreed unanimously to put off any moves to harmonise rates of value-added tax (VAT) for at least 6 months in a snub to the EC. EU finance ministers said they would review Commission demands to scale back the list of items in member states that qualify for zero or reduced-rate VAT in the middle of next year. Many countries have been insisting on the right to retain favourable rates of VAT for certain sectors, such as children's clothes in Britain or restaurant meals in France, in defiance of Commission proposals to create a more level playing field for VAT in the EU. (Reuters, 25.11)

The European Central Bank is "seriously concerned" by a proposal to introduce a new article into the draft EU Constitution that would allow for the amendment of ECB's basic constitutional rules, president Jean-Claude Trichet. In a letter to the president of the Council of the EU, Franco Frattini, Trichet said a EC proposal to simplify amendment procedures "would imply an institutional change in the monetary area". (Afp, 27.11)

The British government confirmed it will put forward legislation in the coming year that will pave the way for a referendum on adopting the euro. "A draft bill will be published to enable a referendum to be held on the adoption of the single currency," said Queen Elizabeth II as she read the government's legislative agenda for 2003-2004 in parliament. Whether the referendum actually goes ahead, she added, depends on the government's so-called "five economic tests" for dropping pound sterling for the euro being met. (Afp, 26.11)

EU trade chief Pascal Lamy said that the Europeans were ready to compromise to get stalled world trade talks moving again but others must also be flexible. In particular, he said the EU could drop a demand that the negotiations should be widened to include the four so-called "Singapore issues", covering new areas ranging from customs' practices to investment rules. (Reuters, 19.11)

German Finance Minister Hans Eichel appealed to EU partners not to apply a cure worse than the disease when they meet to judge Germany as well as France for flouting EU budget rules. Eichel said that additional budget cuts sought by the EC would block economic recovery and prolong the crisis through which Germany is passing. He said Germany was prepared to make strong economies once recovery gets under way. (Afp, 22.11)

Suurbritannia ajakirjandus

Prantsusmaa ja Saksamaa võitsid - nagu tavaliselt. Sõnum oli selge: EL toimib küll teatud reeglite järgi, kuid mitte igaüks ei pea neist juhinduma. Prantsusmaa ja Saksamaa, mida aastaid vaadeldi, kui ELi integratsioonimootorit, näisid sedapuhku huligaanidena mänguväljakul. Lõhel, mis löödi, võivad olla sügavad tagajärjed ELi arengu seisukohalt. Stabiilsuspakti reeglite eiramise majanduslik mõju saab selgeks alles pikemas perspektiivis. Poliitilisi tagajärgi näeme aga otsekohe. Vaid mõne nädala pärast peaksid Euroopa liidrid püüdma ELi esimese põhiseaduse tingimustes kokkuleppele jõuda. Kuigi erimeelsusi oli riikide vahel ennegi, räägitakse peale stabiilsuspakti ümber toimunut, et põhiseaduslik lepe võib tekkinud olukorras sootuks läbi kukkuda. Mitmed väiksemad riigid on avaldanud arvamust, et asjade sellises valguses ei taha nad end oma suurte naabritega senisest veelgi tihedamalt siduda. (George Parker, Ed Crooks, Financial Times, 26.11)

Saksamaa ajakirjandus

Ilkujatel on põhjust hammast teritada - 2003. aastal ületab kogu euroruum stabiilsuspaktiga kehtestatud 3% piiri. Eriti naudivad tekkinud olukorda ilmselt need, kes stabiilsuspakti alati rumaluseks on pidanud, nagu näiteks majandusteadlane Milton Friedman. Eurooplastel on aga vähe põhjust naermiseks. Kui defitsiidi tekitanud riigid saavad sellest vähemalt ajutist kasu, siis negatiivseid tagajärgi saavad tunda kõik valuutaliidu liikmed. (Alexander Hagelüken, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19.11)

EK räägib Saksamaast kui endisest priimusest, kes nüüd põrus ning peab seetõttu maksma ja kokku hoidma. Nõnda tahetakse karistada riiki, kel parajasti käsil enneolematud sotsiaalsed reformid. Kummaline on sealjuures see, et karistada soovib Saksamaad Romano Prodi, kes alles möödunud aastal ütles ajalehele Le Monde: "Stabiilsuspakt on tobe, nagu kõik jäigad reeglid". Tookord vaidles pool Euroopat talle vastu, isegi rahandusminister Eichel pidas pakti piisavalt paindlikuks. Elu on näidanud, et Prodil oli õigus. Peale selle pole Stabiilsuse- ja kasvupaktis majanduskasvule just palju tähelepanu pööratud, pikaajalisi reforme see pakt ei toeta. Pakti sõnastus on mitmeti mõistetav, mistõttu konfliktid selle ümber vältimatud. (Ulrich Schäfer, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19.11)

Euro enneolematu tugevnemine dollari suhtes ütleb vähe Euroopa, kuid samas palju USA majanduse seisundi kohta. Ameeriklased on uhked tugeva majanduskasvu üle, kuid ei võta midagi ette tohutu väliskaubandusdefitsiidi vastu. Praegune majanduslik tõus on ohtlik, sest see on põhjustatud üksnes riigi tegevusest (sõjalised kulutused, Iraagi ülesehitamine). Riik püüab olukorda lahendada protektsionistlike nippidega (nagu tõkked Hiina tekstiili impordile ja teraseskandaal), mille kahjulikkus USA enda majandusele on juba korduvalt ilmsiks tulnud. Ning seda WTO hetkelise nõrkuse taustal. Protektsionismikoletis on jälle pead tõstmas ning liberaalne majandusmudel, tänu millele paljud maad on saavutanud kõrgema elatustaseme, ohtu sattunud. (Marc Beise, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 20.11)

Stabiilsuse- ja kasvupakt on surnud ning uut enam ei tule. Saksa Majandusuuringute Instituudi hinnangul oli pakt algusest peale puudulikult koostatud. Ettepanekuid pakti revideerimiseks on mitmesuguseid. Prantslased sooviksid kulutused haridusele ja teadusele arvestusest välja jätta. Mõned eksperdid soovitavad kehtestada kohustusliku kokkuhoiu reeglid majanduskasvu perioodiks. Tegelikkuses pole pakti uuendamine praegu mõeldav, sest suured riigid on ise "pihtide vahel" ning väikestel puudub selleks vastav kaal. CSU rahandusekspert Hans Michelbach: "Siduvalt kohustuslikuks võib midagi muuta vaid juhul, kui fiskaalpoliitika ELi tasandil tsentraliseeritakse. Selle vajalikkust tuleks inimestele aga alles selgitama hakata..." (Ulrich Machold, Die Welt, 23.11)

Kui stabiilsuspakt veel hingitsebki, siis mingit lugupidamist ta enda suhtes esile ei kutsu. Ehk mõned helgemad pead Pariisis ja Berliinis taipavad lõpuks, milline üleeuroopaline mõõde on nende torpedeerimispoliitikal. Kui need kaks ongi ELi liikumapanev jõud, siis on paras aeg hakata tõsist muret tundma. Väikeste Euroopa riikide umbusk suurte vastu on sellega kasvanud. Uued liitujad, kellelt nõuti väga rangete kriteeriumite täitmist, jätavad stabiilsuspakti lõhkiajamisega seotud arengud hästi meelde: kes on klubi liige ning näitab jõudu, see võib ka reeglitega vabamalt ümber käia. (Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger, FAZ, 26.11)

Ida-Euroopa maades on vahetult enne ELiga liitumist lahvatanud maksude alandamise palavik. Slovakkia viib sisse ühtlustatud 19% tulumaksu. Austria pangandusspetsialistid oletavad, et Slovakkia eeskuju nakatab peagi kogu Kesk-Euroopa. Positiivset eeskuju annab ka Venemaa, kus tänu ühtlustatud 13% tulumaksule on maksude laekumine tõusnud kuni 40%. "Vana Euroopa" jaoks tähendab selline maksude revolutsioon senisest tugevamat konkurentsi investeeringute ja töökohtade pärast. Baltimaade ning Kesk-Euroopa liitujatega pole solidaarne üksnes Suurbritanna, ka Põhjamaades on täheldada esimesi märke maksude ühtlustamise soovist. Eesti, kes juba 1994 läks üle ühtlustatud maksusüsteemile ning alandab jätkuvalt tulumaksumäära, peab maksude üleeuroopalise harmoniseerimise pooldajate (eelkõige Prantsusmaa ja Saksamaa) kaotust konvendi suurimaks võiduks. "Maksude ühtlustamine Euroopa tasandil purustaks liituvate riikide majandused ning nulliks kõik senised saavutused", sõnas endine PM Mart Laar. Ka paljud teised liituvate riikide eksperdid peavad euroopasisest maksundusalast konkurentsi vahendiks üldise konkurentsi elavdamiseks kogu ELis. (Carsten Knop, FAZ, 26.11)

ELi kaubanduskomissar Pascal Lamy ei poolda kahepoolsete kaubanduskokkulepete sõlmimist ELi ja kolmandate riikide vahel, seda vaatamata WTO Cancuni ministrite konverentsi läbikukkumisele. "EL eelistab mitmepoolseid kokkuleppeid kahepoolsetele", sõnas Lamy usutluses ajalehele. Vahetult pärast Cancuni konverentsi kostis EKs ka teistsuguseid arvamusi, kuid nüüdseks on EL otsustanud mitmepoolsete läbirääkimiste vooru taas jalule aidata ning olla seekord arengumaade nõudmiste suhtes paindlikum. (Wolfgang Proissl/Birgit Marschall, Financial Times Deutschland, 26.11)

Kes räägib Brüsselis võitjatest ja kaotajatest, see pole endale ikka veel selgeks teinud - mis on Euroopa? Nõnda märkis Luxemburgi valitsusjuht Jean-Claude Juncker pärast Ministrite Nõukogu otsust mitte rakendada stabiilsuspakti rikkujate vastu sanktsioone. Tõepoolest, võitja ei paistnudki olevat eriti õnnelik: "Mul on kahju, et EK ei raatsinud ühiste positsioonide väljatöötamise nimel vaeva näha", sõnas Eichel. "Me soovime pakti rakendamist mõistlikul moel, vastavalt majanduse üldisele olukorrale". EK majandusvolinik Pedro Solbes jäi seevastu leppimatuks: "Ministrite Nõukogu otsus on poliitiline, tal pole mingit õiguslikku alust". (Katja Ridderbusch, Die Welt, 26.11)

Prantsusmaa ajakirjandus

Oma viimasel kohtumisel pidid liikmesriikide rahandusministrid võtma vastu olulisima otsuse alates Euroopa Majandus- ja Rahaliidu loomisest: kas on vaja võtta kasutusele meetmed, et karistada Prantsusmaad ja Saksamaad nende riikide eelarvedefitsiidi pärast, nagu seda näeb ette Stabiilsuse- ja kasvupakt. Nende otsusest sõltub see, kuidas Euroopa kodanikud ning rahvusvahelised finantsturud näevad Euroopa Keskpanga juhitud ühist rahapoliitikat. Komisjoni majandus- ja rahandusvolinik Solbesi arvates on EK viimase viie aasta jooksul tõestanud, et Komisjoni tõlgendus Stabiilsuse- ja kasvupaktist on paindlik ja põhineb ratsionaalsel majanduslikul mõtlemisel, seetõttu andsime ka Saksamaale ja Prantsusmaale võimaluse võtta oma eelarve tasakaalu viimiseks veel üks aasta. (Pedro Solbes, Le Figaro, 19.11)

Saksamaa on üks neist ristisõdijatest, kes võitleb Stabiilsuse- ja kasvu pakti vastu, mille initsiaatoriks ta Euroopa ühisraha loomisel ise oli. Saksa rahandusminister Hans Eicheli sõnul pole aga pakt mitte karistusseadustik, vaid poliitiline ja majanduslikult paindlik instrument. 1990 aastatel soovisid aga Bundesbank ning Saksa rahandusministrid luua sanktsioonide süsteemi, mille kohaselt karistataks koheselt riiki, kelle eelarve on liiga suure defitsiidis. Kuid 2004 aastal on Saksa eelarvedefitsiit kolmandat aastat järjest suurem 3% SKPst ning Komisjon kavatseb Saksamaa vastu sanktsioone rakendada. (Aranud Leparmentier, Le Monde, 17.11)

Komisjon on väga mures, et ELI ei pinguta selle nimel, et saavutada Lissaboni strateegias sätestatud eesmärki muutuda aastaks 2010 maailma kõige konkurentsivõimelisemaks ja dünaamilisemaks teadmistepõhiseks majandusruumiks. Nii Komisjoni hariduse- ja kultuuri kui ka teadusvolinikud on mures selle pärast, et Euroopas investeeritakse teadus- ja uurimistegevusse liiga vähe ning nii investeeringud on väikesed nii avalikus- kui erasektoris. Volinike sõnul peab Euroopa tegutsema, et jõuda järele USAle ja Jaapanile. (Thomas Ferenczi, Le Monde, 27.11)

Soome ajakirjandus

ELi rahandusministrite kompromissotsus Saksamaa ja Prantsusmaa eelarvepuudujäägi suhtes tähendab varem kokkulepitud reeglite aknast väljaviskamist. Kogu stabiilsuslepingu usutavus on sellega kadunud, ning otsus nõrgendas ka kõikide ELis tehtavate otsuste tähendust. Kokkuvõttes näib, et suurtele ELi liikmesriikidele kehtivad teised reeglid kui väikestele. On tõenäoline, et antud juhtumisse ei suhtuta õlgu kehitades, vaid see tekitab ka edaspidi hõõrumisi. Sisuliselt põrkusid kaks tähtsat ELi institutsiooni – Ministrite Nõukogu ja Euroopa Komisjon. Antud otsus mõjub kindlasti halvasti ka otsuste tegemisele VVKl. (Juhtkiri, Kaleva, 26.11)

Uudisteagentuurid

Plans by the EU's "big three" to give the EU a military planning arm independent of NATO won backing from the rest of the bloc, but Washington's response remains to be seen. Britain, France and Germany unveiled what French FM Dominique de Villepin called "the basis for a proposal" by the trio for a planning cell to boost the EU's military capabilities. Belgian FM Louis Michel, whose country was at the forefront of more controversial plans for a fully fledged EU military headquarters, said the proposal had won general backing. "We can say that the embryo of a European defence is underway and that it's an irreversible process," he told reporters after dinner talks among EU foreign ministers. (Afp, 29.11)

NATO will remain the cornerstone of European defence policy despite plans to strengthen EU ties in security and defence, British PM Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac said. "There is nobody I know of in Europe that wants to see European defence go forward at the expense of NATO," Blair told a press conference alongside Chirac after a Franco-British summit in London. "NATO will remain the cornerstone of our defence," Blair said. (Afp, 24.11)

NATO's outgoing chief warned the EU against seeking to rival U.S. military might, and said proposals for an independent defence headquarters could open rifts within the bloc and across the Atlantic. In his sharpest critique yet of a plan championed by Paris and Berlin, Secretary-General George Robertson held up the push for an EU military planning headquarters as "a crazy sense of priorities". "If you haven't got the basic component parts of your crisis management outreach...there should really be no necessity to start duplicating things that are available from NATO." (Reuters, 25.11)

The EU's tentative deal on future defence cooperation faces an acid test this week at big NATO meetings, where Washington will demand assurances that the bloc is not seeking to rival the Atlantic alliance. Diplomats said it was not yet clear if the US would force a showdown over the EU's agreement to establish an independent military planning cell or whether it would accept the word of its closest European ally Britain that NATO is safe. (Reuters, 30.11)

NATO chief George Robertson said he hopes shortfalls in resources needed to expand a NATO-led force in Afghanistan will be filled soon, but warned he may have to press governments over the issue at talks in Brussels. Robertson said the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which NATO took over in August, will be discussed at meetings of NATO foreign and defence minister in Brussels during the week. (Reuters, Afp, 28.11)

NATO chief George Robertson appointed former Turkish foreign minister Hikmet Cetin as the Alliance's senior civilian representative to Afghanistan, where NATO heads an international force. Cetin -- his country's foreign minister from 1991-94 and parliament speaker from 1997-99 -- will work closely with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) on political aspects to NATO's work in the country. Cetin "will be crucial to the success of NATO's ISAF mission," said an Alliance statement, adding that Robertson "is confident that (Cetin) will make a solid contribution to that end." (Afp, 19.11)

NATO plans to launch a battalion next week to defend member states against weapons of mass destruction and turn attacks from potential catastrophes into manageable crisis, the alliance said. NATO will show off its new multinational battalion during a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels with a display of cutting-edge equipment, including soil-sampling kits, decontamination showers and chemical protection suits. (Reuters, 26.11)

Ameerika sõjalise abi taastamine toob NATO kandidaatriiki Eestisse 125 miljonit Eesti krooni. (Interfaks, 25.11)

USA administratsioon loodab, et Eesti jätkab Iraagi missiooni (Ria Novosti, 20.11)

Eesti rahuvalvajate missiooni Afganistanis pikendatakse. (Rosbalt.ru, 20.11)

Saksamaa ajakirjandus

Rahvusvaheline relvaüksus ISAF peaks tegutsema asuma ka väljaspool Kabuli, kuid NATO liikmesriigid pole selleks andnud piisavalt mehi, varustust ega lahingutehnikat. Samas muutub julgeolekupoliitiline olukord Afganistanis üha hullemaks. ELi välispoliitika volinik Chris Patten on rõhutanud, et nimetatud üksuse peamiseks ülesandeks võiks olla 2004. aastal toimuvate valimiste julgestamine. Teiseks ülesandeks peaks olema võitlus oopiumikaubandusega. Ilma rahvusvaheliste relvajõudude ning ELi rahalise toetuseta ei suuda Afganistani valitsus oma oopiumivastaseid seadusi täide viia. Kuna oopiumikaubandus on oluliseks elatusallikaks väga paljudele afgaanidele, peab EL toetama ka legaalsete töökohtade loomist. (Mariele Schlze Berndt, Die Welt, 18.11)

Britid armastavad küll võiduajamisi, kuid mõnikord on neil raskusi hobuste valikuga. Eriti siis, kui jutt on valikust NATO ning ELi kaitsepoliitika vahel. "Me ratsutame teataval määral mõlemal ratsul korraga", märkis SB Berliini saatkonnas toimunud väitlusel Briti VMi rahvusvahelise julgeolekupoliitika osakonna juht Edward Oaken. Aafrika oleks ilmselt see piirkond, kus brittide arvates võiks EL tegutseda täiesti iseseisvalt. Sellel mandril olevat NATO aktsioonid kõige ebatõenäolisemad. (Albrecht Meier, Der Tagesspiegel, 19.11)

Poliitika

Uudisteagentuurid

Estonia's ruling right-wing coalition collapsed as a junior party representing farmers pulled out in protest against plans to cut personal income taxes. The decision by the People's Union rocked the government as it was preparing for the final reading of the 2004 budget in parliament, depriving PM  Juhan Parts of a majority. "This came like a thunderstorm on a clear day," Parts said, adding: "The timing is awful as in six months we'll join the EU and NATO and only have one month left to adpot next year's budget." Villu Reiljan, farm minister and head of the People's Union, told a news conference he could not support the budget proposal as the planned tax cut would serve the rich. "We see a widening social gap every time we meet with common people and we do not agree with the fiscal changes and the framework of next year's budget," he said. PM Parts said he would try to secure support from opposition parties in parliament to pass the budget and keep preparations for NATO and EU membership on track, adding that he had already contacted the conservative Pro Patria party. The EU says Estonia is among the best prepared east European nations set to join the bloc in May next year. (Reuters, 17.11)

Estonia was teetering on the brink of a government crisis after PM Juhan Parts told junior coalition partner the People's Union that it had 24 hours to withdraw its protest against the government budget plan. The left-leaning People's Party triggered the crisis by its sudden announcement that it did not agree to the governments budget plan for next year, which includes a cut in the personal income tax and a controversial child birth benefit. The draft budget "will increase the social stratification" and does not correspond to public expectations, the People's Union said in its statement. "The reason for the crisis is that the left-wing People's Union started losing its voice in the otherwise right-wing, reform-oriented coalition," sociologist Juhan Kivirahk said. (Afp, 18.11)

Estonia's PM Juhan Parts, in a coalition crisis after a junior party pulled out of government, met an opposition party to try to shore up his governing alliance, party sources said. Parts met conservative the Pro Patria leader, and analysts say the party, which has seven deputies and would ensure a majority, is likely to help Parts remain in power, but only at a high price. "If the People's Union decides to quit, then Pro Patria is the number one candidate to replace them," a source from Parts's right-wing Res Publica said, adding no deal had been made yet. (Reuters, 18.11)

Estonia's PM Juhan Parts failed to win over a conservative opposition party as it struggled to regain a parliament majority after a junior partner pulled out over a planned tax cut. The conservative Pro Patria, which has seven deputies and would ensure a majority in parliament, declined to join Parts's right-wing Res Publica and the Reform Party after the People's Union pulled out during budget discussions. "We did not reach an agreement," Pro Patria spokesman Margus Tsahkna said after Parts met with Pro Patria leader Tunne Kelam. The controversial tax legislation was defeated in parliament as the People's Union and Pro Patria voted against, forcing the embattled government to take back its proposal for revision. (Reuters, 19.11)

Estonian PM Juhan Parts offered to compromise in a budget row in a bid to save his coalition government from collapse six months before EU and NATO membership. At a meeting with leaders of the Baltic country's three-party centre right government, Parts offered an olive branch to a dissenting junior coalition partner, giving the team two days to settle its differences, government spokeswoman Hanna Hinrikus said. (Afp, 20.11)

Estonia's government agreed to stay the course after days of tensions and prospects that the three-party coalition could collapse over disagreements on an income tax cut, the PM's spokeswoman annonced. "The partners decided that they will work on to preserve the coalition. There will be more negotiations to achieve results which will satisfy all the sides", spokeswoman Hanna Hinrikus said. Details of the government agreement were not immediately known. (Afp, 22.11)

Estonia's PM Juhan Parts coaxed a breakaway party to rejoin his coalition ending a political crisis that erupted five months before the tiny Baltic state enters the EU. Parts lost his majority in parliament when the People's Union walked out of the coalition over his tax cut plans. He said he had won the party back with an offer to completely overhaul an agreement governing the three-party alliance, ending fears of a prolonged political impasse in a country preparing to join the EU and NATO next year. "The coalition will continue," Parts said after clinching a deal between his Res Publica, People's Union and theReform Party. "We will now continue to work on a new cooperation agreement that will please all sides."  He did not say how it would affect his plans to cut the flat income tax rate to 24% from 26% next year. (Reuters, 22.11)

"The coalition will continue," Estonian PM Juhan Parts said after a meeting between his Res Publica, the Reform Party and the breakaway People's Union. "It is the best possible coalition in Estonia today," he said, adding that the reconciliation would ensure stability as the country prepares its return to mainstream Europe with membership in the two Western blocs. Parts's coalition hit a rock when the People's Union suddenly pulled out last week over a planned tax cut that had come under heavy fire, with many Estonians saying the government should focus more on social issues. (Reuters, 27.11)

Kolm Balti riiki kavatsevad tõstatada küsimuse kommunistliku režiimi hukkamõistmisest ELi tasemel.( Rosbalt.ru, 27.11)

Vene esindaja OSCE juures on mures inimõiguste olukorra pärast Lätis ja Eestis. (Ria Novosti, 21.11)

Venemaa peaministri sõnul ei saa Venemaa Eesti ja Läti mittekodanike olukorra suhtes silma kinni pigistada. (Interfaks, 17.11)

Venemaa peaministri Mihhail Kasjanovi kinnitusel loodab Venemaa lahendada probleemsed küsimused Eesti ja Lätiga kahepoolsetes suhetes ühiste jõupingutustega. (Ria Novosti, 17.11)

ELi kuuludes on Balti riikidel täita oluline roll Ukraina eurointegratsioonile kaasaaitamisel. (Interfaks, 28.11)

Eesti välisminister Kristiina Ojuland teatas, et Reformierakonna juhi Siim Kallase väide Venemaa-poolsest ohust on Kallase subjektiivne arvamusi. (Interfaks, 19.11)

Eesti peaministri Juhan Partsi sõnul on koalitsiooni lagunemise oht. (Interfaks, 17.11)

Rahvaliit on tulumaksumaksureformi läbiviimise vastu. (Interfaks, 19.11)

Rahvaliidu juhi Villu Reiljani arvates vajab Eesti uut koalitsiooni. (Interfax, 18.11)

Valitsuskriis Eestis: Rahvaliidu nõudmised rahuldati, koalitsioon jätkab tööd. (Regnum.ru 28.11)

Eesti ministrid kutsusid Eesti noori üles aktiivsemalt omandama Eesti kodakondsust. (Interfaks, 26.11)

Vene Kaasmaalaste Ühingute Liidu juhtkond kindlustab suure osavõtu Duuma valimistest (Regnum.ru,18.11)

Eesti, Vene ja Soome piirivalvurid arutavad Tallinnas koostööplaane 2004. aastaks. (Ria Novosti, 28.11)

Eesti tollitariifide süsteem on valmis uuteks EL nõudmisteks. (Rosbalt.ru, 18.11)

Eesti valitsus otsustas millised piiritulbad paigaldatakse Eesti-Vene piirile (Interfaks, 20.11)

Suurbritannia ajakirjandus

ELi eduraport liituvate maade kohta kiitis Eestit reformide teel püsimise eest, kuid hoiatas, et valitsus peab veel kõvasti töötama, et liitumiskriteeriume täita. EK kiirustas Eestit "otsekohesele tegutsemisele" tööseaduste läbivaatamisel ning meeste ja naiste vahelise võrdse kohtlemise tagamisel töö juures. Eesti välisministri Kristiina Ojulandi sõnul oli raport oma hinnangutes Eestile väga positiivne. Ta rõhutas, et "raporti sisu on meie jaoks väga oluline, kuna liikmesriikide hinnangute kujunemisel on Komisjoni arvamus olulise tähtsusega". (Financial Times, 26.11)

Baltimaade majandus kasvab kiiresti. IMF selleaastane raport nimetas neid "täiuslikuks näiteks väikestest avatud majandustest". Nende sisepoliitikad on segased, kuid adekvaatsed. Kaubavahetus ELi maadega domineerib majandust samapalju kui kunagi kauplemine teiste Nõukogude Liidu maadega. Rahanduskriis Rootsis paneks Eesti palju rohkem muretsema kui samasugune krahh Venemaal: Rootsi pangad kontrollivad suurt osa Eesti pangasüsteemist, lisaks on Rootsi Eesti suuruselt teine ekspordipartner pärast Soomet. Artikkel leiab, et vaatamata suurele vene vähemuse osakaalule Eestis ja Lätis on suhted venekeelse elanikkonna ja põlisrahva vahel mõlemas riigis üllatavalt rahumeelsed. Mittekodanike arv püsib suurena ning riigitu vähemuse olemasolu on Eesti ja Läti valitsuste poolt isegi mõnevõrra soositud. Kuna mittekodanikel puudub hääleõigus ning poliitiliste parteide puhul võib siiski rääkida mõningatest rahvuslikest joontest, on vene keelt rääkiva vähemuse võimetus kaasa rääkida tugevdanud "rahvuslike" joontega parteide ülekaalu. See on ehk omakorda kaasa toonud kiire majanduskasvu, kuid vene vähemuse soositavad parteid oleks ehk suuremat tähelepanu pööranud sotsiaalsetele probleemidele. (The Economist, 20.11)

Saksamaa ajakirjandus

Partsi valitsus näitab põhiseadusliku leppe osas üles kompromissivalmidust. "Pole ühtegi küsimust, mida ei võiks arutada", sõnas Parts usutluses ajalehele. Eesti polevat sugugi ELi presidendi institutsiooni vastu. Samas tuleks selgemini paika panna, millised on tema funktsioonid ja roll. Partsi nägemuse kohaselt vajab Euroopa tugevat EKd, selleks peab iga maa olema esindatud. Parts kaitses oma maksude alandamise programmi teistest riikidest tuleva kriitika eest: "Me peame tulumaksu alandama, et konkurentsis püsida. /.../ Me vajame suuremat majanduskasvu, siis saame ka rohkem ELi ühiskassasse maksta".  Ka sotsiaalküsimustes on Eestil oma arvamus. (Claudia von Salzen, Der Tagesspiegel, 25.11)

Prantsusmaa ajakirjandus

Kümme aastat tagasi unistasid Rootsi ja Soome Eestist, mis nende endiga sarnaneks. Kuid need kaks riiki pidid kiiresti pettuma. Eesti mitte ainult ei keeldunud sõjalisest neutraalsusest vaid pööras selja oma põhjanaabrite eestkostele. Järgmisest kevadest saab Eesti ning teised Balti riigid ELi liikmeteks. Peale iseseisvumist 1990-ndatel aastatel võtsid Põhjamaad Balti riigid oma tiiva alla. Balti riigid kaastati Põhjamaade ministrite nõukogu töösse. Algselt vaatlejaliikmetena, hiljem veelgi ametlikumal viisil. Kuid täisliikmestaatuse takistuseks ei saanud veidral moel mitte majanduslik orientatsioon või elatustase vaid pigem nende keel. Kui praegused viis liiget saavad üksteisest aru, siis uut liikmete kaasamisel oleks nõukogu töökeeleks pidanud saama inglise keel ning see oleks muutnud seda unikaalset koostööviisi, mis põhines ühisel kultuuril. Nii Soome kui Rootsi võtsid enda hõlma alla Eesti ning lootsid, et viimane loobub oma "ebarealistlikust unistusest" saada NATO liikmeks ja keskendub selle asemel pigem kiirele ELi liikmestaatuse taotlemisele. Kaks riiki lubasid Eestit igati aidata kiirel ELi liikmeks saamisel. Sellel aktiivsusel olid aga sootuks vastupidised tagajärjed ning tänaseks on kolm Balti riiki saamas NATO liikmeteks ning Soomel ja Rootsil tuleb uue olukorraga kohaneda. (Erkki Pennanen, Courier International, 27.11-3-12)

Rootsi ajakirjandus

Eesti suursaadik Rootsis Toomas Tiivel külastas 17. novembril Karlskronas Eesti aukonsul Lars Wernerit. Suursaadik ütles, et tahab õppida tundma ja luua kontakte erinevate Rootsi regioonidega. Antud visiidi eesmärk oli Tiiveli sõnul arendada suhteid Eesti ja Sydöstsverige piirkonna vahel. Tiivel külastas ka kohalikus sõjaväebaasis õppivaid Eesti kadette. Vahetusõpilaste mõte pole vaid treenida sõjaväelasi, vaid paljuski ka parendada riikidevahelist mõistmist. Suursaadik Tiivel avaldas kahetsust, et Eestit kajastatakse Rootsi ajakirjanduses negatiivse varjundiga, rõhudes suures osas kuritegevusele. (Sydöstran, 18.11)

Soome ajakirjandus

Artikkel Rahvaliidu põhjustatud valitsuskriisist Eestis. Rahvaliit nõudis maksusüsteemi uuenduse edasilükkamist ja vanemapalga ülempiiri langetamist, et jaotada raha ühtlasemalt eri aladele. Kui Isamaa tuleb valitsusse, sünnib Eestis selge parem-vasak rinne. (Kaja Kunnas, Helsingin Sanomat, 18.11)

Juhan Partsi valitsusel on rasked ajad. Eestis on toimunud erakordselt palju meelevaldusi pool aastat tagasi uustulnukana parlamenti tulnud protestierakonna Res Publica valitsuse vastu. Rahvaliit on valitsuse vastu protesteerides aga jäänud sisuliselt opositsioonierakondade ritta, olles ka kaotanud paljude valijate toetuse ELiga ühinemise pooldamise tõttu. Koosmeele valitsuse eesmärgid on olnud vastuolulised – tulumaksu langetamine ja samal ajal õpetajate palkade tõstmine. Ministrid on komistanud kogenematuse tõttu, paljud on alles poliitikasse astunud. (Kaja Kunnas, Helsingin Sanomat, 18.11)

Eesti on valitsuskriisis. Valitsuse vastupidavuses kaheldi juba kevadel valitsuse moodustamise ajal. Rahvaliit on rõhutanud sotsiaalseid küsimusi valitsuspartnerite “kõvade” väärtuste kõrval. Rahvaliit koosneb vanadest raskekaallastest, Res Publica rivides tuli parlamenti aga rekordarv uusi tegijaid. (Leena Hietanen, Turun Sanomat, 18.11)

Eesti president Arnold Rüütel ütles Jyväskylät külastades, et Eesti valitsuskriisi puhul on tegemist vanade vastuoludega, mis tipnevad nüüd eelarvearuteludel. Rüütel möönis, et Eestis on suured erinevused arengutasemetes. Välismaised investorid on toonud jõukust Tallinna piirkonda, alles viimasel ajal on investeeritud ka teistesse piirkondadesse. (Turun Sanomat, 18.11)

Eesti valitsuskriisi põhjuseks on kaks vastandlikku nägemust, kuidas Eestist teha heaoluriik. Liberaalid leiavad, et parim viis on madaldada makse, tõstmaks majanduskasvu. Madala sissetulekuga maarahva esindaja Rahvaliit leiab aga, et see kindlustab vaid niigi heal järjel olevatele veelgi paremad tingimused. Valitsuskoostöö seisukohalt on kriisi hetk kõige ebasobivam, kuna eelarve menetlemine on juba otsustavas faasis ning ELi ja NATOga ühinemised on ainult poole aasta kaugusel. Rahvaliit on endine kommunistlik erakond kogenud poliitikutega, mistõttu võib arvata, et erakonna eesmärk on “lüpsta” valitsuspartneritelt mööndusi. Partei pole viimasel ajal valitsuses suutnud mõju avaldada, ning ka valijate toetus on langenud. (Juhtkiri, Turun Sanomat, 19.11)

Ootamatu valitsuskriis näitab Eesti poliitiliste olude ebastabiilsusest, mis võib jätkuda veel kaua. Väikseim valitsuserakond hakkas esitama nõudmisi, teised kaks ei nõustunud, ning kriis oligi valmis. Olenemata edasistest arengutest on peaminister Partsi positsioon nõrgenenud. Võib tekkida parem-vasak vastandumine. Valitsuse ja opositsiooni vahelised jagelemised kuuluvad poliitika juurde, kuid probleemiks on Partsi ja ta erakonna poliitiline kogenematus. Valitsus on küll õnnestunud ELi ja NATO asjus ja sellega võrreldes on sisepoliitika teisejärguline, kuid samas mitte tähtsusetu. (Juhtkiri, Kaleva, 19.11)

Eesti parlament hääletas kolmapäeval valitsuse maksu-uuenduse ettepaneku vastu. Valitsuse kava on äratanud tähelepanu ka väljaspool Eestit – Rootsi peaminister Göran Persson kritiseeris peaminister Partsi maksude alandamise tõttu, Suurbritannia peaminister Tony Blair aga astus Partsi poolele, avaldades ühise artikli Financial Timesis. Rahva arvamus näib kalduvat Eestis pigem Perssoni kui Blairi poole. Debatt sotsiaalsest õiglusest on endiselt terav. Res Publica ja Reformierakonna lähim aatekaaslane Isamaaliit nõuab nüüd samuti maksu-uuenduse edasilükkamist ja raha ühtlasemat jaotust. (Kaja Kunnas, Helsingin Sanomat, 20.11)

Majandus

Uudisteagentuurid

Eesti ja India kavatsevad arendada majandus- ja kultuurisidemeid. (Rosbalt.ru, 19.11)

Uudisteagentuurid

The thinly-populated Baltic state of Estonia is literally fighting for its survival as a low birthrate raises the prospect of extinction. Although the country of 1.4 million raced ahead economically after restoring independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, today, five months from EU membership, its leaders say the success could be short-lived unless Estonians start to have babies. "In Estonia, importance has so far been attached primarily to economic progress. And indeed, we gained a strong impetus, which gave us the image of a successful country," a worried President Arnold Rüütel said. "Estonia already for years has tried to offer bold and innovative solutions. Now we are in a situation where we need this very same approach in order to ensure the survival of our people as a nation," he said. (Afp, 30.11)

The tentacular spread of HIV in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet bloc is placing the region's post- Soviet-era generation at terrifying risk, according to the latest UN report on the world's AIDS crisis. From Estonia to Kazakhstan, unsafe sex and rampant use of heroin and other intravenous drugs are exposing teenagers and young adults to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the virus that causes it, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNAIDS said. "The AIDS epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia shows no signs of abating," they warned in their annual update. Some 230,000 people in this region were infected with HIV in 2003, bringing the total number of people living with the virus or full-blown AIDS to 1.5 million, according to their estimate. (Afp, 25.11)

A late Meelis Rooba goal earned Estonia a 1-0 win over Hungary in first international meeting between the two countries since before World War Two. The only goal of the friendly came in the 87th minute, when substitute midfielder Rooba picked up a loose ball in the penalty area and crashed it into the net from eight metres out. It was in the main a dull and uneventful affair with Hungary having the better of the play but unable to make the most of their chances. Estonia's Torpedo Moscow striker Andres Oper blew a great goalscoring opportunity in the 52nd minute, shooting over the bar from close range. Representative teams from the two countries had met twice previously in 1934 and 1938. (Reuters, 19.11)

Eestis ikkagi avati mälestusmärk sõduritele, kes võitlesid natsi Saksamaa poolel. (Interfaks, 22.11)

Eestis tähistatakse laialdaselt vene poeedi Tjutševi 200. sünniaastapäeva. (Rosbalt.ru,18.11)

USA ajakirjandus

Artikkel "uue" ja "vana Euroopa" ühinemisel tekkivatest probleemidest. Esile tõstetakse, et Ida ja Kesk-Euroopa maades on korruptsioon suureks probleemiks. Samas kiidetakse Eestit sõnadega, et "Eesti nagu ka Sloveenia on end näidanud vähem korrumpeerunutena kui ELi liikmesriigid Itaalia ja Kreeka, mis omakorda annab märku sellest, et "vanal Euroopal" on endal veel pikk tee käia." (Mikolos Marshall, The Wall Street Journal, 27.11)

Suurbritannia ajakirjandus

Ajaleht The Times toob ära, et Šoti Rahvapartei (Scottish National Party) on kivistamas suhteid Eestiga. Ühel natsionalistide esindajal Kenny MacAskillil olevat Tallinnas korter ning ühtlasi olevat ta teinud investeeringu kohvikusse "Café Havana". Nüüd on aga teine partei väärikas esindaja Iain Lawson saamas Eesti aukonsuliks Šotimaal. (The Times, 23.11)

Rootsi ajakirjandus

Kas Tallinn on Põhjala vingeim linn? See küsimus tõstatab vastuküsimuse: “Kust lõpeb Põhjala ja algab Ida-Euroopa?” Palehigis identiteeti otsiv Eesti annab endast kõik, et oma ühtekuuluvust Põhjalaga esile tõsta. Eestlased leiavad põhjendusi enamasti ajaloost – ajast, mil Põhjala asus lihtsalt muust Euroopast põhja pool, ilma viideteta itta või läände kuulumise kohta. Skandinaavlaste osakaal Tallinna rahavastikust on olnud läbi aegade märkimisväärne, ja eestlastel on õigus väites, et kui Stockholmi, Visbyt või Viiburit võib hansakaupmeeste mõjuvõimust hoolimata pidada Põhjala linnadeks, kehtib sama ka Tallinna kohta. Rootslaste jaoks seostub aga Eestiga betoonist magalarajoonid, vene maffia, prostitutsioon ja smugeldamine (parim näide sellest film “Lilja 4-ever”), ning venekeelsed vabrikutöölised – seega kõik mis on Põhjalast meeletult kaugel. Kaasajast peab tõdema, et kuigi Eesti taasiseseisvumine sai teoks paljuski üksnes tänu Saksamaa abile, on Eesti omariikluse ülesehitamisel joondunud just Põhjala riikidest, eriti Soomest ja Rootsist. Infotehnoloogia tähtsustamine e-valitsuse näol on näide avatuse põhimõttest Eesti ühiskonnas ja see annab lootust, et Eestis võivad põhjamaised väärtused juurduda. Eesti väited kuulumisest Põhjalasse sunnivad meid seda mõistet uuesti läbi mõtlema, võibolla isegi muutma. Seega võib ka “mitte-euroopalik” Türgi ühel heal päeval euroopalikuks osutuda. ( (Per Högselius, Svenska Dagbladet, 20.11)

Soome ajakirjandus

Tartu Ülikoolis muutub soome keele õppimine üha populaarsemaks. Siiski ei ole eestlased oluliselt huvitatud Soome tööturust. (Jussi Niemeläinen, Helsingin Sanomat, 17.11)

Soomlased on harjunud, et eestlased oskavad soome keelt, tegelikult aga enamikule eestlastest on soome keel võõras. Varem hea keeleoskuse põhjuseks oli Põhja-Eestis nähtav Soome televisioon, nüüd vaadatakse aga rohkem muid kanaleid. Soome keele õppimine on Eestis jälle hoogustumas, nüüd aga õpitakse selgete eesmärkidega. Ka venekeelsed elanikud on hakanud soome keelt õppima. Soomlaste teadmised Eesti kohta on suurenenud märgatavalt peale Eesti iseseisvumist ning ka eesti keelt osatakse rohkem. (Jussi Niemeläinen, Helsingin Sanomat, 17.11)

Soomes kardetakse, et illegaalne alkoholimüük levib peale Eesti ühinemist ELiga. Viina tänavamüügiks on juba üle Soome olemas kuritegevuslikud ketid. (Turun Sanomat, 17.11)

Eesti õlletootjad arvavad, et paljud soome tootjad kolivad järgmisel aastal Eestisse. Saku õlletehase turundusjuht Karin Sepp usub, et Sinebrychoff on huvitatud tootmise alustamisest Eestis. A. Le Coqi haldusjuht Tarmo Noop ennustab, et väikebussiga liikuvatest soome õlleturistidest saab Eestis uus majandusharu. (Leena Hietanen, Turun Sanomat, 21.11)

Eesti on uuringute kohaselt Euroopas viiendal kohal alkoholi tarbimises. Põhjused on paljuski sotsiaalsed. ( Turun Sanomat, 21.11)

Tartu ja Tampere gümnaasiumiõpilasi küsitleti nende elukommete kohta. Selgub, et soome ja eesti noorte argipäevad on üpris sarnased. Olukord peredes, vanemate tööolud ja vanemaks olemise tavad on märkimisväärselt samasugused. Ka erinevusi on – Tartu noored põevad vähem astmat ja allergilist nohu, samas suitsetatakse rohkem ja magatakse halvemini kui soome noored. Ka meeleoluprobleemid on Tartus levinumad. (Jussi Niemeläinen, Helsingin Sanomat, 27.11)