Politics of Europe

European Commission hits back at German criticism

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:31:05 +0000

Agence France-Presse

A European Commission official on Friday condemned as "incomprehensible ... and even dangerous" criticism by Germany's finance minister that Brussels reacts too slowly to European problems such as youth unemployment.

Speaking in Berlin on condition of anonymity, the official voiced great surprise over the "annoying" remarks by Wolfgang Schaeuble a day earlier.

"And it may even be dangerous if it's interpreted as if Germany was parting from the common path" already decided by European partners, the official warned.

Berlusconi alleged call-girl testifies for first time

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:46:17 +0000

Agence France-Presse

The woman alleged to have had sex for money with Silvio Berlusconi when she was just 17 and he was the prime minister testified in court for the first time on Friday at a trial of three people accused of pimping for the billionaire tycoon.

Karima El-Mahroug described "sensual" soirees in a discotheque at Berlusconi's villa that invitees called the "bunga bunga", saying she was paid 2,000 or 3,000 euros ($2,600 or $3,900) a night.

Moroccan woman at centre of Berlusconi sex scandal testifies publicly for first time

The Canadian Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 09:46:21 +0000

The Canadian Press

MILAN - The Moroccan woman at the centre of a sex scandal involving former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is testifying publicly for the first time.

Karima el-Mahroug took the witness stand Friday in the trial of three Berlusconi aides charged with recruiting her and other women for prostitution. They deny the charges.

El-Mahroug, known by the nickname Ruby Heart Stealer, has made carefully orchestrated statements to the media since the scandal broke but has never publicly given sworn testimony. Both she and Berlusconi deny having had sex.

Anti-immigration leader comes under fire on Scottish trip

Agence France-Presse — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:16:17 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP) had to be rescued from a Scottish pub by police in a riot van after protesters disrupted his press conference on Thursday.

He sought sanctuary in a pub in Edinburgh's historic central street, the Royal Mile, after being accosted by protesters chanting "scum, scum, scum".

Farage was in the Scottish capital to launch his party's campaign north of the border as he looks to build on the party's growing popularity in England.

Britain moves closer to EU referendum law

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:31:17 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Britain moved closer to a referendum on Europe after a eurosceptic lawmaker said on Thursday that he would put forward legislation backed by Prime Minister David Cameron guaranteeing a vote by 2017.

Cameron ordered all Conservative lawmakers to give their full backing to the bill, which the party rushed out earlier this week in a bid to satisfy the increasingly rebellious eurosceptic wing of the party.

UK's Cameron dealt bloody nose in EU vote

Agence France-Presse — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:00:21 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Prime Minister David Cameron has suffered a fresh blow to his authority with around a third of his own party's lawmakers voting against his policy on offering a referendum on Britain's European Union membership.

The lower house of parliament on Wednesday rejected a motion introduced by MPs from Cameron's Conservative party expressing regret that the coalition government's plans for the year contain no guarantee of a referendum.

France must present credible reform plan: EU's Barroso

Thomson Reuters — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:31:32 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Ingrid Melander

PARIS (Reuters) - European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday France needed to present a credible program of structural economic reforms if the EU is to grant it two more years to bring its budget deficit down as promised.

Barroso, who was due to meet French President Francois Hollande in Brussels later in the day, was speaking as new data showed Europe's second largest economy slipped into a shallow recession.

Italian prosecutors sum up in Berlusconi sex trial

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:05:59 +0000

Agence France-Presse

Italian prosecutors presented their final arguments on Monday at the close of Silvio Berlusconi's trial for having sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of office in a legal storm that is shaking the government.

The hearing is one of the last in a trial that began two years ago and relates to alleged crimes in 2010 when Berlusconi was still prime minister and revolves around alleged raunchy "bunga bunga" parties at his luxury residence outside Milan.

Italy PM Letta seeks to calm cabinet tensions at Tuscan retreat

Thomson Reuters — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:15:41 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Silvia Ognibene

SARTEANO, Italy (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta took his ministers to a conference center in a former abbey in Tuscany for a retreat on Sunday to thrash out differences that have already threatened the stability of his fragile coalition.

The two-day bonding session near the town of Sarteano was billed by Letta's office as a chance to discuss some of the thorniest policy issues facing the coalition between the main traditional rivals on the left and right of Italian politics.

British PM Cameron moves to quell party revolt over Europe

Thomson Reuters — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:16:21 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Andrew Osborn

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron moved to end a damaging revolt over European Union membership in his ruling Conservative party on Monday, saying his ministers all backed him on the issue even though two had expressed more skeptical views than his own.

Prosecutor seeks 6-year jail term for Berlusconi in sex trial

Thomson Reuters — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:15:29 +0000

Thomson Reuters

MILAN (Reuters) - An Italian prosecutor is seeking a six-year jail sentence for former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for allegedly having sex with an underage nightclub dancer during notorious 'bunga bunga' parties at his villa outside Milan.

The prosecutor also asked for a lifetime ban on holding public office.

The 76-year-old billionaire media tycoon and center-right political leader stands accused of having had sex with Karima El Maroug, better known by her stage name 'Ruby the Heartstealer', when she was a minor.

Two decades of courtroom saga for Italy's Berlusconi

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:06:07 +0000

Agence France-Presse

For two decades, legal troubles have haunted Italy's former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, whose conviction for tax fraud linked to his Mediaset business empire was upheld on Wednesday.

Berlusconi has never seen the inside of a prison cell, however, showing a knack for getting off the hook and prolonging trials so long that charges eventually expire under the statute of limitations.

It is unlikely the 76-year-old will ever go to prison since Italy has lenient sentencing guidelines for over-70s, who are given short prison terms.

Italian court upholds Berlusconi tax fraud sentence

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:05:37 +0000

Agence France-Presse

An Italian court on Wednesday upheld a tax fraud conviction for former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, confirming his sentence of one year in prison and a five-year ban from public office.

"The court confirms the sentence against Silvio Berlusconi," a judge in Milan said in a live audio feed broadcast by news channel Sky TG 24.

Berlusconi is now expected to appeal the ruling in Italy's highest court, which would suspend the punishment pending a final ruling in the case which revolves around his Mediaset business empire.

World Jewish leaders urge crackdown on far-right

Thomson Reuters — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:46:48 +0000

Thomson Reuters

By Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - The World Jewish Congress urged Hungary on Tuesday to crack down on the far-right Jobbik party and called on governments in Europe to consider banning neo-Nazi parties threatening democracy and minority rights.

The WJC plenary assembly, held in the Hungarian capital rather than Jerusalem to highlight rising anti-Semitism in Hungary, passed a resolution saying Budapest must recognize that Jobbik poses "a fundamental threat to Hungary's democracy.

Italian prosecutors sum up in Berlusconi sex trial

Agence France-Presse — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:15:18 +0000

Agence France-Presse