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Blair’s battle for the European Presidency

Before telling the other news, I want to start with Tony Blair’s battle. Europe is still looking for a president of a post-Lisbon Treaty European Council, and Tony Blair, the former British Prime Minister, is the front-runner for the job. However, several countries are against him, such as France and Italy. Yes, a lot of European ministers don’t want  Blair as EU’s President, because of  his support to the war in Iraq, his absence from the Eurozone and Schengen agreement.  At the moment, ministers are looking to alternative candidates, but campaigning for this post cannot really start until the Czech president puts his name to the Lisbon Treaty.

EU’s digital bookshop

The EU has launched its online digital library of official documents issued in the last 50 years. The EU’s so-called digital bookshop puts more than 12 million scanned pages online. They can be downloaded for free by anyone interested. The oldest document is a 1952 speech by Jean Monnet which inaugurated the High Authority of the Coal and Steel Community, which later became the EU.

No happy hour in Catalonia

We know that the region of Catalonia, in the North of Spain (where there is Barcelona), is really famous for its parties and of course for drinking. Now, people will rethink their holidays because of a new crackdown on budget alcohol. Catalonia has banned alcohol promotions during happy hours to reduce excessive drinking among young people. So, offering two drinks for the price of one will be banned. That is not a good news for those who drink properly, but a good news for the excessive drinkers and of course for the police. Because, mainly arrests are due to “behaviour caused by excessive drinking.

Champagne for Serbian President

It is not only young people who get alcohol problems, but even Presidents! Actually, the Serbian President Boris Tadic is facing charges for drinking champagne at a football stadium, where he was celebrating Serbia’s qualification for the 2010 World Cup. The consumption or possession of alcohol is forbidden at Serbia’s sports venues in order to prevent violence. The President and his officials are going to pay each a fine of around 800 euros.

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