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France

Exploiting unpaid interns: rites of passage?

In front | FEATURE
Generation-P in Europe also counts 'Generazione Mille Euro' in Italie (photo:www.generazione1000.com)

Associations like Generation Precarity or Fairwork expose an exploited flexible labour force with intermittent incomes and no job security

by Farah Boucherak // 28/04/08

INTERVIEW
(Photo: Elisa Marengo)

Roger Woolger: 'it's not psychosis'

The British psychotherapist from Sussex, 63, brings together Jung theory and eastern philosophy in his 'deep memory process'. His theory on reincarnation: our past lives help us resolve our present neuroses

by Elisa Marengo // 25/04/08

AGENDA
©Hooverphonic

Music: Portishead, Hooverphonic and the Lo Fat Orchestra

Where do these bands get their names from? We sweep the UK, Belgium, Switzerland and France for our monthly music pick this April

by Sandra Wickert // 23/04/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Broke joes

by Katharina Kloss // 23/04/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Bun in the oven

by Jane Mery // 16/04/08

FEATURE
Big boys can play too (Photo: captKodak/ Flickr)

4x4s: urban penis substitutes

As night falls across cities in Europe, including here in Lyon, 'eco-guerillas' deflate four-wheeler car tyres in a revolt against a lifestyle which they find scandalous

by Marie Signoret // 16/04/08

ANALYSIS

Bike traffic: return of the scorchers

Environmentally conscious cyclists regularly battle errant cars in European cities

by Chris // 15/04/08

Videos: Barroso and Mamère are ecologically challenged

Two of Europe’s politicians talk ‘global solutions, global problems’ but sometime forget to put their words into action

by Jane Mery // 15/04/08

FEATURE

Olympic games: Europe up in arms over Tibet

A huge victory for some, enormous disappointment for others. For the first ever time, the Olympic torch has been extinguished under mass pressure, as Europe makes itself heard

by Olivier Lopez // 10/04/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Gesundheit

by anke wagner-wolff // 10/04/08

AGENDA

Go out in April: Uppsala, nerds and witches

Enjoy the year's first rays at Walpurgis night in Sweden, a vintage computer festival in Munich or the spring festival in Seville

by Karsten Marhold // 09/04/08

MULTIMEDIA

Videos: Putin, Sarkozy, Blair and Schröder

Putin pouts, schnip schnap Schröder, Blair sings and Sarkozy and opposition leader Ségolène snuggle

by Tomáš Ruta // 05/04/08

FOCUS

Go, women architects

Female architects are suffering from social historical invisibility. Creating more gender-based networks can raise awareness about gender inequality and social recognition

by Alma López Figueiras // 02/04/08

FEATURE
(Photo: La Demeure du Chaos © Thierry Ehrmann)

Thierry Uhrman versus the chic Lyon suburb

Controversy erupts as an artist turns his residence into an ‘Abode of Chaos’, with heaps of scrap metal and works of art

by Abdelwahid Djaballah // 02/04/08

PANORAMA

British, Italian and German architects give Europe a face

Openness, transparency, efficiency: which buildings need a democracy? We span the European parliament, palace, court of human rights and Central Bank

by Anna Karla // 01/04/08

FEATURE

Paris: squats in Europe's second most expensive city

Amidst an explosion of rental prices, the Macaq organisation squats unoccupied buildings to bring the lack of student housing into the public eye

by Farah Boucherak // 01/04/08

Teen rock bands: the Tokio Hotel phenomenon

Young, extremely successful - and extremely annoying for some. Why are teen bands like Estonia's 'The Bedwetters' and Denmark's 'Dúné' storming the charts across Europe?

by Yvonne Pöppelbaum // 28/03/08

REVIEW
(Photos: ukemi_42/ Xavier Häpe/ Flickr)

Babelblogs: Macedonia, cloning and praying in Berlin

Europe is often seen as boring and bureaucratic - not the case with cafebabel.com’s community blogs. European debate is in full swing, bloggers are up in arms and words are flying

by Jean-Sébastien Lefebvre // 28/03/08

ANALYSIS

Prices are rising: blame the euro?

Deep at the heart of the political debate the euro is often held responsible. Life is more expensive, but whose fault is it?

by Aurélien Bordet // 25/03/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Hooking people up since 1483

by Nele Yang // 19/03/08

Call him Darkel (Photo: Daniel Gutiérrez Acuña)

Jean-Benoît Dunckel: 'the English are a hard audience to win over'

Ten years since the release of Air's first album 'Moon Safari', one half of the French duo, 38, talks Czech audiences, being a vanguard of the European electronic scene and why Air are not like Radiohead

by Fernando G. Acuña & Irene Andreu Carrera // 15/03/08

ANALYSIS

Europe dominates election agenda in Strasbourg

The municipal elections in Alsace are neither local nor national. The debate is entirely European as both candidates outline their vision for a town propelled as capital of the old continent

by Vincent Lebrou et Léna Morel // 14/03/08

FREEZE! by the Eiffel Tower in Paris

On 8 March 2008, 3, 000 people suddenly stopped dead in their tracks and froze like statues at the Trocadero Square 'because we usually spend all day long running around like lunatics'

by Jane Mery // 14/03/08

NEWS
Geert Wilders (Photo: ANS Online/ Flickr)

An Oscar for Geert Wilders please

'Fitna' the film means evil, European parliament has a fake birthday and ousted gay Iranians - it's your latest news from Brussels

by Pim de Kuijer // 14/03/08

AGENDA

'Europe's Sundance festival'

Culture crosses borders in Europe this March, as Spain visits Nantes, the Balkans accept a second invitation to Brussels and Irish beer takes over the continent

by Katharina Kloss // 12/03/08

AGENDA

British band The Cure are back

Plus charming French-Finnish duo 'The Duo', a tasty Swedish morsel of Jens Lekman, chic Danes 'The Fashion' and slightly unusual Italians Avvolte Kristheda - the best bands in March

by Sandra Wickert // 12/03/08

FOCUS
Didn't you know that feminism is still trendy (Photo: Gaelx/Flickr)

Women's Day, a European clause

Uniforming the laws concerning the rights of women in the EU from the top down is an exciting idea and a necessity that is gaining support from militants all across the EU

by Jane Mery // 07/03/08

INVESTIGATION
Babysitter, for better or worse (Photo: bekah2067/ Flickr)

Au pair Alices in washing up land

It’s an enticing experience which draws many young people abroad – but the catch lies hidden behind closed doors

by Elisa Marengo // 06/03/08

PICTURES

Photos: Europe sprays ideas

From Madrid to Bucharest, Europe's streets of art are bursting with creativity and new talents

by Cédric Audinot // 05/03/08

MULTIMEDIA

Videos: Zapatero, Sarkozy, Berlusconi and Aznar get their tongues out

It’s pure logic - EU politicians should be able to speak several languages without problems, right? The truth is a bit worse

by Eduardo S. Garcés // 05/03/08

FOCUS
Yellow smile (Photo: ©lesplacards/ Flickr)

Mister Cat graffiti: from Paris to Sarajevo

The Mister Cat phenomenon falls somewhere between anonymous marketing and ‘involuntary communication’. Spotted on rooftops from Geneva to New York, the feline seduced passers-by before moving on to museums

by Prune Antoine // 04/03/08

FOCUS
Anne Hidalgo in Paris (cafebabel.com)

Spain votes on 9 March, and not just in Spain

Both Spanish and French voters go to the polls to vote in their legislative and municipal elections this month

by Fernando Navarro Sordo // 03/03/08

PICTURES

Strasbourg is bikes

With the inauguration of the TGV to Strasbourg, the city is staking its claim for modernity and the environment. The bicycle rules in this city that wants to overtake Fribourg as model of sustainable growth

by Eneko Ilarramendi // 27/02/08

REPORT
A more international education for today's pupils (Photo: guervo/ Flickr)

European School in Strasbourg

The first European school in the Alsatian capital opens in September 2008. Concerns arise that it will undermine the international sections of existing schools and how it will relate to the EU

by Jeremy Cliffe // 27/02/08

DEBATE
Cecilia Malmstrom, former Swedish MEP and current minister of foreign affairs in Sweden (Photo: www.cecilia.nu)

A European senate in Strasbourg?

Controversy surrounding the European parliament’s use of two seats (Brussels and Strasbourg) has given new life to the debate on federalism. There are good reasons for the parliament to remain permanently in Brussels, and plenty of other options for the capital of Alsace

by Fernando Navarro Sordo // 27/02/08

ANALYSIS
The name 'Strasbourg' comes from the German 'city of streets' (Photo: Fr Antunes/ Flickr)

The language of the republic is French

Alsace and Moselle’s bilingualism has just weathered a political storm. From now on, electoral documents will have to be written only in French. Yet, the German language has opened a window of opportunity in Europe. Debate

by Léna Morel // 27/02/08

FEATURE
Matjaž Gruden sits in his office at the Council of Europe (Photo: Enno Dummer)

Remember, the Council of Europe is not part of the EU

The Strasbourg-based organisation defends human rights in Europe and needs to combat its dwindling visibility

by Enno Dummer // 27/02/08

ANALYSIS
Andrejs Pielbags (Photo: European commission)

Energy in Europe: France and Germany protest

Producing and transporting energy; the commission has adopted a ‘package’ of measures to control the EU market’s share of gas and electricity. But eight member states, including France and Germany, are opposed

by Cécile Musialski // 22/02/08

INTERVIEW

Yannick Haenel: 'Berlin symbolically incarnates all the horror of the preceding century'

In his award-winning novel 'Circle', the professor from Rennes and 'Ulysses of the 21st century', 40, takes the reader on a European road-trip from Paris to Berlin

by Nathalie Six // 22/02/08

REPORT
Erasmus will get you a job! (Photo: blondavenger/ Flickr)

Paris-Japan-Dublin with Erasmus

One voice amidst the 100, 000+ other Socrates students who traverse Europe and its borders

by Angela Steen // 19/02/08

(Photo: Fr@çois/ Flickr)

Société Générale: a great French bank

Liberalism drenched in Nicolas Sarkozy’s nationalism disconcerts his EU partners, whilst an increase in capital for the French bank is bound to fend off potential European public price offerings

by Fernando Navarro Sordo // 16/02/08

ANALYSIS

Football: fans take over in UK, France and Germany

Faced with Russian oligarchs or American magnates buying out their clubs, some supporters are trying the same tactic out of sheer desperation

by Vincent Lebrou // 08/02/08

PICTURES

Photos: living on the street in Paris

The homeless and immigrants - those select few that Parisians would perhaps rather not see, at least at Christmas time. Neither indifference nor presidential words will make this 'problem' disappear

by Jorge Alexandre Pereira // 06/02/08

FEATURE
Is smoking sexy? (Photo: Prcelgrl°/ Flickr)

No more smoking in Paris' bistros

On 1 January 2008, France followed Italy, Ireland, Great Britain and Spain by passing a law against smoking in public places. We went to see how things are coming along on the other side of the Alps. A report from the City of Lights

by Elisa Marengo // 06/02/08

(Photo: MP)

Paris suburbs: 'place of exile'

'Banlieue' is the colloquial reversal of 'lieu du ban', literally, 'place of exile'. In the French suburbs, out of work labourers are holed up in prison-style buildings, along with their children, to whom they pass on their despair

by Marta Palacín Mejías // 06/02/08

INTERVIEW
Thierry Hochart, Contact (Photo: Archiwum TH)

Paris: city of (hetero) love

After European capitals London, Berlin and Amsterdam, Paris has the fourth biggest gay community. 700, 000 people participated in its 2007 gay parade. But life for gays and lesbians in the French capital is not exactly as rosy as the colour pink

by Natalia Sosin // 06/02/08

FEATURE
Forget about a room with a view in Paris (Photo: Maarten (Superchango)/ Flickr)

Homeless in Paris

High rents, fierce competition - just a couple of difficulties that 100, 000 people in Paris face when looking for accommodation

by Kadri Kukk // 05/02/08

Meet Marzena Sowa and partner Sylvain Savoia, Marzi's creators (Photo: Sylvain Savoia)

Marzena Sowa: 'in communist Poland I'd dream about getting a Barbie from Pewex'

At 28, the author of comic series 'Marzi' – about a little girl living in the Polish People’s Republic - on her own story as a Pole between France and Belgium

by Aleksandra Szukiewicz // 04/02/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Losers weepers

by Philippe-Alexandre Saulnier // 30/01/08

ANALYSIS
Feminist slogans during a protest in Paris (Photo: DR/ Jean-Claude Seine)

Feminism in France: the Rose Revolution

May 1968 was a turning point in world history, but it was also a rupture for women's history. Feminists of yesterday and today tell us about their war

by Mathilde Magnier // 23/01/08

ANALYSIS
May 1968 poster

Situationism: ideas in conflict

Rue de Seine, Paris 1952. ‘Never work’ is chalked on a wall. Two words about the philosophy of the 'Situationists' who transformed May 1968 and who still inspire activists today

by Fabien Champion // 23/01/08

ANALYSIS

May 2008? Young people in France get involved

In France, the fortieth anniversary of the May 1968 student revolts is fast approaching. Like it or not, the memory of this working class uprising is ever-present. The young people of France take the lead in their own style

by Frédérique Taubenhaus // 23/01/08

INTERVIEW
Named 'Dany the red' by the media in 1968, Cohn-Bendit leads the Green Europeans today (Photo: Parti Socialiste/ Flickr)

Daniel Cohn-Bendit: 'Stop the comparisons with 1968'

The German-French Green Party politician, 62, leader of the 1968 student protestors, publicist and current member of the European parliament, on 1968 and the here and now in Europe

by antonia schäfer // 23/01/08

PANORAMA

1968: a tour of Europe's revolts

Spain, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Germany - spinning through Europe's uprisings during that infamous year of rebellion

by Jane Mery // 23/01/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Big city lights

by Fernando Navarro Sordo // 16/01/08

FEATURE

Rennes: 'Helloo, immigrants'

The scene is set: Place de l’Europe, shops, blocks of flats on the horizon and 'Le bar de l'Europe'. At the heart of this little tarmacked tower of babel, Europe is not the stuff of dreams

by Elodie Auffray // 15/01/08

NEWS

Apple gets fair on UK music downloads

Portuguese no to reform treaty referendum, the pan-EU music marketplace and Sarkozy’s press conference

by Stella Willborn // 14/01/08

AGENDA

Roxana Rio, The Moog and DJ Missill

New Year kicks off with Mexican aspirations, Norwegian mix up of styles, a French princess of the turntables and a surprise coup from Hungary. This is the European music agenda for 2008!

by Sandra Wickert // 11/01/08

TESTIMONY

Hospitals in Europe: pain in the wallet

A guide to social security the French way (to help avoid a head-ache or heart attack when you check your bank balance)

by Jorge Gutiérrez Torrejón // 10/01/08

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Why Germans wear white waistcoasts

by Laura Wilfinger // 19/12/07

PORTRAIT

Eighties generation: we're not childless losers

Despite their reputation, twentysomethings often have more to offer than first meets the eye

by Romy Straßenburg // 18/12/07

REVIEW
(Photo: Wydawnictwo Literackie)

New Year reads

Jacek Dukaj, Toni Maguire, Nathalie Rouyer and Christian Semmelroth on our carousel of featured writers

by Maciej Lewandowski // 18/12/07

PORTRAIT
Eighties spirit (magaliB/ istock)

Born in the eighties

Twenty-something baby losers. Often disparaged, yet the 'eighties generation' harbour multiple talents. First part of a series of portraits exchanging Paris and Berlin

by Eva John // 14/12/07

FEATURE

Hairy Portuguese women

The French and Spanish joke goes that Portuguese women have moustaches

by Giulio Zucchini // 12/12/07

AGENDA
© Ulf Langheinrich: Hemisphere, 2006–2007 (Photo: ©Jirkac Jansch)

December: pure culture seeker

Berlin sparks and pixels, free Splash electro in Paris, European student cinema festival in Manchester and eat yourself to death in Lodz

by Karsten Marhold & Natalia Sosin // 04/12/07

FOCUS
Tecktoniks during a techno parade (Fr@nçois/ Flickr)

Tecktonik - arm-splaying, mullet hair dance craze

TCK. Three letters that stand for a phenomenon: tecktonik. Similar in style to electro, it has been a sensation amongst teenagers in France, Belgium and Holland over the last six months - and is also a registered trademark

by georgia diaz // 03/12/07

INTERVIEW
The 65 year old was born in Milan (Photo: Oliviero Toscani Studio)

Censoring Oliviero Toscani

'In art transgression is a duty,' says the Italian photographer, author of the latest shock campaign with French anorexic model Isabelle Caro. 'Brussels don't want to know a thing about my European vision'

by Elisa Marengo // 29/11/07

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Suck up

by Enno Dummer // 29/11/07

REVIEW
(Photo: Éditions Vuibert)

Europe – a bad brand?

Unfocussed, unattractive, lacking a strategy? French marketing expert Georges Lewi lays all bare in his new book

by Luisa Seeling // 28/11/07

Curt Ficcions: 35mm short film to zero

The Academy of Spanish Cinema undermine short films by excluding the medium from the world of television. Spanish short films are currently airing in francophone territories

by Marta Palacín // 21/11/07

ANALYSIS
Histoire-Geschichte, Franco-German history book that made history (Photo: ©Klett editions)

Hungaro-Slovak history textbook: keep dreaming

The project proposed by a joint committee of historians is chalked for the beginning of 2008 but is charged with problematics

by Bálint Ablonczy // 20/11/07

(Illustration: Henning Studte)

Horror Halloween

by Elisa Marengo // 31/10/07

ANALYSIS
(Photo: Ruipereira/ Flickr)

Velib: bicycle + freedom on city streets

The French capital has been enjoying the success of the Vélib’ adventure since summer 2007, and the urban rent-a-bicycle-for-next-to-nothing fever has caught the rest of Europe

by Fabien Champion (avec PA) // 29/10/07

(Photo: Filippo Lubrano)

David Le Breton: defining Italians by sight and taste

A very personal journey through a Europe of five (or six) senses with the French anthropologist and sociology professor

by Filippo Lubrano // 26/10/07

OPINION
The first Airbus A380 was delivered at the end of October 2007 to Singapore Airlines  (Photo: telstar logistics/ Flickr)

EADS: European dream or nationalist nightmare?

Airbus A380 problems, an inside-trading scandal, delays in the delivery of the new A400M military carrier: it seems Franco-German industrial cooperation is having trouble taking off. However…