Not a babelian yet?
Not a babelian yet?
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
Both Spanish and French voters go to the polls to vote in their legislative and municipal elections this month
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
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
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
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
The Strasbourg-based organisation defends human rights in Europe and needs to combat its dwindling visibility
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
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
One voice amidst the 100, 000+ other Socrates students who traverse Europe and its borders
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
Faced with Russian oligarchs or American magnates buying out their clubs, some supporters are trying the same tactic out of sheer desperation
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
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
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
'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
High rents, fierce competition - just a couple of difficulties that 100, 000 people in Paris face when looking for accommodation
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
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
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
Spain, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Germany - spinning through Europe's uprisings during that infamous year of rebellion
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
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
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
Portuguese no to reform treaty referendum, the pan-EU music marketplace and Sarkozy’s press conference
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!
A guide to social security the French way (to help avoid a head-ache or heart attack when you check your bank balance)
Jacek Dukaj, Toni Maguire, Nathalie Rouyer and Christian Semmelroth on our carousel of featured writers
Despite their reputation, twentysomethings often have more to offer than first meets the eye
Twenty-something baby losers. Often disparaged, yet the 'eighties generation' harbour multiple talents. First part of a series of portraits exchanging Paris and Berlin
The French and Spanish joke goes that Portuguese women have moustaches
Berlin sparks and pixels, free Splash electro in Paris, European student cinema festival in Manchester and eat yourself to death in Lodz
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
'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'
Unfocussed, unattractive, lacking a strategy? French marketing expert Georges Lewi lays all bare in his new book
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
The project proposed by a joint committee of historians is chalked for the beginning of 2008 but is charged with problematics
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
A very personal journey through a Europe of five (or six) senses with the French anthropologist and sociology professor
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…
Long a part of the mainstream, but women have not gained ground since the eighties. Many dismiss the feminist concept completely, others see 'new feminism' taking a step backwards
The upcoming European Summit in Lisbon (18 – 19 October) sees the contents of the new constitutional treaty definitively fixed. Sylvie Goulard, former counsellor for then European Commission president Romano Prodi, teaches the dummies
A conflict of interest is poisoning the apparent honeymoon between the French and German leaders, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, as they work on the EU constitution
GMOs, operator-controlled e-mail, training against terrorism, inoperative Romania: four bites of the latest EU news
The vocalist and drummer for kitsch pop duet 'Stereo Total', 43, evokes Franco-German bilingualism applied to masculinity-femininity, Gainsbourg and modern frustrations
Belonging to the homeland, the importance of education for immigration and Turkey's entry into the European Union are converging themes in 'The Edge of Heaven', the latest film by the German director
On 14 October the entirely new centre-left Italian Democrat Party (PD) chooses its new leader. An action far from a disappointment for voters
European audience figures are exploding for so-called 'Emotainment' programmes, devoted to the daily lives of the average person
The sixth 'competition to break all records' began on 7 September, in a sport well on its way to globalisation and professionalism
EU finance ministers come together on 9 October for the EcoFin meeting, where they will be putting member states’ levels of debt and national deficits under the microscope. They have France in their sights
From the deserts of Dubai to French rugby fields, sliding from rural land to urban city, smashing crossroads and borders - babelblogs are everywhere
The return of a legend. A Catalan and a French woman sweeten the bitter taste of autumn, Swedish boys rock elegantly and two other delicious treats in store for fans: a selection of European sounds
The newly elected French president exemplifies perfectly the new style of European politics, which gets results, at all costs
The French minister of agriculture on the farm subsidies (CAP) reform which the European commission will present in November
The French journalist and long time foreign correspondent of the daily 'Le Monde', 64, evokes the subjectivity and relativity of the job, insisting on the importance of an identifiable Europe
Millions of European students are (almost) heading back to their desks
For years, the convoys of lorries on European motorways have been becoming longer and longer. Stefan Kaegi and Jörg Karrenbauer relate their European-style road movie in Paris with theatre production 'Cargo Sofia-Paris'
Food, fashion, politics, football … a snapshot of the two countries in Alberto Toscano's words
The French singer of Dutch origin, 33, was born in Caesarea, Israel. She lived in the Netherlands until the age of 11 and sings in English. Now, she moves between Iceland, France and New York
VJ-ing is a new fast-spreading discipline, which consists of mixing images and sound live
Having finally awoken to the danger faced by our planet due to global warming, politicians and citizens are working to build green and sustainable living spaces. From ecologically-friendly homes to ‘eco-neighbourhoods’, Europe is going greener by the day.
On the eve of the Intergovernmental Conference, Poland is still raking up the past
Let's talk about sex, politics, and licking European commissioners on cafebabel.com's newly launched community pages and first multilingual blogging platform
In northern Europe, one out of two women uses a mechanical sex toy and 'Tupper-dildo' parties are increasingly popular
Organised via the internet, orgey offers often help sell holidays. A quick overview of the history of the old continent via this ancient practice which is present in almost all societies
