DerSpiegel – Politically Fractured: Populists Fail To Shift EU Balance – 18 November 2013

Far-right populists are expected to make significant gains in elections for the European Parliament this spring, but the only existing populist group in the body shows these parties can shout as loud as they want but are unlikely to have much influence.

On a rainy November afternoon in his cramped office at the European Parliament in Brussels, Francesco Enrico Speroni, co-chair of the right-wing populist Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group (EFD), does not mince his words: “We have not been successful.”

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DerSpiegel – CSU Wants To Kick Broke Countries Out – 14 November 2013

Exit Clause: Merkel’s Partners Want Broke Countries Out of Euro

By Peter Müller

Chancellor Angela Merkel wants the next government to be unified on its EU policy, but her sister party is resorting to populism. Bavaria’s Christian Social Union wants tougher provisions against deficit offenders and the ability to drive them out of the euro zone.

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DerSpiegel – EU Passports For 650,000 Euros: Citizenship For Sale In Malta – 13 November 2013

( Lucas : Not really news as the USA and other countries let you also buy citizenship, only here it is done to get enough money in the countries tax kitty to pay the bills…. The EU austerity and “economic” instigated crisis by the financial institutions and corporate one world control agenda is making it so.)

For 650,000 euros, foreigners from outside the European Union can now buy Maltese citizenship. The controversial new law passed on Tuesday also gives buyers the right of free movement within Europe.

Non-European Union citizens with €650,000 ($873,000) to spare can now buy Maltese citizenship thanks to a new plan approved by the Mediterranean island’s parliament on Tuesday.

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DerSpiegel – Black Market In Lebanon: Syrian Refugees Selling Organs To Survive – 13 November 2013

By Ulrike Putz

In the shadow of the Syrian civil war, a growing number of refugees are surviving in Lebanon by illegally selling their own organs. But the exchange comes at a huge cost.

The young man, who called himself Raïd, wasn’t doing well. He climbed into the backseat of the car, in pain, careful not to touch any corners. He was exhausted and dizzy. A large bandage looped around his stomach, caked with blood. Despite that, the 19-year-old Syrian wanted to tell his story.

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DerSpiegel – Energy Referendum: Public Buy-Back Of Berlin Grid Fails – 4 November 2013

An attempt to buy Berlin’s energy grid from the Swedish mega firm Vattenfall fell short at the polls on Sunday. Activists argued the company isn’t doing enough to foster green energy, while opponents questioned the logistical advantages of a change.

In a defeat for environmental activists, a public referendum to bring Berlin’s energy grid back under public ownership failed on Sunday. Driven by a group called EnergieTisch (or Energy Table), the movement didn’t manage to get enough votes to spur the city towards buying back the utility.

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DerSpiegel – Raw Nerve: Germany Seethes At US Economic Criticism – 1 November 2013

(Lucas : The bickering and blaming goes on.)

German policymakers are striking back at the United States, after a US Treasury report blasted the country’s massive trade surplus. Sensitivities in Berlin are still high over US spying on Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A day after a US Treasury Department report bluntly denounced Germany’s economic model, accusing it of hampering the euro zone recovery and hurting global growth, Germany called the conclusions “incomprehensible” and challenged the US to “analyze its own economic situation.”

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DerSpiegel – Rupert Neate – Nuclear Divergence: UK’s New Reactor Spurs Debate In Germany – 31 October 2013

The UK’s decision to build a new nuclear power plant has thrown Germany’s vow to shut down its own nuclear plants into relief. Critics argue Germany’s decision was emotional, not practical — others disagree.

The United Kingdom’s decision to build its first new nuclear power plant since the 2011 Fukushima meltdown in Japan has reignited a debate in Germany over the country’s decision to close all of its 17 nuclear plants.

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DerSpiegel – SPD May Drop Demand For Finance Minstery – 29 October 2013

(Lucas : Interesting what has been promised to the SPD?…It is always about power and money not about you the people… Just remember and get that!…It is all just power play and not about what is best for all people of the world let alone Germany’s People…)

Clinching the powerful post of finance minister in coalition talks would be a major coup for the center-left Social Democrats. But they may drop the demand in return for policy concessions — and due to tactical considerations by SPD leader Sigmar Gabriel.

The center-left Social Democrats appear to be ready to drop their demand for the key post of finance minister in coalition talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives, SPIEGEL has learned.

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DerSpiegel – Andreas Wassermann – ECB Headquarters ECB Headquarters: Skyrocketing Costs for Skyscraper Project: Skyrocketing Costs For Skyscraper Project – 28 October 2013

Estimated costs for the European Central Bank’s new headquarters in Frankfurt have more than doubled. As has been happening with so many major projects in Germany, its construction has been plagued by poor planning, oversight and execution — and endless delays.

Rain was falling on Frankfurt’s Ostend neighborhood as financial managers and local officials drove past dark corner bars, betting offices and the Amor sex shop to the site of the future headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB).

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DerSpiegel – Alexander Neubacher – Reality Check: Germany’s Defective Green Energy Game Plan – 26 October 2013

Germany pretends to be a pioneer in the green revolution. But its massively expensive Energiewende has done nothing to make the environment cleaner or encourage genuine efficiency. One writer argues: Either do it right, or don’t do it at all.

So, perhaps you’ve heard about Germany’s heroic green revolution, about how it’s overhauling its entire energy infrastructure to embrace renewable energy sources? Well, in reality, our chimney stacks are spewing out more than ever, and coal consumption jumped 8 percent in the first half of 2013. Germans are pumping more climate-killing CO2 into the air than they have in years. And people are surprised.

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