Let’s first consider what West Wing was: It was, no question, the the best (I say THE best) TV series ever! – It was so good not because it was about politics and that is what I like. No, it was good because it was smart, it had brilliantly-drawn characters with personality, excellent actors, it was realistic – and it had an intelligent but all-embracing humour. I am sure that we can find excellent actors and draw equivalent characters for an EU “13th floor” (as Conor calls it) series. But would we have the play writers to come up with dialogues and characters of such brilliance? In the end, I have not come across any European TV series that has impressed me so far…

I am sure public broadcasters in the EU with possible arte as a frontrunner would be happy to unite and prepare such a show. Moreover, the EU will surely make its MEDIA funds available for this – and the Commission, Parliament (and possibly less so the Council) would be happy to offer some insights and filming opportunities. So, all this should be set – if we only found the script writers!

Would this help to explain the EU?

Yes, I think very much so, if it was closely as intelligent as West Wing was. An overdrawn Delors or Barroso character as president, annoying Council presidencies and leaders from the EP would surely challenge the 13th floor team every day and offer sufficient material. There is enough crisis, both domestic and internationally, to offer stories and with its new-found powers in external relations there could even be some shady military/secret stuff going on. With all this, there is sufficient dynamism in the EU to make the 13th floor an exciting TV experience. Maybe this is exactly what is needed to explain the functioning of the machinery? – If timed well, it could even reveal the (recent) behind-the-doors selection of the current president and play a more democratic, primary-based selection of the next Commission President. If such were to happen in the 13th floor, this would not only bring light to the complexities of EU policy-making but also encourage debate towards the 2014 elections. What a difference this would make!?

My title suggestion would be Berlaymont by the way…

Picture from FCO/flickr with Creative Commons

Diese Woche hat die CDU endlich ihre Plakatmotive zur Bundestagswahl vorgestellt. Kaum überraschend für die CDU geht es einmal wieder vorrangig um Köpfe ihres bekannten Spitzenpersonals. Netzpolitik und andere haben sich zu Recht gleich über die provozierenden Gebote von “Freiheit und Sicherheit” vor Innenminister Wolfang Schäuble hergemacht. Ausgezeichnet ist in diesem Zusammenhang ihr Remix-Tool für einen veränderten Text über Schäuble.

Ich hab dies zum Anlass genommen, meine letzte Hoffnung für eine bessere Freiheitspolitik in einem Abschieben von Schäuble nach Brüssel auszudrücken und eröffne hiermit offiziell seine Kampagne “Ich bin der Überwachungs-Opa, schickt mich nach Europa”:

Was passierte also?

Am 23. Februar wurden in der Brüsseler Bibliotheque Solvay die Preise an die European Green Capitals Hamburg (für 2011) und Stockholm (für 2010) vergeben. Die Grüne Hamburger Umweltsenatorin nahm den Preis für ihre Stadt entgegen und im Hintergrund hängt neben der EU Flagge die DDR Fahne (s. BILD Bericht oder Hamburger Abendblatt). Den Kommissionsmitarbeitern ist der Fauxpas anscheinend schnell aufgefallen, so dass sie das Foto im Nachhinein für die eigene Website retuschiert haben.

Auch wenn BILD im Artikel klarstellt, dass es kein Fehler der Kommission war, da das Event von einer externen Agentur durchgeführt wurde, ist doch die Überschrift (“EU hisst DDR-Flagge”) eindeutig irreführend. Typisch BILD.

Auf Nachfrage bei Freunden, die in der Bibliotheque arbeiten, sind aber auch die Hausherren von Friends of Europe nicht für die Beflaggung verantwortlich gewesen sondern die externe Agentur. Mal sehen, ob sich noch herausfinden lässt, welche Agentur dies war… es wird natürlich hier veröffentlicht.

As much as I will try to improve my writing on this blog, I must admit that I have become a little unfaithful. I have started to blog about career perspectives for the LSE’s Finalists Blog and I will also try to share some thoughts about the EU budget on a new project called FollowTheMoney.eu. But whenever I feel that my comments on those blogs can also be interesting for my readers here, I shall notify you here.

But let’s call it a night – and a happy new year – with this great New Year’s card from our old family friend Ilja from Slovakia who reminds us of the great development of Slovakia joining the Euro by Januar 1st 2009.

Super Werbung der Frankfurter Rundschau!

On Youtube you find the video evidence (minute 1:41), MTV.de and the New York Times cover the story.

Also, 50 Cent, “Kuck auf die Goldkette” (Kollegah)! – Or learn your leasson from President Bush (remember his visit to Tirana/Albania, where his watch was nicked – see Spiegel Video, of course the White House said it wasn’t).

Check it out here.

Credits to Spinelli for having spent some of his best years on Ventotene and coming up with the famous manifesto there… to the Italian federalists for organising a fantastic seminar there each Septemer, to Anders, Jon and Malena for being inspired by this and writing Europe United – and to JEF France for lip serving to the federalist anthem together with the youth theatre of Grenoble! Fantastic.

The owl is a bit of a smaller thing and comes at £49.95 (Green picture on top; direct order from their website). The Wattson is a bit more advance (reminds of B&O design, see photo below) and comes at £149.50 (direct order from their website).

While I was looking up these two devices I also came across a nice list of The Guardian’s Top 10 Green Gadgets. Maybe inspirational also for other aspects And do not forget to check out Ecochoice.de if you want to compare the ecological parameters of your next consumer good buy.