ROMANIA: When a President Discriminates

Twice this year, the Romanian National Anti-Discrimination Council has had to issue judgments about problematic statements made by President Traian Basescu. In one of the instances, the Council declared the head of state guilty of discrimination against the Roma.

CZECH REPUBLIC: A Century of Welfare Nears Its End

The reforms proposed by the governing coalition in the Czech Republic could dismantle not only the most successful welfare state in the post-communist region, but also break a long tradition of social solidarity in a country that boasts the lowest poverty rate in Europe.

POLAND: Uncertain Steps Towards a New Government

With this Sunday's early general elections, Poles will give a verdict on whether they approve of Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski's "Fourth Polish Republic", as the present term of government has been called.

GREECE: Migrants Confined in Degradation

"Conditions in the detention centre of Samos are offensive to human dignity, and a violation of human rights; it is a compromise of Greek status internationally."

FRANCE: Sarkozy’s Honeymoon May Have Ended

Five months after taking office as president, Nicolas Sarkozy has run into a crisis over labour issues. Railway workers and staff at electricity companies, among others, plan to strike Oct. 18.

BALKANS: Dial 9191 for Mladic

Serbia has offered a record one million euros reward each for information leading to the arrest of Ratko Mladic, former commander of the Bosnian Serb Army, and his associate Radovan Karadzic.

RIGHTS: Poverty and Capital Punishment Go Hand In Hand

In rich and poor countries alike poverty and the death penalty are almost always inextricably bound together, according to a worldwide survey of experts and human rights activists carried out by journalists as part of the IPS Death Penalty Abolition Project.

Q&A: “Where Europe Has Failed These Europeans”

Thomas Hammerberg was elected Commissioner of Human Rights of the Council of Europe in October 2005. He plays a crucial role in promoting implementation of the recommendations of the human rights system of the Council.

ENVIRONMENT-ICELAND: Hay Restores Eroded Land

Icelandic farmers have found a successful way of repairing erosion escarpments: they blow cut-up hay at them.

SLOVAKIA: Playing the Anti-Hungarian Card

Following months of strained ties with Hungary, Slovakia's government looks increasingly isolated after parliament approved a resolution hostile to the country's Hungarian minority.

ENVIRONMENT-EUROPE: Education Ministers Step In

Representatives from 51 countries agreed at a three-day conference in Belgrade this week to undertake new environmental improvements to build sustainable development.

BULGARIA: Luxury Hotels Coming Up in National Parks

Bulgarian Prime Minister Serghei Stanishev and former premier Simeon Saxe-Coburg attended a ceremony Tuesday marking the official start of a grandiose tourism project dubbed Super Borovits. An unusual show of political unity across party lines, it was meant to promote the tourism industry. But Super Borovits has been highly criticised for threatening nature.

POLAND-RUSSIA: Once an Enemy, Always an Enemy

Poland remains Russia's most staunch enemy in the Central European region. But besides history, ideology and energy are playing a key role in the diplomatic impasse.

HUNGARY: Debate on Fascist Danger Resurfaces

The ghost of fascism has resurfaced in Hungary following the set up of a paramilitary organisation promising to "protect the homeland". But the organisation's minuscule size made many critics wonder why so much attention was devoted to it.

RIGHTS: Italians March for Peace

About 200,000 people marched from Perugia to Assisi Sunday calling for "all human rights for all" and the end of wars.

RUSSIA: Putin Could Lead Another Way

If President Vladimir Putin does accept the post of prime minister offered him by the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, he would take a step down in the political hierarchy. For a while, anyhow.

UKRAINE: ‘Just Start Governing, Please’

An exhausted public waits as Ukrainian political parties work out a coalition agreement following last week's parliamentary elections. The governing Party of the Regions won the greatest share of the vote, but most likely the pro-Western opposition will outplay it.

ENVIRONMENT: EU Troubling Fishy Waters

European Union governments routinely ignore scientific advice when they establish catch limits for their fishermen, a leading environmental group has suggested.

ROMANIA: Villagers Resist a Corporation

"I never had money, I never wanted money, and I never will want money." "I fear no one but God." "I will not leave this place for as long as I live." Such statements, from a small yet determined core of inhabitants of Rosia Montana are indication that the Canadian corporation that wants to dig for gold here could get blocked by at least some people.

POLAND: Populism Seen behind Death Penalty Talk

Warsaw's head-on clash with the European Union by vetoing a symbolic day against the death penalty is being interpreted here as a pre-electoral attempt to win domestic support for the so-called "Fourth Polish Republic" - a vision of a nation with a far wider sense of morality and democracy than existed under any past government.

Q&A: Communist Secret Files Threaten Politicians

Countries in Central and Eastern Europe are still struggling to find ways to deal with their past under communist regimes. Bulgaria is one of the last states in the region to decide in favour of opening files kept by the former secret services to the public.