Languages & Culture
Ukraine riding high in Eurovision song contest
The Ukrainian ‘Kalush Orchestra’ was voted through on Tuesday (10 May) to the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Italy, confirming that they occupy the pole position in Sunday's final.
Kyiv Symphony’s European tour marks ‘cultural front’ in Ukraine crisis
For Eleanora Tymoshenko, a music teacher from Balakliia, near Kharkhiv in Eastern Ukraine, and now a refugee in Warsaw, a night of Ukrainian music is food for her soul as she reflects on the conflict ravaging her home.
Experts ask the EU to step in to return art looted during colonialism
As some European countries start returning looted art to former colonies, experts call for EU guidelines to "harmonise" and support the restitution of cultural objects to African museums.
Parthenon fragment returns to Greece, rekindling campaign for UK to hand over marbles
A marble fragment of the Parthenon temple has been returned to Athens from a museum in Sicily, a move officials hope will advance efforts to have the British Museum send back ancient sculptures from Greece's most renowned ancient landmark.
Internet guardians want to break web’s language barriers
When website addresses using writing systems like Chinese and Arabic were introduced back in 2009, it was hailed as a step that would transform the internet.
History at heart – Teaching Europe’s past can protect its future
How to teach history across Europe, and how it can contribute to a vibrant democratic culture was the question at the heart of a two day annual conference ‘History Education for a Democratic Europe’ last week, organised by the Observatory on History Teaching in Europe (OHTE).
Provenance and heritage in the EU: why we should preserve European products of origin
The EU should ensure that our continent’s craft heritage is protected and easily identifiable internationally, writes Sebastiano Costalonga.
France mourns ‘national treasure’ Belmondo
Jean-Paul Belmondo, a star of France's New Wave cinema after his breakthrough performance in Jean-Luc Godard's "A bout de souffle" ("Breathless") in 1959, has died. He was 88.
‘Our Mikis has gone’: ‘Zorba the Greek’ composer Theodorakis dies at 96
Composer Mikis Theodorakis, whose music crossed international boundaries in his captivating score for the film "“Zorba the Greek", died on Thursday (2 September), plunging Greece into three days of mourning.
UNESCO strips Liverpool of its world heritage status
The English city of Liverpool was removed from UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites on Wednesday (21 July) because new buildings undermined the attractiveness of its Victorian docks, making it only the third site to be removed from the prestigious...
Netflix, ‘Lupin’ and EU rules spark a TV revolution
"Lupin", a French reboot set in postcard Paris, has made Omar Sy a global star and fulfilled a long-lost dream for Europeans: the confidence to take on Hollywood.
New French dictionary reflects rise of African speakers
France has long defended the purity of its language with an official list of permitted words, but the launch of a new online dictionary with state support on Tuesday (16 March) underlines how attitudes have shifted.
In Romania, Bulgaria, thousands defy Covid, crowding for Epiphany
Thousands of Romanian Orthodox Christians crowded into the harbour of the Black Sea port of Constanta on Wednesday (6 January), breaking social distancing rules to celebrate an Epiphany service. Similar gatherings took place in Burgas, Varna or Sofia, in Bulgaria.
Israel condemns EU ritual slaughter ruling
The European Court of Justice ruled Thursday (17 December) that authorities can order that animals be stunned before slaughter in a move decried by Israel and religious groups as attacking their traditions.
Finland: Europe’s quiet success in Covid-19 fight
As millions across Europe face new lockdown measures to tackle the resurging coronavirus, Finland is bucking the trend: infection rates are falling, while attitudes to restrictions remain the most positive on the continent.
Press association raps von der Leyen for ‘too much English’ communication
The French section of the Association of European Journalists has complained to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the EU executive uses the English language “out of proportion” in its official communication.
An EU law for the Romani people becomes possible
The European Parliament will pass today its Resolution “on the implementation of National Roma Integration Strategies: combating negative attitudes towards people with Romani background in Europe”. The rapporteur, Romeo Franz, who is of Roma origin, shares his emotional reaction.
Major political groups harbour corruption – Greens’ Freund
The major European political groups tolerate corruption and malfeasance among the member parties, says Green MEP Daniel Freund, who also analyses the weaknesses of instruments to fight the misuse of EU funds.
Freelance interpreters denounce ‘humiliating’ offers by EU institutions
With no practical solution on the horizon, freelance interpreters in the European institutions, stranded in the wake of the COVID pandemic, are continuing protests in the hope of improving their status. EURACTIV Bulgaria keeps following the story as it unfolds.
Key EU workers – interpreters – left on brink of survival during COVID
The lack of physical meetings during the COVID-19 lockdown has been devastating for nearly 1,200 freelance interpreters in the European institutions who struggle to make ends meet.
Holy Fire lit as Orthodox Easter bells echo over near-empty Jerusalem
The Holy Fire ceremony symbolising Jesus’ resurrection was lit in a deserted Jerusalem on Saturday (18 April), without the joyful throng of Orthodox Christian pilgrims who normally attend a spectacle that brings the Easter season to a colourful climax.
‘We’ll meet again’: Queen Elizabeth invokes WW2 spirit to defeat coronavirus
Queen Elizabeth told the British people on Sunday (5 April) that they would overcome the coronavirus outbreak if they stayed resolute in the face of lockdown and self-isolation, invoking the spirit of World War Two in an extremely rare broadcast to the nation.
Bulgarian authorities struggle to enforce containment with Roma population
In Bulgaria, home to a large Roma population, the authorities are struggling to enforce the strict containment measures generally respected by the majority of the population. On top of that, many Bulgarian Roma are said to have returned from Western Europe in recent days.