Belarus: license to kill

Belarus: license to kill

Belarus holds two sad records: On the one hand, it is the last dictatorship in Europe. On the other hand, is the only European country where the capital punishment is still in practice. But what is the position of Belarusian population on death penalty? What can the European Union do to promote its abolition?

The Spirit Divide: Past and Present of Communism in the Czech Republic

The Spirit Divide: Past and Present of Communism in the Czech Republic

Twenty years after the beginning of the decay of Communism in the Czech Republic, marked by the “Velvet Divorce” in 1993, spirits are still divided, as the country is caught up in the ideological debate over the survival of the current communist party in the Czech Republic, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM), one of the most prominent in European political circles.

The price of oil: taxes make the difference

The price of oil: taxes make the difference

Most consumers don’t know that most of the money paid for petroleum products such as gasoline does not go to oil producers. If oil were not so heavily taxed, then it would cost a fraction of its current price in some countries. Which effects does it have?

Minimum wages in Europe (2011)

Minimum wages in Europe (2011)

Did you know that the minimum wage in Luxembourg is 14.3 times higher than Bulgaria’s? Yes, in Europe there are also disparities, and inequality among countries. Six countries have a minimum wage above 1000 € whereas there are 10 countries whose minimum wage is below 500 €.

Do you like drinking milk every day? Then you must be European

Do you like drinking milk every day? Then you must be European

Within the 20 world’s top consumers of liquid milk (2009) there are 14 european countries. In Spain, for instance, the average height of youngsters has increased by 10 cm over the last 20 years, due to a feed improvement, specially thanks to an increase in milk consumption.

Coffee: Brazilian exporter, American consumer

Coffee: Brazilian exporter, American consumer

Coffee is an important commodity and a popular beverage. Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed in the world every day. Over 90% of coffee production takes place in developing countries, while consumption happens mainly in the industrialized economies.