Europe

The “thriving, creative” city of Dundee has been rated as one of the best places in Europe to visit this year by Lonely Planet. The travel guide publisher has attempted to tackle the issue of overtourism in its annual holiday hotlist, by highlighting lesser-visited destinations across the continent. Dundee is Scotland’s fourth largest city and is sixth on Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2018 list. It earned the spot for its “head-turning” urban redevelopment, including the transformation of its historic waterfront and the opening of a new branch of the V&A this September . Lonely Planet describes it as an “exciting moment” for a city that has often been overlooked by visitors to Scotland, and praised its “nationally important museums and attractions” and “dynamic, creative spirit”. The number one spot went to Emilia-Romagna in Italy. The region was picked out as an alternative to Tuscany, Campania and Veneto, … [Read more...] about ‘Dynamic’ Dundee earns place on Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2018 hotlist

If Germany is the heart of Europe, then it is currently the slow-beating heart of a well-fed businessman resting on his office couch after an ample lunch. For Europe’s sake, and for Germany’s own, that heart needs to beat a little faster. It’s not that German elites don’t intellectually recognise the problems gathering all around them. Berlin, which is beginning to rival London as a thinktank hub, is pullulating with clever people who can tell you exactly why, faced with the challenges of Brexit, populism, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, climate change and AI – to name but a few – Europe needs more strategic autonomy, digital innovation and sustainable growth. What is missing is a sense of urgency and the ability to translate these abstract goals into dynamic policies that German voters will actually support. For now, Germany is effectively willing the ends but not the means. Why this stasis? Because Germany has been doing quite nicely, thank you. It … [Read more...] about Angela Merkel must go – for Germany’s sake, and for Europe’s

Living as I do in Venice, I have always thought it a shame that relatively few among its daily invasion of tourists make it as far as the next-door region of Emilia-Romagna. It easily matches the attractions of more celebrated Tuscany and Lombardy and offers temptingly affordable options for eating out and accommodation. Emilia-Romagna stretches from the wetlands of the Po delta down to the beach resorts of the Adriatic coast, and across fertile plains where the signature ingredients of Italian cuisine are produced. This is the ultimate foodie destination, where travellers can organise a whole gourmet tour around artisan producers of prosciutto crudo and mortadella, intense balsamic vinegar and Italy’s king of cheeses, parmesan. And in between eating and drinking, the magnificent cities of Bologna, Parma, Ferrara and Ravenna boast sumptuous Renaissance palaces, frescoed medieval and Romanesque churches, and unique Byzantine artworks which can all usually be enjoyed without queues … [Read more...] about Emilia-Romagna guide: what to see, plus the best bars, restaurants and hotels

Italian opposition politicians have demanded an urgent explanation from the government after allegations surfaced accusing Matteo Salvini’s far-right League party of links to the Kremlin. According to claims made in L’Espresso magazine, an arrangement was struck to sell 3m tonnes of diesel fuel to an Italian oil company by Russian representatives close to the government of Vladmir Putin, diverting profits to the League. The claims, based on a forthcoming book, The Black Book of the League, by two of the magazine’s journalists, raises questions about the relationship between the Kremlin and the anti-immigrant party, which is in a coalition government with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement. A group of opposition senators described the claims as worrying. “Russia is financing the League? The worrying report by L’Espresso needs to be immediately clarified by the government,” the centre-left Democratic Party said in a statement. “It is … [Read more...] about Italian MPs demand answers over claims Salvini’s League sought Kremlin funding

Suddenly, Vladimir Putin has some useful friends in the west. As he looks to improve relations with Europe, at a new low since the March nerve-agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, the Russian president knows he can count on the backing of at least two capitals. Both Austria and Italy’s new governments, formed late last year and last month, include populist, far-right parties that make little secret of their sympathy for Moscow – and have even signed cooperation agreements with Putin’s ruling United Russia party. Italy’s new prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, used his maiden speech in Rome on Tuesday to promise his government would be “advocates of an opening towards Russia – a Russia that has consolidated its international role in recent years”. Conte heads a populist coalition of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and the far-right League that, according to its programme, sees Russia not as “a … [Read more...] about Rise of far-right in Italy and Austria gives Putin some friends in the west