Brussels airport

Brussels airport is getting back to normal, after the terrorist explosions of 22 March. Today it was a special day. The TV channels have shown the repaired departures hall and interviewed some of the checking-in staff.  It was very moving to see how motivated they are. That´s a great response to the forces of darkness and madness.

But the security procedures that have been implemented today were not smart. Passengers had to wait for two or more hours outside the hall before being screened and let in. That created big crowds and lots of anxiety. Some missed their flights.

That´s an outdated way of doing things. Passengers should be allowed to proceed as usual. This is a major airport and cannot be controlled as a provincial airport in some remote place of India. At the outside doors and in the hall the police or other type of security agents could be present with sniffer dogs. They would detect anything suspicious in any piece of luggage. And they would let it go smoothly and safely for everyone else. 

Mad people

Yesterday I wrote about social research linked to ethnicity in a city like Brussels. Today I should add a suggestion to be considered by those who look at psychological issues. I think it is also time to do some very serious research about the reasons, the psychological disturbances that lead a fellow to self-destruction and mass killings. It is important to understand that kind of deep mental disorder and maybe look at ways of preventing it of getting to the extreme. It will be another way of combatting terror.

Brussels diverse ethnic mix

Some statistical figures want us to believe that one in four residents of Brussels follow the Muslim faith. This is a very current subject, as one can imagine, after this week´s bombings. A number of people cannot think about these events without linking them to the Muslim presence in the city, particularly to the Muslim youth. It is of course unfair. But some communities have reached a share of the total population that makes them powerful components of the city tissue. And that has an impact on the human landscape we see in the streets of certain areas, as it has also a bearing on the behaviour of some teenagers in the schools where they form the majority of the students.

These are new societal developments that need to be properly researched. The social scientists in city universities should indeed spend more time on these matters. There aren´t enough academic studies on this changing social environment and its short and long term implications. And as a result, what we know about the diverse communities is based on anecdotal evidence, on personal stories and media reports. It is now urgent to go much further in our knowledge of the city´s cultures and ethnicity. That is for sure one of the conclusions we should draw this week. 

Getting back to the playground

Brussels is gradually getting back on its feet. People are still deeply shocked but they remain very composed. There has been no real manifestation of racism or xenophobia. Actually, the rallies in the city centre have attracted people from different backgrounds. That´s already a remarkable victory against the criminals that have decided to bring pain and chaos to the city and the country. The killers wanted to kill social peace and national harmony. They have not been allowed to achieve that.

Last evening I went to the theatre, as I had planned long before. The playhouse, a very well-known cultural institution, is located in the middle of an area of town where the vast majority of the residents are Muslims and other kinds of foreign people – the commune of Saint Josse, for those who know Brussels. There are, every evening, three plays running in the premises. Yesterday, it was business as usual. People, many of them older Belgian retirees mixing up with well-off younger fellows, came in large numbers. Not many, just a small number have cancelled their reservations. That was a nice and courageous response to the events of these very dramatic few days.

And, as they sat there, they knew they could become very vulnerable if a crazy pair of fellows had decided to bring chaos and pain to the show. I spent some time looking at my fellow spectators and felt good. As they enjoyed the play, they were silently telling me and my fears that life goes on. No need to change habits just because of some fanatics and their profoundly wrong and acutely disturbed approach to today´s world.

Today in Brussels

We had a very dramatic day in Brussels. The bombs at the airport and in the subway, at the beginning of the working hours, have shaken everyone. They had a major political and economic impact. But they will not make us become less tolerant. From where I stand, I can say that people have shown a lot of restraint. They were certainly deeply shocked. However, they have not fallen into any kind of xenophobic reaction or racist mood. That basically means that the terrorists have been able to hurt all of us but they cannot change our way of life, they will not win. We, here in Brussels, are used to a very diverse city and will continue to appreciate that diversity. That´s the world of today. Theirs is a world of a very distant and barbaric past. 

Brussels cancels the New Year...

The Brussels mayor has just decided to cancel tomorrow´s fireworks and other street celebrations that were planned for New Year´s night.

A lot of people seem to be shocked by the decision. They basically argue that it gives up to all those who aim at destroying our way of life. They see it as capitulation.

My advice is to accept it and also to consider that such a decision was certainly not taken lightly. I see behind it a lot of ponderation, analysis and discussion among people who know the situation.

Actually, if we take into account that the mayor opted for it, notwithstanding the many costs it carries, including those related to the reputation of the city, we should also conclude that the menaces are much more real than what we had thought. And such conclusion is certainly a matter of concern. 

Brussels: life goes on

I walked the streets of central Brussels last night and was happy to see so many people enjoying the festive spirit of these days leading to Christmas. That´s how life in our part of the world is. That ´s normalcy. And that´s what I would like to see in other corners of the planet as well: people enjoying the freedom of being together in peace. 

Brussels is living in slow motion

The state of high alert will continue for a third day tomorrow in Brussels. We will start the new week in slow motion. More importantly, the schools, at every level of education, will be closed. We will have to explain to the very young the reasons.

Many people are criticizing the decision to extend the period of alert. They think it is unwarranted, that it only serves the purpose of showing that the government is finally taking action. And they talk about the negative economic impact of such a decision.

In these matters, my advice is clear: let´s trust the authorities. We have no other choice. And we need to believe they are being responsible. In matters of security, to be responsible means to minimize the risk until you understand more precisely the nature of the threat and are in a better position to respond to it.

Let´s believe that´s what is taking place. 

No fear

Brussels was a special place today. The government decided to increase the security level to high alert, to the maximum degree. And the city went into a lockdown. 

It was a strange, sad day. It could be seen as a victory for those who want to disturb our way of living. 

Fortunately, it happened during the week end. I am sure on Monday we will be back to our daily routines. We cannot succumb to any menaces coming from some crazy young fellows. Our institutions are certainly stronger that those deranged fellows that hide behind radical ideas and criminal plots. 

Rich and poor in Europe

Brusssels is number three in the EU in terms of income per capita. The data show that its residents’ income is twice the European average. Inner London and the Luxembourg Duchy are number one and two. The former –Inner London – is a pretty rich corner of Europe. The average Londoner has an income that is more than three times the European average. In Luxembourg, the equivalent figure is about 2.5 times.

Bulgaria and Romania, on the other hand, remain at the bottom of the list. They are indeed very poor countries by European standards. The gap between them and the top three is abysmal. And it keeps growing for now.

Snowing in Brussels

Snow has arrived in Brussels today. White powder in the city is always a mess. But it is nice to see the falling of the snow. It´s winter, we need a taste of winter. My friends from Scandinavia who live in and around Brussels have been very nostalgic about the lack of snow thus far. Today, they certainly feel better and happier. The only concern is that they are all out and back in Scandinavia for the festive break. And there I am sure they have plenty of it. We will keep the little we got today for another few hours, I think. 

Juncker´s Commission

Jean-Claude Juncker came out as a strong leader, when he announced the Commisssion of the EU that he wants to put together. The choice of the first Vice-President, Frans Timmermans of the Netherlands, is a very courageous one. Juncker still recognises the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Federica Mogherini of Italy, as a Vice-President, but places the former Dutch Foreign Minister as his right hand. Furthermore, Mogherini has agreed to move out of the EEAS building and joining Juncker at the Berlaymont building. The proximity brings greater coherence, enhances team work and sends the signal that Juncker is the boss.

In addition, the letter sent to each Commissioner by the incoming President states clearly what he expects from each one of them. It also indicates the clusters they belong to and who will be leading each one of those thematic areas. This is modern way of going governance. It is also a message about coherence, cohesiveness and lines of responsibility.

Now, the next step is in the European Parliament. Juncker might face some opposition from the Socialist group. They consider their candidates were not given enough authority in the line-up presented today. It is true. But it is also true that most of the strongest candidates were nominated by Conservative governments that are in power throughout Europe.

Illegal crossings and poor politics

The illegal crossing of the Mediterranean Sea by hundreds of African migrants is a daily occurrence. They sail off the Libyan coast and try to reach the Italian territory. But they have disappeared from the news. If one tries to read about these dramatic movements in any of the major European papers one just gets nowhere. The matter is being ignored anywhere outside Italy. And it has also disappeared from the discussions in the the EU fora. The issue, which is of course a common concern, is seen as an Italian matter. And then the Italians just let the migrants loose, in the hope they will move North and out of the country. Many of them will find indeed their way into the Calais area, in Northern France, just waiting for a chance to cross into the UK. Others will move into other EU countries. The issue is plainly out of control, all over the place, from the islands in Southern Italy to Brussels, London, Paris and elsewhere. Nobody cares. It is not in the news therefore does not exist...politically.  

Europe needs a new narrative

Today is the day after. After the EU elections of yesterday, which produced results that many have considered “shocking”. But they are not. It is true that in several countries the anti-European parties have done very well and got quite a number of seats. They will make a lot of noise in the European Parliament and will try to take advantage of that platform to gain even more political ground at home. They can however be contained. The vast majority of new Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) is from mainstream political parties and believe in the common project. They just have to better at fighting for it in Brussels and Strasbourg. They have to work harder and be bolder.

The true lesson I take from the election results is about the way the European project is presented. The old way of speaking about a space of peace and stability is no longer attractive for the younger generations. We need to recreate the narrative about the importance of building a united political space of freedom and human rights, as well as a society that promotes economic development, equity and opportunities for all. That´s the kind of story we need to put together. That´s what the young Europeans want to hear. We are not the US, we are not Russia, nor China, we are part of a community of peoples that have decided that united we will be strong. And a bit different. As Europeans, of course. 

The capital of Europe is a little village at heart

Belgacom, the Belgian telecommunications giant, could not protect us, the subscribers in Brussels, from an illegal intrusion into our accounts by the British espionage services. The GCHQ, the UK agency that spies on communications networks, has been able to gladly penetrate the Belgacom systems and extract all the information they deemed useful for their masters in London.

Why should one be surprised? I live in a street that is considered “very fine”.  Notwithstanding that I have a weak internet signal. Today, the Belgacom technician came to check, at my request – a request that was made two weeks ago and dutifully booked then to be implemented today. He told me that the line for my house derives from a box some 80 metres away. That´s not bad, I thought. But he added that the fellows that laid down the cables went around the block before reaching my house. Therefore, it was no longer an 80 metres journey but a long trek through the side and back streets. That explains why my signal is not strong enough.

He promised me they would now bring a straight line from the box to my place. When, I do not know. But soon, I am told.

I asked him about fibre cables. The answer I got was very clear. Belgacom has now approved the implementation plan to lay the fibre things. But he is now sure about the starting date of the up-dating.

Well, this is the EU capital. But I think they have not yet realised that at the telecomm company. Another proof of it is that we have no Al Jazeera in our channel list, I mean, no access to that key TV channel in English. If I want to watch it, it is in my room… in Arabic!

Recently I told this story to my friends in Foreign Affairs in Oslo. They couldn´t believe that a place like this one cannot access the English version of Al Jazeera. But they have to understand: Brussels keeps, in many ways, the features of a small town. And that is charming! And frustrating, as well!

Congested roads and congested minds

As it is often the case, the motorway between Antwerp and Brussels was clogged this afternoon around 4:00 pm. You just need two things to drive at that time of the day between the two cities: a lot of patience and plenty of spare time. 

The economic and human costs of the congested road are huge. And there is little that can be done to alleviate the pressure. The train option is there, it´s true. But entrepreneurs are used to have the trucks coming to their gates and taking the goods straight into the clients´ door step. And people are too dependent on their personal vehicle that they prefer to waste time sitting on it than to make use of public transportation.

But this situation is untenable. Sooner or later it will have to change. And we should start by changing our minds first. And fast. 

European defence and the fools

I have yet not found the time to look at the proposals that are being prepared for the December EU Summit on European defence. But knowing what I know about the national armies in the key member states and all the budgetary cuts and reductions of means that are taking place all over Europe, I am afraid the proposal might be a disaster and an illusion. The so called EU defence might end up by being a ghost that nobody fears.

I recognise we might have some serious reservations about the US and its spying habits. But to think we can have a European defence without a strong alliance with the US is totally foolish. And Brussels these days has plenty of fools roaming around. 

EU needs to change coaches

A man that knows the EU well told me this evening that the high rates of unemployment are turning people against the European project. The first line of attack is against the Euro currency, he added. More and more people are looking at the common currency as an impediment for “their” nation’s recovery.  He also told me that there is serious concern in the leading circles of the EU as they see public opinion turning gradually against the Euro in a number of countries.

I told him if the common project were a football team the solution would be very clear: let’s fire the coach and get a new one. 

Brussels lunches and dinners

Brussels is a lobbyists’ paradise. I am told there are close to 30,000 living around the European institutions and other entities. One can imagine how many invitations for lunch and dinner the big shots in the EU Commission, Council, Parliament, and elsewhere get every week…One should also imagine the flow of gifts and favours that is taking place on a daily basis…

It is also a spies’ heaven. Nobody knows exactly how many they are. The head of the Belgian secret service talks about many hundreds but who knows? In any case, their presence means plenty of lunch and dinner invitations too. That’s the most classical way of getting information.

It is also said the city houses the largest press corps in the world. It is true that the number of journos  has decreased during the last few years, because of the crisis and its impact on the resources made available to the media. But it is still a large number, close to a thousand people accredited with the EU alone. That is also a lot of invitations for a good meal…At least, as far as the largest papers and TV stations are concerned, because the scribblers from smaller outfits are more interested in being invited that anything else. They are always looking for a free meal…

Taking all this into account, maybe I should envisage opening a classy restaurant in the international district of Brussels. I am sure it is good business…

A divided country

For reasons of work planning, I had decided that the family’s weekly grocery shopping should take place this morning. Consequently, I drove to my local supermarket, a big place just a mile from home.

My first surprise was to see the car parking pretty empty. Then, I walked to the shop only to find out that it was closed. There was a strike across the board in Brussels and in the French-speaking part of the country, I was told. Attendants working for large commercial stores were among those heavily engaged in the labour action.

Well, a plan is a plan. So, I decided to drive for about seven or eight miles along the same road out of the capital city and do my shopping in the Flemish region. In a supermarket of the same chain the one next to my place belongs to. And I did. In that part of the country what had been called a national strike was a non-event.