Skip to main content

There was an unexpected issue forwarding you to "Twitter" for authentication. Please try again later.
×

Tagged With "European Commission"

Comment

Re: EU Parliament Ends Cell Phone Roaming Charges in 2017

Travel Rob ·
I'm guessing this is going to affect pre paid plans and sim cards for travelers. Anybody else know more, please comment.
Comment

Re: EU Parliament Ends Cell Phone Roaming Charges in 2017

Paul Heymont ·
Yes, it will apply to prepaid plans, which many Europeans as well as visitors use, but it's not as happily absolute as some of the celebrators make it sound. The final June 2017 step depends on a reform of the European wholesale roaming market in which carriers pay each other for roaming use, and is also subject to limits for those who roam "too much." Here's a quote from one of the Parliament members who was a leading proponent of the law (which also originally included provisions for net...
Comment

Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates

DrFumblefinger ·
Bee-eaters are amazing birds. I've never seen more than one or two around, so it must be quite a treat to be at the edge of a migration of them! And they fly so quickly -- amazed you were able to get that last photo framed as well as you did. Thanks for sharing these.
Comment

Re: Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates

Kirsten Hines ·
It was pretty amazing... a bit dizzying actually to try and keep up with all of them!
Comment

Re: 'Uncomfortable memory' tour faces Barcelona slave history

DrFumblefinger ·
It is good that a people face up to and learn from the past. We must learn from the lessons of history, but I do hope this will not become a "self-flagellation" exercise. At the end of the 18th century, everyone had slaves. Every people, every race, every culture, every country participated in the buying, selling and owning of other people. It was the norm. Fortunately, with a few rare exceptions, modern society has become enlightened and the rights of individuals is now a central focus of...
Comment

Re: 'Uncomfortable memory' tour faces Barcelona slave history

Paul Heymont ·
'Presentism' is always a danger for historians, but in this case, there's a real issue of interest based on the late-in-the-day entry into slave-owning by the later Catalan grandees; they went into it when all European countries had already abolished it, and when it had been abolished in many colonial areas. Sadly, not Cuba, Brazil, or, at the beginning of that period, the United States. One of the reasons it's important to consider these past things is because they do enter into the...
Comment

Re: 'Uncomfortable memory' tour faces Barcelona slave history

GarryRF ·
Slavery is just part of a long cruel history. Wherever there is chance to make money, people of any race or creed will gladly join in. Even the African warlords who sold the "prisoners" to the slave ships played their parts in this piece of history. Even today fortunes are made by sending young men to die in the name of "Defence". Money has no morals.
Reply

Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?

Former Member ·
What an interesting group of islands. Thanks so much for this article. Wondering - Do people get around mostly by boat ? Is English widely spoken ?
Reply

Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?

IslandMan ·
Hello F-car, people mainly use their cars to get around, which is a pity as the roads are not the best and there are far too many cars for the roads to cope with. There is an extensive bus network which I found more preferable to driving. Boats are used more for leisure but there are many fisherman who make their living from the sea. Although the Maltese have their own language, English is widely spoken and visitors get by without problems. Many locals also speak Italian (them being our...
Reply

Re: The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?

Travel Rob ·
Thanks so much Island Man.What a great post! I'll definetly include a visit to Malta in my future travel plans.
Blog Post

Coming: TG's 'European Capital of Culture' Series

Travel Rob ·
TG Update:   These articles are now available  -Capital of Culture Series: LiverpoolCapital of Culture Series: Marseilles Each year, the EU designates a special city or cities as the European Capital of...
Blog Post

New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

Paul Heymont ·
In the wake of the Germanwings crash that killed 150 in an apparent suicide-by-pilot, Lufthansa and many others are quickly adopting rules requiring at least two crew members be present inside the cockpit at all times. Lufthansa's announcement covers...
Blog Post

Europe: Say goodbye to roaming fees, but not so soon

Paul Heymont ·
Airport cellphone users...plans still underway to end their roaming charges.      Photo: Dmitry Rozhov   The previously-announced plan to rid Europe of cellphone roaming charges is still on track, but delayed at the station for...
Blog Post

More Train Security Coming to Europe

Travel Rob ·
A week after 3 Americans citizens, a French Citizen, and a British citizen stopped a terrorist attack on a train from Amsterdam to Paris, an emergency security meeting about rail passenger safety took place on Saturday in Paris. The meeting was...
Blog Post

EU Commission gives OK for Aer Lingus takeover

Paul Heymont ·
The European Commission today cleared the last barrier for the sale of Ireland's Aer Lingus to British Airways' holding company, International Airlines Group. The deal already had approval from Aer Lingus's board, the Irish government and Ryanair,...
Blog Post

Top Euro car renters agree to be fair to customers

Paul Heymont ·
Just a little nice, that's what they promise. Counters  at Lourdes Airport, France   Europe's "big 5" car rental companies have pledged to align their policies and contracts more closely with EU consumer policy, and to be more transparent...
Blog Post

Low water puts some European river cruises on hold

Paul Heymont ·
Low water in the Danube, 2012   If it seems like only yesterday we were reporting on European river cruises being canceled because high waters were blocking ships from sailing under bridges...well, it was. On May 7, we reported problems on the...
Blog Post

Heathrow gets 'best airport' award, closes T1

Paul Heymont ·
Queen Elizabeth opens Heathrow's Terminal 1 in 1968   Amazingly to many of us, London's Heathrow has been named best airport in Europe, picked from among 450 European airports in 46 European countries (did you know there were that many?) The...
Blog Post

French air traffic control strike highlights bigger issue

Paul Heymont ·
Air traffic in parts of Europe is being affected by a strike of French air traffic controllers, scheduled to last through tomorrow. As a result of the strike, French airspace is closed to most flights, even those not landing in France. Some flights...
Blog Post

EU Parliament Ends Cell Phone Roaming Charges in 2017

Travel Rob ·
The European Parliament  approved a plan to ban roaming charges from being imposed on consumers when they travel within the EU with their cell phones.   An interim period starts next April when roaming should...
Blog Post

Airbus Puts in Patent for Stacked Seating

Travel Rob ·
                                          ...
Blog Post

Ryanair, unions at odds in Spain and Denmark

Paul Heymont ·
Ryanair, the leading low-cost air carrier in Europe has its hands full on labor issues these days. A continuing strike of ground workers in Spain has left Ryanair without baggage service in Madrid, Danish unions have received court permission to...
Blog Post

European phone operators told: Hang up on roaming charges!

Paul Heymont ·
The European Parliament, legislative body of the E.U., has voted (534-25!) to put an end to roaming charges with E.U. for all mobile phone users. the change is to take effect by the end of 2015.   Even with caps imposed in recent years, the...
Blog Post

Fewer European tourists in U.S., more from "emerging economies"

Paul Heymont ·
http://skift.com/2013/09/11/u-...-0d2166f9bf-63725561
Blog Post

Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 6: Chateau D'If, France's Alcatraz

Paul Heymont ·
The storied Chateau D’If sits on the small island of If,  just a short ferry ride from Marseille’s Vieux Port. Built originally (depending on your view) to defend Marseille from invasion or to keep Marseille under the king’s...
Blog Post

New Olympic contender? Snow volleyball's making a play

Paul Heymont ·
Volleyball goes year-round as the International Volleyball Federation takes on the task of promoting a new version of the sport.
Blog Post

Berlin's airport fiasco: Another €2.2 billion and 2 more years

Paul Heymont ·
Berlin's trouble-plagued airport project, already 7 years overdue, will take at least another 2 and has just gotten €2.2 billion more to finish the job.
Blog Post

July 11, 2016: European Herring Gulls, Blyth South Harbour, Northumberland, UK.

Ian Cook ·
Ian Cook shares some cute photos of young herring gulls.
Topic

The Maltese Islands – Underrated gems or best kept secret ?

IslandMan ·
I have an affinity with the Maltese islands . The fact that I was born there may have something to do it, but, as I have lived most of my life in Australia, the distance between the 2 countries has made this affinity more special. I was constantly reading about it and wanted to know more. I returned there many times for short holidays, and my fondness grew with each subsequent visit. Sliema Waterfront I am now a permanent resident of the country, and, while I may seem biased towards it, it’s...
Blog Post

Europe to require visas for U.S. travelers?

Paul Heymont ·
The European Union votes today on possible visa requirements for Americans in return for US refusal to include all members in the Visa Waiver Program.
Blog Post

'Uncomfortable memory' tour faces Barcelona slave history

Paul Heymont ·
Barcelona, and other cities, confront the 'uncomfortable memory' of slave-built fortunes that paid for many of their famous sights.
Blog Post

EU airlines to collect more passenger security data

Paul Heymont ·
As a security measure, European airlines will now be required to collect and share more passenger information, matching U.S. and Canada.
Blog Post

Europe abandons its biggest bill

Paul Heymont ·
The European Central Bank will stop printing €500 notes. Rarely seen by ordinary folks, they are believed to be used mainly by criminals.
Blog Post

Uber tries a new tack in Spain

Paul Heymont ·
Uber, which was banned in Spain last December and tried to overturn the ban with an appeal to the European Commission, will now try a different perspective: following the rules.   Uber's original plan used its app to connect passengers with...
Blog Post

Air France returns to Tehran in April

Paul Heymont ·
Air France will re-open its historic Paris-Tehran route in April with a 3-times-a-week round trip, starting in April. The move is part of the resumption of trade with Iran, possible because of the lifting of sanctions as part of the multi-nation nuclear limits treaty with Iran. Air France previously flew the route from 1946 until 2008, which it was ended as part of the UN and EU sanctions against Iran. The EU is already Iran's fourth-biggest economic partner, and trade is expected to grow.
Blog Post

Celebrating Nature on 7 Continents: Asia, part 3 - European Bee-eaters in Sir Bani Yas Island, United Arab Emirates

Kirsten Hines ·
We return to the UAE, where Kirsten Hines catches the first European bee-eaters to arrive on their migratory journey.
Blog Post

Eurail adds extra days, early-bird benefit

Paul Heymont ·
Eurail's passes purchased before April 30 now include free extra travel days, and can be bought 11 months in advance.
Comment

Re: Happy No-Border Birthday! Schengen celebrates 20 years

Travel Rob ·
I don't share the nostalgia for border crossings, having experienced some of the worst crossings in the world in the late 80's And while Schengen said it wiped out land borders for travelers throughout most of Europe, I've still experienced controls in those countries . On one such occasion ,I took a bus from Brussels to Paris and the bus was stopped twice in France. ID was checked and people questioned. Even bags were inspected for people from Romania and Bulgaria.
Comment

Re: Happy No-Border Birthday! Schengen celebrates 20 years

Paul Heymont ·
Interesting, given the history of prejudice against Romany, that those countries were singled out. At the time they were not yet Schengen members, either, although they are now in the process of joining, leaving only Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and UK out among EU members. The non-EU members of Schengen are Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland.
Comment

Re: Happy No-Border Birthday! Schengen celebrates 20 years

DrFumblefinger ·
From a historic perspective, I think it's still a little early to know if this was all good for Europe or not. The border crossings are definitely easier and faster, and I, too, miss the passport stamps no longer on my pages. For me the greatest convenience is the common currency -- not having to change money so often, usually at a loss. Of course, some would argue that the Euro is the greatest weakness of the EU (will it survive?), so I'm not sure in the long run how this will all play out.
Comment

Re: New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

DrFumblefinger ·
I certainly can't see any harm in it. I've been told that airline staff have a "back" way into a locked cockpit to be used only in an emergency(a contingency). Not sure why that wasn't used this time -- perhaps it never dawned on the flight crew what was actually happening until it was too late.
Comment

Re: New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

Paul Heymont ·
The back door is the second, emergency, code. It was used, but it can be overridden for 5 minutes from within.
Comment

Re: New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

DrFumblefinger ·
Originally Posted by PHeymont: The back door is the second, emergency, code. It was used, but it can be overridden for 5 minutes from within. Looks like that 5 minute policy will need to be revisited.
Comment

Re: New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

Paul Heymont ·
It's very difficult to see exactly what to do, and I doubt that every contingency can be provided. The 5-minute lock is intended to deal with the situation of a crewmember, knife at throat, giving up the second code. If a second staff member were in the cockpit...that's about the only way to deal with a maniac like the Germanwings co-pilot. No guarantee...but a much better shot.
Comment

Re: New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

PortMoresby ·
There was mention in the news coverage that planes can be controlled from the ground. It seems to me that the 2 person rule, combined with planes equipped so that settings from the cockpit can be overridden from the ground, would go a long way in the right direction.
Comment

Re: New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

Travel Rob ·
I do think the security doors have been good because its prevented hijackings. I just don't see any answer though to a pilot or copilot wanting to crash the plane . It's a horrible tragedy but flying on a commercial airplanes is so safe compared to other forms of transportation. For some reason ,we don't worry about taking buses or vans or driving our own cars even though the risk is far greater.
Comment

Re: New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

DrFumblefinger ·
I actually thought a bit about this today, and I'm going to go at this from a different approach. While we seem to think that a locked cockpit door makes flying safer, we have no evidence of that. There have been no (published) attempts of terrorists wanting to hijack a cockpit since 9-11. A shoe and underwear bomber, yes, but that didn't directly involve taking control of the plane. I would agree that it SEEMS to be a deterrent, but so is all the rest of the TSA song and dance. We have now...
Comment

Re: New safety rules after crash: No solo pilots

Paul Heymont ·
I think I have to differ sharply with you on aspects of this issue. When you say that "whoever established that 5 minute rule is somewhat complicit in this," I think you are pointing the finger in the wrong direction. That system was the product of careful thought and consensus. You are right: there are no published reports hijacking a cockpit (and yes, there ARE a number of reports of attempts). That is because the cockpit security rules have succeeded in their aim. Where the finger of...
 
×
×
×
×