In 2009 with a group of international people, we created planet-bpm.com, a site to promote the European idea and spirit, with the slogan “it is nice to be different”. We were mostly Germans, therefore we were especially thankful for everything that Europe offered us, from freedom to choose where to live and work without boundaries to ever-increasing cultural exchange between the European countries and its people, so different in so many things, not just with regard to the language. Now facing a deep crisis in many senses we believe that social integrity is more needed than ever.
By Stefanie Claudia Müller & Grace Gulino
Planet-Bpm.com talked to Stephan Oeller, founder of Norak Traducciones and investor in many international companies. He gave us 8 keys to be successful in Spain as a businessman or woman.
By Stefanie Claudia Müller
We talk about transparency in these days. Politicians have to be more transparent about their expenses, contacts and agendas. Banks have to be more transparent about their risk management and Political parties about their internal selection processes.
By James Skinner
Let’s start with the separatist movement in Cataluña. Although all eyes – Catalans – are on the forthcoming referendum in Scotland to see which way the United Kingdom pendulum will swing as far as a breakup is concerned, Sr. Artur Mas, the region’s president continues to trip over his own shadow. He has tried to gain support from international politicians with various trips abroad to drum up enthusiasm but without success. The European Commission continually advises him that they would lose EU status. On this issue the whole of the Spanish Parliament, other that the Basque and Galician Nationalists are on the government’s side. ‘No, Sr. Mas; you cannot have your referendum!’
A survey on public opinion in Europe by the Pew Research Centre confirms that there is a lot of work to be done in the intercultural field in Europe. The stereotypes that lead our behaviour are mostly the reasons of many misunderstanding in the European Union.
by James Skinner and Stefanie Claudia Müller
Elections in Catalonia. No need to elaborate except to confirm that although the main driving coalition party (4 members) known as the ‘Junts pel si’ (‘Together for the ‘Yes) in favor of independence from Spain lead by Artur Mas (CiU – right wing nationalists) together with Oriol Jorquera (ERC – Left wing republican), Union Democratica de Cataluña (UDC – Christian Democrat) and Moviment d’Ezquerés (MES – another Christian Democrat of sorts) obtained the largest number of votes but were not enough to form a government.