will never become "one of the EU's main powers"

It can only improve its image, because for now is abysmal. There is only one country which loves Poland - Japan. It's hard to describe this differently, Japanese like Poland more than Polish. That is as cultural phenomenon, few Japanese actually live in Poland. Germans obviously dislike Poland. Other nationalities mostly never heard of it. You can ask Italians for example and they genuinely know nothing about the country.

Transformation is reality. E.g. there were 20 people killed last year with firearms, there are 80 000 terminals for contactless payments. More and more things are normal here.

This is not representative sample, but here you go - Germans like Poland, Deutschen mögen Polen

You are forcing to be positive. I would expect also association with poverty and backwardness from Frenchmen.

I don't believe that Poland as a brand is in France either good or bad.

Which of Europe's national anthems is your favorite?

French- although it is little too militaristic for me.

Soviet- although it is was anthem of the evil empire.

European- probably greatest of all, but foolishly hopeful.

Suicides in Europe

First you should repair the climate. Europe has darkest cities on planet (besides Siberia) and most of this sunshine is experienced in summer. Secondary you should curb alcohol consumption, which is probably also contributing factor.

Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

He was Tsar of Bulgarians from 1943 to 1946 and funnily enough Prime Minister of Bulgaria in 2001-2005.

While European Anthem has lukewarm lyrics, the full version of Ode to Joy was much more radical:

Joy, beautiful sparkle of the gods,
Daughter of Elysium,
We enter, fire-drunk,
Heavenly one, your shrine.
Your magics bind again
What custom's sword has parted
Beggars become princes' brothers

Where your tender wing lingers.

Chorus
Be embraced, millions!
This kiss to the entire world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
Must a loving Father reside.


Whoever has succeeded in the great attempt
To be a friend's friend;
Whoever has won a lovely woman
Add in his jubilation!
Yes, who calls even one soul
His own on the earth's sphere!
And whoever never could achieve this,
Let him steal away crying from this gathering!

Chorus
Those who occupy the great circle,
Pay homage to sympathy!
It leads to the stars
Where the unknown one reigns.


All creatures drink joy
At the breasts of nature,
All good, all evil
Follow her trail of roses.
Kisses she gave us, and the vine,
A friend, proven in death.
Pleasure was given to the worm,
And the cherub stands before God.

Chorus
Do you fall down, you millions?
Do you sense the creator, world?
Seek him above the starry canopy,
Above the stars he must live.


Joy is the name of the strong spring
In eternal nature.
Joy, joy drives the wheels
In the great clock of worlds.
She lures flowers from the buds,
Suns out of the firmament,
She rolls spheres in the spaces
That the seer's telescope does not know.

Chorus
Happy, as his suns fly
Through the heaven’s magnificent plain
Run, brothers, your track
Joyfully, as a hero to victory.


From the fiery mirror of truth
She smiles upon the researcher,
Towards virtue’s steep hill
She guides the endurer’s path.
Upon faith’s sunlit mountain
One sees her banners in the wind,
Through the opening of burst coffins
One sees them standing in the chorus of angels.

Chorus
Endure courageously, millions!
Endure for the better world!
There above the starry canopy
A great God will reward.


Gods one cannot repay
Beautiful it is, to be like them.
Grief and poverty, acquaint yourselves
With the joyful ones rejoice.
Anger and revenge be forgotten,
Our deadly enemy be forgiven,
No tears shall he shed
No remorse shall gnaw at him

Chorus
Our debt registers be abolished
Reconcile the entire world!
Brothers, over the starry canopy
God judges, as we judged.


Joy bubbles in the cup,
In the grape’s golden blood
Cannibals drink gentleness
The fearful, courage --
Brothers, fly from your perches,
When the full cup is passed,
Let the foam spray to the heavens
This glass to the good spirit

Chorus
He whom the spirals of stars praise,
He whom the seraphim’s hymn glorifies,
This glass to the good spirit
Above the starry canopy!


Courage firm in great suffering,
Help there, where innocence weeps,
Eternally sworn oaths,
Truth towards friend and foe,
Mens’ pride before kings’ thrones --
Brothers, even if it costs property and blood, --
The crowns to those who earn them,
Defeat to the lying brood!

Chorus
Close the holy circle tighter,
Swear by this golden vine:
Remain true to the vows,
Swear by the judge above the stars!

Escape the tyrants’ chains,

Generosity also to the villain,

Hope upon the deathbeds,

Mercy from the high court!

The dead, too, shall live!

Brothers, drink and chime in,

All sinners shall be forgiven,

And hell shall be no more.

Chorus
A serene departing hour!
Sweet sleep in the shroud!
Brothers—a mild sentence
From the final judge! 

Austerity. What austerity?

List of EU countries which had budget cuts:

• Bulgaria,
• Estonia,
• Greece, but only 1%,
• Hungary,
• Malta,
• Romania,
• Sweden,

Actually champion of austerity is Iceland which cut spending by 20% in real terms.

UK and France obviously haven't had austerity, almost all EU countries have increasing spending. Between 2008 and 2011 there was 5% increase in budget expenditure on average.

History of Norway

Undiscovered giant is interesting position on this graph. It assumes that there is giant field of crude oil in Norway to be found.

This would be Johan Sverdrup, and would prove amazing predictive value of the author.

Oil production in Norway in March is over 1.6 million barrels per day, so better than on the graph, but close enough.