Baby-Badge

Shortly after the implementation of the Council of Europe’s new security concept I was riding in my car with my nephew. At the entrance to the garage, all passengers in a car have to show their badges. While I handed mine over to the guard, I pointed at the three month old baby and said…

Öffnen Sie bitte Ihren Kofferraum!

Während der Parlamentarischen Versammlung werden die Sicherheitskontrollen am Europarat jeweils verschärft und alle Fahrzeuge am Eingang zur Garage eingehend kontrolliert. So wurde ich von einem Sicherheitsbeamten aufgefordert, meinen Kofferraum zu öffnen. Etwas befremdet – Smarts haben ja keinen eigentlichen Kofferraum – entriegelte ich die gläserne Heckklappe. Der Kontrolleur konnte sie aber nicht öffnen, also stieg…

I badge – therefore I am

In January 2007, the Council of Europe implemented its new security system. The new badges – which held a photo plus information on one side and a magnetic strip on the other – granted the owner access to certain areas of the Palais de l’Europe. The respective doors opened, as soon as a badge was…

In the car park at night

In the evening of the very first day after the implementation of the Council of Europe’s new security system, a reception was held. When I was ready to leave, I offered a colleague to drop her off at her house on my way home. In front of the – now locked – door, leading to…

Please open your glove box!

During the Parliamentary Assembly, security at the Council of Europe is reinforced. One day, one of the guards at the entrance to the garage requested, that I open the glove box of my car. Slightly amused I informed him, that Smart cars don’t have glove boxes. Irritated by this unexpected development, the man asked me…