June 11, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on A terrifying but promising sign
Oh, sure, it sounds terrifying at first: “European finance officials have discussed limiting the size of withdrawals from ATM machines, imposing border checks and introducing euro zone capital controls as a worst-case scenario should Athens decide to leave the euro” … Continue reading
June 11, 2012
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Former Spanish foreign minister Ana Palacio raises some important points: “few official pronouncements, let alone policies, are addressing Europe’s deficit of trust and credibility. The current crisis has exposed the original lacunae and widening cracks in the compact between Europe’s … Continue reading
June 8, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Cameron’s confusing approach to the eurocrisis
Good points raised by the eurosceptic organisation Open Europe’s blog today about the British government’s rather bizarre, contradictory attitude(s?) towards the eurocrisis: “A German-led superstate still seems years off – if it ever will be agreed (no matter how much … Continue reading
June 8, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Fixing the euro: “It’s very simple…”
Yeah – sounds like a piece of piss…
“Jörg Asmussen, a member of the European Central Bank’s executive board and a former official at the German ministry of finance, outlined what Europe needs to do.
“‘It’s very simple,’ Mr. Asmussen said. ‘We need a more integrated monetary union, because the monetary area that we have now is incomplete. And we have to complement it in a way to make it more stable. One point is a fiscal union. The second one is a financial market union with three key elements: a resolution regime; second element, a deposit guarantee insurance; and third, we need a centralized supervision for the large 25 banks in Europe.”
“‘We need a democratically legitimized political union,’ he added. ‘We need to start this speedily.'”
Well that’s alright, then. Should be doable by the end of next week, I’d say.
June 6, 2012
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
Hell, this would have been an unpopular view at most stages in the last decade and a half, even when it looked like the eurozone was doing well. So it’s a brave British politician indeed to make the argument that … Continue reading
June 5, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on EU democracy creeping in?
Former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami makes a good case that the slow advance of the European democratic will is starting to have an impact (hurrah, etc.): “Europe’s experience has shown that the subordination of society to economic theories is politically untenable… Merkel’s now legendary obstinacy eventually might have to succumb to the imperatives of politics. It is one thing to ignore European Commission President José Manuel Barroso’s call for a more flexible economic policy, and quite another to dismiss out of hand the powerful message coming from French and Greek voters.”
He also makes a sound warning of the dangers: ” Social vulnerability and frustration at the political system’s failure to provide solutions are the grounds upon which radical movements have always emerged to offer facile solutions.”
June 5, 2012
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
New EU recovery plan, eh? It’s about bloody time, though some areas are likely to scare the usual suspects (emphasis mine)… “The proposals… are said to be focused on 4 main areas so far: structural reforms, a banking union, a fiscal union, and a political union. To gain a sufficient traction for these actions, they will be sold under a growth friendly umbrella rather than as austerity related measures”
June 4, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Worth a read: Soros on the euro and EU
Three months until the euro’s past saving, eh? I’ve heard that one before… Still, very much well worth reading George Soros’ recent eurocrisis speech in full – an interesting take with much to be said for it. After recent posts … Continue reading
June 3, 2012
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
A telling paragraph in Der Spiegel which fits in neatly with my onging “blame the European Council” approach when it comes to pretty much everything that’s wrong with the way the EU works. (Emphasis mine): “European Central Bank head Mario … Continue reading
June 2, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Some ideas for improving Britain’s relations with Europe
The Economist’s Political Editor David Rennie – erstwhile Charlemagne, and before that the Telegraph’s Brussels correspondent – is the single most consistently interesting and insightful commentator on EU affairs in the British Media. And other media, for that matter.
So you can imagine my geeky joy at discovering he’s written a 20,000 word analysis of the Anglo-European relationship just in time for a long Bank Holiday weekend. He provides an introduction/summary here – if you follow this blog you really should go read. Eurogeek heaven.
May 31, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on A thoughtful Irish take on the EU Fiscal Treaty on referendum day
Conor Slowey is one of the most interesting EU bloggers out there, and I agree with his take on things more often than not. He’s also Irish, which means he’s had to form a solid yes/no take on the EU’s … Continue reading
May 30, 2012
by Nosemonkey
2 Comments
The Atlantic: Europe Is Literally Running Out of Money. (Depending on your definition of literally…) – Does the eurozone need quantitative easing?
May 30, 2012
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Following on from the last quick post on the near-inevitable failure of a post-euro Drachma, another interesting spot: Eurozone breakup and the doctrine of competing currencies. Also worth reading in full – not sure if I entirely agree, but any … Continue reading
May 29, 2012
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Slavoj Žižek often seems to exist to be controversial, and I certainly don’t agree with many of the details of his latest piece for the London Review of Books on the Greece crisis (short version, as ever with old Slavoj: … Continue reading