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 30, 2012
by Nosemonkey
1 Comment
Interesting piece by an American investment and free trade advocate giving a handy bit of background to Greece’s money woes – just in case you weren’t pessimisitc enough already. Has some convincing, interesting points – worth reading in full: “Modern … 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
May 29, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on Germany’s economic ideology
Long, catchily-titled briefing paper from the European Council on Foreign Relations looks to be well worth a read in full as we start heading towards next year’s German federal elections amidst ever-increasing frustration with Merkel’s apparent lack of flexibility on … Continue reading
May 28, 2012
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
The New Yorker highlights the primary point that advocates of the “being able to devalue their currency would have saved Greece” / “they should just return to the drachma” / “let’s abolish the eurozone” crowd have yet – that I’ve … Continue reading
May 27, 2012
by Nosemonkey
3 Comments
Much to agree with here – an important piece worth reading in full: “Is the euro really worth saving? Even the single currency’s diehard backers now acknowledge that it was put together badly and run worse.” But: “the people who … Continue reading
May 27, 2012
by Nosemonkey
Comments Off on A right-wing American history of the euro
A right-wing American take on the history of the EU and euro with which I don’t entirely agree. Except on this point – it’s mostly France’s fault, and mostly due to French national interest. (Which was why the Americans wanted Britain to join and be active in the first place, of course – to keep France in check…)
The question is, following this hypothesis, can the new French president change this pattern of repeated slow failure? Worth a read, if you’re not familiar with the classic US take on the EU.
May 27, 2012
by Nosemonkey
4 Comments
When Declan Ganley first started to appear on the scene with his Libertas party/pressure group a few years back – not to be confused with UKIP defector Robert Kilroy-Silk’s Veritas party – it was all too easy to dismiss it … Continue reading
January 5, 2012
by Nosemonkey
7 Comments
Site’s still screwed (some kind of issue in the database, by the look of things – a legacy of this place having been around too long), but thought I’d try and cobble something together, what with 2011 – with just … Continue reading
October 24, 2011
by Nosemonkey
8 Comments
Ahead of today’s Commons vote on a possible EU referendum, some basic points that many are overlooking (originally posted as a comment over at Jon Worth’s place): Referenda have a decidedly unclear position within the UK constitution. The people are … Continue reading