Cause and Effect in European Politics and Economy

The Time of "Cheap" Economic Growth is Over

08 Feb 2012 15:02:00 UT

If something has become painfully clear in the last few years, regarding the global financial and economic crisis and its consequences, it is that the time of cheap economic growth is over. It is time for growth, generated by hard, highly educated and highly technological labour. Whoever will lead in ... more

Egemen Bagis: Turkey and the EU Have a Common Future

08 Feb 2012 08:02:00 UT

It is probably different when you have a friend in the EU institutions. Of course, it is important what that friendship is based upon and also whether there are expectations this friendship to deliver something specific. This is what I was thinking while I listened to the brief press conference of the ... more

Merkozy: Athens's Blackmail Must End!

07 Feb 2012 11:02:00 UT

On the eve of the European Council meeting on January 30 a rumour of a German proposal emerged Greece to submit its budget sovereignty to an EU Commissioner, as a condition to receive the second bailout. The proposal provoked strong reactions and was eventually swept under the carpet - until Monday, ... more

The European Stability Mechanism Is Ready but It Is not Enough

06 Feb 2012 13:02:00 UT

On 2 February 2012, in Brussels, the ambassadors of the eurozone countries officially signed the Treaty on the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). The text of the treaty was finally approved by the EU leaders at their meeting on January 30. The fund will start functioning from July 2012 and ... more

A Crisis of Vision: Greece and the Fiscal Pact

06 Feb 2012 13:02:00 UT

There is a crisis of vision at the moment in terms of the eurozone crisis and specifically in terms of Greece. This is what Mr Dimitar Ashikov, a macroeconomist and owner of the Domani Coffee Roasting Boutique in Sofia, said, who is also a host of euoutside. On February 4th he, together with euinside ... more

More And More Money for Greece, the Second Bailout Is Expected within Days

06 Feb 2012 10:02:00 UT

Monday, February the 6th, was expected to be a decisive day for Greece. Then it was initially planned the finance ministers of the eurozone to approve the second bailout for the country, provided that there was a deal with the private lenders to write off 50% of the Greek debt and that Athens ... more

The Russian Bear at the European Doorstep

06 Feb 2012 09:02:00 UT

For the European Union, Russia is the elephant in the room - something that everyone is seeing but nobody wants to discuss. Russia is the bear on EU's doorstep but what we say in our official statements does not reflect our real attitude towards it.

These words belong to British MEP Edward McMillan ... more

EP: Iran to be Brought Back to Negotiations, Military Solution Is not an Alternative

03 Feb 2012 09:02:00 UT

The European Parliament has passed a resolution in support of the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Iran. A day earlier MEPs discussed the situation in the country with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. She recalled that in November 2011 the International ... more

What is Europe's Next Objective?

03 Feb 2012 08:02:00 UT

Let's finally face it - the time of Europe of Unification is over. Now is the time of a Responsible Europe (I am borrowing the name from the Danish Presidency, which has put Europe's responsibility on top of its 6-month long agenda). Europe, which is aware what and why it is doing. It is aware of ... more

The Fiscal Pact in the EP: from a Political Farce to Victory for Unity

02 Feb 2012 10:02:00 UT

I was not right in my predictions that the debate in the European Parliament on the already agreed by the EU leaders on Monday, January 30th, new fiscal treaty would cause the traditional sharp criticism against the loss of community method and the European Parliament's role in the eurozone summits ... more