Social climate in Europe ? European Commission survey delivers mixed results
“Europeans quite happy with their personal situation, but less satisfied with economic and social climate in their country.
Greece?s austerity plan endorsed
“No to SWIFT” says European Parliament rapporteur Hennis-Plasschaert
In her report on the SWIFT agreement regarding the exchange of banking data between the USA and the EU, European Parliament rapporteur Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert has recommended to the EP to reject the SWIFT agreement in the vote tomorrow.
Spain?s Incredible Consumer Confidence Index
According to Spain?s Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) the ICC-ICO (consumer confidence index) went up in January by 6.1 points from its December value and is now at its highest level since August 2009. This confidence improvement is largely due to a significant rise in the Expectations Indicator (+5.7 points) and to a smaller one in the Current Economic Conditions one (+2.3 points).
WORLD RECESSION AND RECOVERY: Most European countries still persuing failed neo – liberal policies
French PM says man with ‘burqa’ wife has no place in France
France’s prime minister said Wednesday he would sign a decree refusing French nationality to a man who forced his wife to wear the full Islamic veil, arguing he “has no place in our country.” The case has arisen amid a fierce national debate about what it means to be French, with the government seeking to legislate for a ban on the head-to-toe burqa on the grounds that it is incompatible with French values.
So where is Hungary?
Response to Edward Hugh
The financial crisis has re-shaped the regions and countries in financial terms. New country groups emerge in analyses and decisions by the investors receiving specific interest or countries far from one another are compared. It is honourable that Hungary enjoys distinguished attention especially because international institutions, investment houses or even rating agencies more often than not appreciate that Hungary has been capable of a huge fiscal consolidation in the most difficult times of the crisis. Edward Hugh?s article ?Hungary Isn?t Another Greece??Now Is It?? is all the more striking.
Franco-German 10-year plan unveiled
Europe’s role in losing Ukraine,
On the eve of the crucial run-off in Ukraine’s presidential election, Fabrizio Tassinari argues that enlargement fatigue in the EU has meant that since the Orange Revolution Ukraine has been offered no real prospect of joining Europe
Parliament divided ahead of SWIFT vote
The outcome of a vote today (4 February) in the European Parliament’s civil liberties committee appears uncertain, as the EU assembly’s main parties have taken a conflicting stance on the issue.
MAIN FOCUS: EU must fortify Greece | 04/02/2010
The EU Commission on Wednesday announced it would closely monitor the Greek budget owing to the country’s deficit having reached 12.7 percent. Europe’s press expresses concern about the stability of the euro and calls for tougher measures to be enforced against countries whose deficits grow too large.
Freedom to travel for Schengen migrants on long-stay visas
The current situation has led to thousands of complaints, says the European Parliament rapporteur Carlos Coelho.
The Grahnlaw blog post Schengen residents with long-stay visa: Proposals on freedom to travel (3 February 2010) mentioned the travel restrictions on legally residing migrants with a national long-stay visa. We also mentioned the Regulations proposed by the European Commission in COM(2009) 90 final and COM(2009) 91 final to enable these expats with ?D visas? to travel inside the Schengen area.