#UACES2011 in Cambridge: A look at some interesting EU research
from Ideas on Europe by Ronny Patz
I must say that I very much enjoyed the UACES conference in Cambridge last week, especially some of the finished and ongoing research I was able to witness. Listening to the presentations, discussions and interventions, I?d say some of the people who were there would make pretty good EU bloggers.
Denmark elects first female premier
from EurActiv.com
The centre-left coalition led by the Social Democratic party won a closely contested election in Denmark, which will now be led by the first-ever female premier.
Denmark elects its first female premier
from FT.com – World, Europe
Rasmussen concedes defeat after decade of centre-right rule, leaving Helle Thorning-Schmidt to become prime minister
VIDEO: Social Democrats win Danish election
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
Denmark’s centre-left Social Democrats have claimed victory in the country’s general election, ending nearly a decade in opposition.
2011-09-14 Clashes in front of the parliament after austerity vote in #Italy
At least 40 injured and Rome left billowing in smoke after anti-austerity protesters clash with riot police in front of Parliament for over two hours tonight.
European Research Area re-launched, again
from EurActiv.com
MAIN FOCUS: Greek bankruptcy preoccupies Europe | 14/09/2011
from euro|topics
Europe continues to discuss a Greek bankruptcy. Auditors from the EU, IMF and ECB are working on the assumption that Athens will fail to reach its budget target for the end of September. Commentators believe further bailouts will be futile and advocate a debt restructuring for the crisis-stricken state.
GROWTH: Thinking the Unthinkable in Europe
from Project Syndicate by George Soros
GROWTH: Thinking the Unthinkable in Europe To resolve a crisis in which the impossible has become possible, it is necessary to think the unthinkable. So, to resolve Europe?s sovereign-debt crisis, it is now imperative to prepare for the possibility of default and defection from the eurozone by Greece, Portugal, and perhaps Ireland.
Eurozone ‘coming to a standstill’
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
The European Commission has predicted that economic growth in the eurozone will come “to a virtual standstill” in the second half of 2011.
MAIN FOCUS: Dispute over insolvency for Greece | 13/09/2011
from euro|topics
After the discussion about allowing Greece to go bankrupt was reignited in Germany, share prices and the the euro exchange rate dropped on Monday. While some commentators see the discussion as sheer populism that could have catastrophic repercussions, others say insolvency and a euro exit for Greece are well worth considering.
Goodbye Eurobonds
from EurActiv.com
Despite growing calls to introduce Eurobonds as a way out of the euro zone’s debt crisis, August 2011 might well be remembered as the month during which the idea of Eurobonds was murdered by the Italian political system, argues Daniel Gros, director of the Centre for European Policie Studies (CEPS).
Less than a year to go and the French elections have never seemed so undecided, Aurelien Mondon
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Aurelien Mondon
Sarkozy?s presidential term has made the front page more often for his private life than for his policies; this has undermined his possibilities for a re-election and increased the chances for opposition candidates.
Four years ago, in the aftermath of his landslide victory against Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal, it was widely expected that Nicolas Sarkozy would easily claim a second term in 2012. The extreme right was in shambles with Jean-Marie Le Pen receding to just above 10%, far from the 15% he had gathered in 2002. The moderate left had failed in its bid to outflank Sarkozy?s populism and had lost touch with its traditional base. Minor parties had also suffered a terrible blow as many French voters decided to cast what became famously known as a ?vote utile? (?useful vote?) for the main candidates to avoid another ?21 April?. The future was bright for Sarkozy and those who had not voted for him braced themselves for at least ten years of ?unabashed? rule.
A prayer for Denmark, David Volodzko
from open Democracy News Analysis – by David Volodzko
Denmark’s 2011 election is upon us. Considering that the nation has been run by a right-wing coalition for ten years, and with the far-right DPP being pushed out of mainstream politics, what lies in store for Denmark?
Ukraine as a perspective platform for Europe
from Blogactiv by Ivan Matiyeshyn
Starting my first blog, I would like to mention a couple words about myself. My name is Ivan Semenovych Matiyeshyn. I am a successful businessman. I work in the energy sphere, in particular in the area of drilling, development, arrangement and capital repair of oil and gas wells on the territory of the CIS states. I am engaged in charity in Ukraine. When I started my activities on the Ukrainian terrains I thought that politics wouldn?t become a part of my aspirations, but the situation in Ukraine makes everyone who is not indifferent to the destiny of their country to have a responsible public position. That?s why I spend a part of my income on sponsoring activities of Ukrainian Foundation for Democracy ?People First?. You can find out about the mission and activities of the Foundation on its web-site (www.peoplefirst.org.ua).
The cosy relations between France and Africa
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
The cosy relationship between French and African leaders
One killed in nuclear site blast in southern France, no leak
from Hurriyet Dailynews by NIMES, France – Reuters
One person was killed in an explosion at the nuclear site of Marcoule in southern France, France’s ASN nuclear watchdog said on Monday, but there was no leak of radioactive material.
Mary Davies an Official Candidate for President
from Stephen Spillane
Today Mary Davies became the first Independent Candidate to get the backing of four councils for this years Presidential Election. Both Monaghan and South Tipperary Councils passed official nominations, meaning that Ms Davies has passed the constitutional minimum to be on the ballot paper following her nomination last week by Galway County Council and Sligo County Council.
EURO CRISIS: Greek default ? Systemic Crisis ? Voodoo economics
from Ideas on Europe by Protesilaos Stavrou
VIDEO: European Parliament
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has called for a “fight for European integration”, during a debate on the eurozone crisis on 14 September 2011.
MAIN FOCUS: China offers to help Europe | 15/09/2011
from euro|topics
China has offered to back Europe and the US in the debt crisis, calling in exchange for “correct policies” and more individual responsibility on the part of its partners. The Chinese reprimand is justified, some commentators say, while others fear that accepting China’s self-serving aid will only boost Beijing’s clout.
Morning Brief: Sarkozy and Cameron arrive in Libya
Special Report: Ukraine ups ante in EU visa-free travel talks
from EurActiv.com
Time for a Euro-wide strategy to deal with the systemic crisis
from Ideas on Europeby Protesilaos Stavrou
 * |
A new strategy that will address all three dimensions of the crisis is what we need. Core issues are growth, healthy banks, stable fiscal finances. Image Source: Wikipedia |
The latest events in the spiraling crisis of the euro lead to a single logical conclusion: The crisis is systemic and requires system-wide solutions. To remind you what are these events and starting from the negative, major French banks, due to fears of their exposure to the periphery?s debt. Yields on Italian bonds are rising as market fears increase. Greece naturally missed its budget targets due to the overall slowdown in the European and global economy, which resulted in the need for further self-defeating, front-loaded austerity, while everyone now accepts that austerity is not the solution to the problem including Nobel economics prize winner Joseph Stiglitz.
While visa-free regime for Ukraine is illusory, EU should improve existing visa practice
from Blogactiv by anatoliymartsynovski
It is always interesting to read about perspective of visa-free travel for the Ukrainians. Special report ?Ukraine ups ante in EU visa-free travel talks? by Georgi Gotev (Euractive, Seprember,15) quite well describes current situation. I just would like to share with some own considerations.
Paris bans Muslim street prayers
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
A ban on Muslims saying prayers in the street comes into effect in Paris with believers offered the use of a disused fire brigade barracks instead.
MAIN FOCUS: Central bankers ensure banks’ liquidity | 16/09/2011
from euro|topics
The major central banks of the West announced on Thursday that they would supply large European and Japanese banks with enough US dollars to guarantee their liquidity until spring of 2012. Stock market prices promptly soared. The banks’ new liquidity will counteract stagnation but could harm the euro in the medium term, commentators write.
Italy: faltering legitimacy at the heart of Europe , Giuseppe Lenzo
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Giuseppe Lenzo
As Silvio Berlusconi wins another confidence vote to implement austerity measures within a faltering government, his winning slogan, ? ?don’t let Government dip its hands in Italian pockets? ? has caved in. There is no plausible replacement strategy.
European Central Bank offers economic policy advice
by Grahnlaw
Eurozone woes seem to be going nowhere, but there are different angles regarding the causes and remedies. The blog post Economic policy making becomes challenging mentioned the latest reports from the European Commission:
Eurozone finance ministers meeting: Some comments on Geithner and the rest
from Ideas on Europe by Protesilaos Stavrou
Eurozone finance ministers met yesterday Friday September 16, to discuss ways of dealing with the spiraling systemic crisis of the euro. A special guest was US Secretary of Treasury Mr. Timothy Geithner who held a 30-minute meeting with his European counterparts. Mr. Geithner previously expressed what every single individual outside the political games of the EU/Eurozone believes: ?Europe has the capacity to contain its debt crisis, but must choose to do so?. Mr. Geithner put forward some of his ideas regarding ways of redesigning the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF ? the bailout fund). He spoke of the need to put an end to the loose talk of politicians that confuses and unsettles the markets, thus making things worse. His sensible comments, which were nothing more than constructive opinions and not some binding directive met the resistance of some finance ministers, with the Austrian, Ms Maria Fekter saying the following:
Eurozone blues
by Grahnlaw
Who is going to be the Herostratus of the eurozone? Many are in the running if we try to follow events.
In the column Public debt in the Eurozone, Japan, and the US, professor Charles Wyplosz presented a report about the ease of accumulating excessive public debt and the difficulties in getting rid of it.
End of eurozone or beginning of democracy?
by Grahnlaw
Our knowledgeable guides take us on a tour of the hospice of the eurozone.
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