IMF sees a mixed outlook for Europe – calls for more ECB action and a fiscal union
by Open Europe blog team
The IMF today released its latest World Economic Outlook forecasts. As usual the forecasts are not overly different from the previous ones – published in October last year – but there are a few interesting points.
Europe rights chief says Greece can ban neo-Nazi party
from Hurriyet Daily News
A top Europe rights official warned of a surge in racist hate crimes in Greece, urging the country to ban extremist neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn.
EU gives last chance to Serbia for membership talks with bloc
from Hurriyet Daily News
The EU gave Serbia a last chance to clinch membership talks with the bloc, summoning to new negotiations on ending the ethnic partition of Kosovo.
Cameron cannot revive Thatcherism
Today?s Conservatism lacks the bite conferred on the Thatcherites when their party and country seemed on the ropes, says Richard Vinen
Europe is no longer Spain?s solution
As the country?s economic woes continue, its people are losing faith in national and European institutions, writes Gideon Rachman
Ding Dong
from open Democracy News Analysis – by OurKingdom
Radical artist Peter Kennard was a chief satirist of Thatcher during her era. On the day of her funeral, we revisit some of the images that captured the Iron Lady and her demons.
Aufstand im Bundestag: Who are Germany’s most rebellious MPs?
by Open Europe blog team
On Thursday, the German Bundestag is expected to vote on the Cypriot bailout. The package is likely to be approved with a clear majority – the opposition SPD and Greens will mostly back it. In addition, the symbolically hugely important “chancellor’s majority” – the threshold for the government to get an absolute majority with only the votes of its own MPs – is likely to be reached as well. Only around 12 MPs from the coalition parties (CDU, CSU, FDP) are likely to vote against. This is not particularly surprising. Remember, the bill for this rescue package was largely passed on to Cypriot depositors, and therefore enjoys much greater support in Germany.
Commission asked to investigate Bulgaria?s ?Watergate? scandal (News)
from EurActiv.com
European Citizens’ Initiative and Let Me Vote!
from The European Citizen by Eurocentric
At the start of the month the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) turned one year old. The Commission hasclaimed it a success – Commissioner Maro? ?ef?ovi? noted that:
Hungary backtracks in row with EU
from BBC News | Europe | World Edition
Hungary moves to defuse a row with the EU over constitutional changes seen by some European politicians as a threat to Hungarians’ human rights.
Germany set to approve Cyprus aid
from FT.com – World, Europe
Parliament appears to be on course to give swift approval to a ?10bn international bailout
Italy faces test over president vote
from FT.com – World, Europe
Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the Democrats, and Silvio Berlusconi, the centre-right leader, are due to meet again to pursue talks over a joint candidate
Why Greece failed
from open Democracy News Analysis – by Takis S Pappas
How different is Greece? The beginning of wisdom about the current Greek crisis is to recognize that it is fundamentally political, and that it has been long in the making. Greece?s failure is the outcome of a long process during which populism prevailed over liberalism and became hegemonic in society.
Could Fidesz be expelled from the European People’s Party?
from The European Citizen by Eurocentric
Der Standard reported yesterday on a dinner of leading members of the EPP, including Joseph Daul and Commissioner Viviane Reding, to consider whether the ruling party in Hungary, Fidesz, should be expelled from the party:
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