Europe is partner and target for US spies
US co-operation on intelligence with European nations over decades has never come with a guarantee that Washington will not spy on them as well
Europe gets tougher on cybercrimes
Tougher penalties for those found guilty of carrying out cybercrimes have been agreed by European member states
In a world where states have been able to disguise their intentions, Jeremy Fox examines the implications of technological advancements on the necessary transparency that governments need to address.
Portugal coalition will survive – PM
Portugal’s prime minister says he has reached a deal to keep his coalition government intact and defuse a political crisis.
Portugal pulls back from chasm edge
The consensus in Lisbon on the way forward may be one reason why bond yields in other eurozone countries appear to have suffered little lasting damage
A political earthquake in the Czech Republic (Opinion)
The recent upheaval in the Czech government has given Milo? Zeman, the country’s president, the opportunity to carry out a power grab. It is an opportunity he will seize, according to academic Dariusz Ka?an.
Dariusz Ka?an is Research Fellow and Central Europe analyst at the Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM)
EU trade with Myanmar and the grasshopper problem (Opinion)
The EU can be applauded for contributing strongly to Myanmar’s economy without changing its import structure or losing a significant portion of its tariff revenue, says Akio Egawa.
Akio Egawa is visiting fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.
“The European Union?s decision to reinstate Burmese access to the generalised scheme of tariff preferences (GSP) was the right move, because it will both help to pave the way to a highly reciprocal trade relationship with emerging Asia, and will help Myanmar.
Sarkozy quits legal council over funding
Decision by the constitutional council amounts to a humiliating rebuke to the former president and threatens a financial crisis for centre-right UMP
France ‘has vast data surveillance’
France secretly stores computer and telephone data on a vast scale, like the US with its Prism programme, Le Monde reports.
Frenchelon: Is France really shocked it might be spied on?
 * |
I am shocked to find that the US has been spying |
Earlier in the week President Hollande was calling for the EU USA trade talks to be broken off following allegations of US spying.
“ECB learning curve much flatter than the unemployment curve” by Andrew Watt
The ECB has today cheered markets, driving shares up and bond yields and the euro down. Basically it has said that it will keep monetary policy expansionary until the economy improves for as long as inflation remains below target. In ECB-speak:
Czech Republic: when a political scandal is a sign of better times
In June, PM Petr Necas and his cabinet resigned after a major political scandal. In spite of the current uncertainty and power play between political parties, may this also be a sign that democratic accountability and the rule of law have finally come to the young republic?
Spain: Student Scholarships For Breast Enlargements?
Spain’s new system for awarding scholarships, much more restrictive than in previous years due to sharp cuts in funding, is currently being revisited. Minister of Education José Ignacio Wert?s original proposal required, among other things, that students maintain a grade point average of 6.5 out of 10 [roughly the equivalent of a C average in the U.S] and passing grades in 100% of subjects (85% for technical degree programs). This has placed 30,000 students at risk of expulsion for non-payment [es].
The Economist
So, too, are countries as far afield as Japan, India and Turkey, which are also digesting revelations about the nature and extent of America’s electronic espionage on them. Material leaked to Germany’s Der Spiegel and Britain’s Guardian by Edward
The continued leaking of classified information by the former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden has provoked heated debate about privacy and international law. Unfortunately, this debate has overshadowed the geostrategic dimension of Snowden’s actions.
France?s ?Big Brother? network revealed
France operates an ?immense? surveillance system of telephone, email and internet traffic similar to the US operation, Le Monde newspaper reports
Portugal?s markets rally as crisis abates
Bond yields and shares prices in Portugal rally moderately as the leaders of the two ruling coalition parties seek to reach an agreement
Portugal coalition fights to keep its head above water
As we noted in yesterday?s flash analysis, tensions in the Portuguese coalition reached critical levels over the past few days. They have eased off somewhat overnight, but there is still plenty of uncertainty around.
Ecuador consults UK on embassy bug
Ecuador asks the UK to help investigate alleged spying at its embassy in London where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is living.
Doves dominate as central banks show the way ahead in Europe
While the US has its Independence Day, Europe looks to be having its Forward guidance day.
Bad puns aside, it?s actually been quite an interesting day in the world of central banking in Europe.
Washington and Berlin in high-level spy talks
In an attempt to allay the concerns of European Union allies about revelations of US spying, Washington agree to hold high-level talks with Berlin and EU countries in coming days
CAP 2014-2020: A long road to reform (LinksDossier)
Agreement on the first major reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in a decade won political approval in June 2013 after months of haggling over how ambitious the policy would be on overhauling direct payments, ending quotas, and making farmers more environmentally accountable. The long road to a deal means many policies won?t be implemented before 2015.
When the European Commission proposed overhauling the CAP in October 2011, it called for fundamental changes in the 2014-2020 framework. These included the reform of direct payments to farmers (Pillar 1) and changes to the rural development fund (Pillar 2); the end to quotas and other forms of market support; and a greater emphasis on environmental performance.
UK constitution could resolve EU problem
In Germany, the constitutional court has, in its case law, sought to defend the integrity of the basic law against encroachment by EU treaties
Portugal: the bailout exit options
Discover more from Erkan's Field Diary
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.