Eurosphere roundup: Eurobonds and more…

Eurobonds or ECB? Either way Germany has to pay the bill by Open Europe blog team As we argued in a recent papers which looked at the short term options for the eurozone, the option of risk pooling via Eurobonds, or the option of allowing the ECB to become the lender of last resort, both … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: Berlusconi gone [for the moment…], Eurocrats appointed in Greece, Italy?

Bye-bye, Bunga-bunga: “Addio Berlusconi” by Jasmina Tesanovic MAIN FOCUS: Economist Monti to form government | 14/11/2011 from euro|topics After the resignation of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Saturday, Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano on Sunday evening tasked economist Mario Monti with forming a transitional government. Berlusconi’s reign is finally over, commentators write, but Monti faces an … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: Greece towards interim cabinet, Berlusconi struggles to hold coalition – as usual- ….

Papandreou to step down, interim cabinet to take charge (News) from EurActiv.com Berlusconi struggles to hold coalition together (News) from EurActiv.com Greeks agree coalition government from BBC News | Europe | World Edition Greek leaders meeting in Athens agree to form a new coalition government, with a fresh prime minister replacing the beleaguered George Papandreou. … Read more

Greek crisis at new levels… Eurosphere…

Many of Mr Papandreou’s MPs have failed to back the referendum plan Q&A: Eurozone debt crisis from AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (IN DEPTH) Al Jazeera takes a closer look at why the eurozone debt crisis matters, and possible solutions to the problem. Greek crisis overshadows G20 talks from European Voice – RSS – News & analysis … Read more

Eurosphere roundup: Italy’s insane Internet law triggers anti-censorship protests online; Dexia falters and more…

via   Italy Wikipedia strike: anti-censorship protests online from cafebabel.com by Eva Vanhee Here we go again: a new chapter of the world of online democracy begins. In response to a draft law restricting freedom of information being discussed in the Italian parliament, wikipedia Italy has chosen to temporarily close down. A virtual strike but … Read more

“Resignation at ECB unsettles markets” A Euroup in Crisis roundup…

European Central Bank (ECB) governing board member Jürgen Stark, who has resigned, lobbied for the ECB to impose stricter measures on Greece and Portugal. Photograph: Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images MAIN FOCUS: Resignation at ECB unsettles markets | 12/09/2011 from euro|topics Share prices fell around the world after German economist Jürgen Stark announced on Friday that he … Read more

EU does not like rating agencies any more… a Euro roundup

MAIN FOCUS: EU attacks rating agencies | 07/07/2011 The downgrading of Portugal’s creditworthiness to junk status by the rating agency Moody’s on Wednesday prompted harsh criticism from European governments and the EU Commission. While some commentators accused the agencies of being irresponsible amid the euro crisis, others thought the EU’s reaction was hypocritical. MAIN FOCUS: … Read more

Euro roundup: Internet giants against France, France banning full-face veil and more…

Internet Giants Take France to Court Over Personal Data Policy by Stan Schroeder Moderate secularism: a European conception, Tariq Modood from open Democracy News Analysis – by Tariq Modood The question of religion?s place in modern secular societies is intellectually contested and politically divisive. Here, the scholar Tariq Modood argues that European experience and institutional … Read more

Oh my, EU has a new problem (!) Tunisian migrants on Italian shores… a Euro roundup

As Tunisian migrants begin to arrive, Italy fears ‘epic emergency’ from FP Passport by Joshua Keating More than 4,000 Tunisian migrants have arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa in since the fall of longtime strongman Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. The perils of ‘stability,’ Europe edition from FP Passport by Cameron Abadi EU walks diplomatic tightrope on Tunisia migrants … Read more

Euro roundup: EU labour migration, Germany losing friends, Europe’s carbon trade, London protests etc…

Germany flexes muscle, loses friends from FP Passport by Cameron Abadi At next week’s EU summit in Brussels, you can expect the usual photos of backslapping European leaders sharing broad laughs and whispered asides. But behind closed doors, things are likely to be a lot frostier: by all indications, personal relations among EU power players … Read more

Euro roundup: European Union (EU) Commission Unveils Digital Agenda…

European Union (EU) Commission Unveils Digital Agenda to Boost Prosperity and Well-Being in Europe

from EU Pundit by Andis Kaulins
EUROPA – Press Release:
Digital Agenda: Commission outlines action plan to boost Europe’s prosperity and well-being

“[Abstract ]Implementing the ambitious Digital Agenda for Europe unveiled today by the European Commission would contribute significantly to the EU’s economic growth and spread the benefits of the digital era to all sections of society. Half of European productivity growth over the past 15 years was already driven by information and communications technologies (see IP/10/571) and this trend is likely to accelerate. The Agenda outlines seven priority areas for action: creating a digital Single Market, greater interoperability, boosting internet trust and security, much faster internet access, more investment in research and development, enhancing digital literacy skills and inclusion, and applying information and communications technologies to address challenges facing society like climate change and the ageing population. Examples of benefits include easier electronic payments and invoicing, rapid deployment of telemedicine and energy efficient lighting. In these seven areas, the Digital Agenda foresees some 100 follow-up actions, of which 31 would be legislative. The Digital Agenda is the first of seven flagship initiatives under the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth (see IP/10/225).

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Euro roundup: Saving Greece begins…

Huge Greece bail-out deal agreed from BBC News | Europe | World Edition Eurozone members and the IMF agree an historic 110bn-euro ($146bn) bail-out to rescue Greece’s ailing economy. Greece’s debt crisis strains European unity from washingtonpost.com – Op-Ed Columns by David Ignatius When European leaders laid the foundations of the European Union with the … Read more

2020 economic roadmap for Europe

Brussels unveils 2020 economic roadmap for Europe

from EurActiv.com by frederic

If implemented, the strategy should bring “at least 2% growth” to Europe, Barroso said, presenting his proposals in Brussels on Wednesday (3 March).

Hanging In The Balance Over At The ECB

from A Fistful Of Euros » A Fistful Of Euros by Edward Hugh

In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed
There?s a dyin? voice within me reaching out somewhere,

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A good read on Euroscepticism (and a Euro roundup)

Nosemonkey interviewed: On euroscepticism from Nosemonkey’s EUtopia Forgot all about this, as the interview was originally conducted back in October, but it?s in the latest issue of Shift Mag, which focusses on Euroscepticism. Have a gander at the whole lot here or, below the fold, check out my responses to the following: To fix the … Read more

Adopting scanners; a pretext for more surveillance

Dutch press EU to adopt scanners; Dutch authorities want the EU to make passenger scanners mandatory, saying they might have foiled an airline bomber.

They could foil the attack if intelligence network really worked. It seems that even the father of this moron attacker indeed informed the security services. One cannot help thinking that there is a bit of conspiracy here. There is already a huge flow of intelligence that cannot be processed- that was what also happened in September 11- and but more and more surveillance over citizens wanted by the authorities… 

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