By Christoph Schult
From the outside, it looks as though the European Union is hopelessly divided. Northern member states demand budgetary discipline while those in the south bemoan drastic austerity measures. Furthermore, theFranco-German alliance is brittle, to the point that a planned policy paper on the future of the European common currency area – to be written jointly by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande – has yet to materialize.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has drawn parallels between the policies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Nazi invasion of his country in 1944 during the course of the Second World War.
Across southern Europe resistance is taking on a new urgency. In Spain people are speaking of the start of ‘the real struggle’, while in Greece the term ‘civil war’ permeates the political climate. In both countries a frightening re-emergence of a dictatorship past seems to characterize the current historical moment as fascist ideologies become more acceptable and police tactics become more pre-emptive and militarized. These two trends emerging together, the rise of far right ideologies and pre-emptive militarized policing, indicate a shift in the discourses of legitimacy used by the state.
“I can not imagine that the European Parliament will approve a budget that creates deficits, that is because it is illegal.” ANSA said the President, Martin Schulz, in Milan today for a series of meetings, with reference to the difference of 51.6 billion euro specified in the draft Vanm Rompuy between appropriations and actual cash.
BRUSSELS — E.U. leaders began a two-day summit meeting Thursday, warning of obstacles to reaching agreement on a nearly €1 trillion budget to support farming, transportation and other infrastructure, as well as big research projects for the 27-nation bloc.
By Michael B.
The economic implosion of Europe is accelerating. Even while the mainstream media continues to proclaim that the financial crisis in Europe has been “averted”, the economic statistics that are coming out of Europe just continue to get worse.
Britain’s former European commissioner Peter Mandelson says British Prime Minister’s threat to block eurozone efforts toward a more integrated union is “economic insanity”.
By; Michael SnyderEurope is not just heading into another recession. The truth is that Europe is heading into a full-blown depression. The economy of the EU is actually larger than the U.S. economy, and we are watching it melt down right in front of our eyes.
By ALEX BRITTAIN
The euro-zone economy declined further at the start of the fourth quarter, business surveys suggest, with sentiment in Germany—the euro zone’s biggest economy and key source of financial support—worsening markedly.
By Colin Freeman
AS the spiritual pilgrimage site for the world’s most powerful Mafia bosses, the Shrine of our Lady of Polsi in Calabria’s Aspromonte mountains has long symbolised the lawlessness that still prevails in corners of southern Italy.
By: Rt
The European Union was announced the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2012. A heated debate emerged over the validity of the award amidst the backdrop of Europe’s as-yet-unsolved economic crisis.
The 27-nation organization was awarded the prize for its role in “uniting the continent,” and its contributions “to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.”
About 8,000 demonstrators chanted anti-austerity slogans and hoisted banners warning Angela Merkel she was not welcome in Greece at a protest on Monday, the eve of a visit by the German chancellor.
Tens of thousands of workers, young people, unemployed and retirees took part in demonstrations in major cities of Portugal and Spain Saturday, in a mounting confrontation between the European working class and the savage austerity policies demanded by the bankers, big business and the European Union.
Summer vacation is over and things are about to get very interesting in Europe. Most Americans don’t realize this, but much of Europe shuts down for the entire month of August. I wish we had something similar in the United States. But now millions of Europeans are returning from their extended family vacations and the fun is about to begin.
Finland breaks stride with other nations claiming they aren’t even contemplating the end of Euro by telling the Telegraph it is only a matter of time.
By: Alexander Higgins
If you have been watching the financial headlines, the media is quoting more and more analysts and economists saying the ejection of Greece from the Euro-zone won’t be that big of a deal.
“Ready for anything for the euro” and the scam goes on sheeple!!
BRUSSELS – The virtuous circle triggered by the” magic words” spoken yesterday in London by Mario Draghi, and ‘was fueled today by Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande, who ensured to be ready for anything” to protect” the eurozone and the integrity ‘of the single currency, so flipping’ markets to the same message of the governor of the ECB, with a multiplier effect of credibility ‘.
By Leigh Thomas
The champion of a moderate stimulus plan for Europe, at home French President Francois Hollande is turning his back on the sort of infrastructure investment he hopes will revive European growth.
His cash-strapped Socialist government is considering scrapping all but the most needed projects as it is forced to weigh questionable economic benefits in an era of belt-tightening.
By Ian Traynor
Leaders draft federal plan to “save the eurozone”
Demonized in Europe’s media as a red-eyed Terminator robot, a flabby center-fold pinup and a fleshy Roman god eating Greeks, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has become the subject of a new wave of vitriol for her tough stance on the euro zone crisis.
