cafebabel.com

Slovenian, British, Spanish and German media on UK’s EU veto

('euro topics',) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:14:45 -0000

British prime minister David Cameron defended his EU veto in the British house of commons on 12 December, while French president Nicolas Sarkozy lamented that he was ‘splitting Europe in two’. Britain is simply more eurosceptic, replies the rest of Europe, who stress the advantages that the British can offer Europe

Do the Merkel, Monti and Sarkozy dance

('euro topics',) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:13:29 -0000

On 24 November German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy agreed on plans to amend the EU treaties to impose budget discipline on the 17 eurozone countries. Italian prime minister Mario Monti also supports the initiative

Meeting Mario Monti, interim Italian prime minister

('Tobias Sauer',) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:45:42 -0000

On 13 November the independent candidate, known as the president of Italian university Bocconi, officially succeeded Silvio Berlusconi in the middle of a deep debt crisis. Ave Mario, cries French newspaper Le Monde. Super Mario, scream spoof websites. We meet at a press conference in Berlin

Greek referendum, ghastly mistake? Britain, Portugal, Germany, France and Latvia react

('eurotopics',) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 12:21:48 -0000

Despite massive criticism and shares dropping worldwide, Greek prime minister Giorgos Papandreou is going ahead with the planned referendum. His cabinet voted for a referendum on austerity measures on 1 November. Some commentators dismiss the move as irresponsible; others praise the democractic act

Eurozone crisis what crisis? 50% of Greece's debt cut

('euro topics',) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:36:46 -0000

On 26 October the 27 heads of state and government of the European Union reached agreement in Brussels on a debt restructuring and new rescue package for Greece, among other things. Last chance saloon for Athens, say French, Austrian, Spanish and Greek commentators

Question of the week: getting through the euro-crisis - united or apart?

('Annie Rutherford',) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:19:45 -0000

The euro has drifted off course and there is no land in sight. How will we emerge from the crisis: united or everyone out for themselves? We ask who rules Europe: one united superstate, or nations ruled by self-interest? Four young Europeans start the debate: join in at cafebabel.co.uk/europaplus

'Debtocracy' director Aris Chatzistefanou: 'Greece should exit eurozone'

('Nicola Accardo',) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 13:00:00 -0000

His documentary was seen by one million people in the first month. Many Greeks have learned that debt is ‘illegal’ and they don't have to pay for it. After leaving the conservative broadcaster Skai, the Greek television presenter has become a mentor for the movement of Syntagma Square. It’s where he dreams of a ‘magic night’: when the prime minister flies away on a helicopter as the state declares its bankruptcy

Greece crisis: lowdown on Germany's role, US credit agencies and more

('Andrew Burgess',) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:45:00 -0000

Interview with French economist Céline Antonin ahead of the eurogroup summit on 7 May, where the attendees should confirm their €110 billion financial aid package to Greece, and the three burning questions arising from the crisis which also apply to the European union

Satirists Clark and Dawe take on eurozone crisis - in 2 minutes 35

('English language version of cafebabel.com',) — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:30:00 -0000

We're always a bit baffled by the ins and outs of the eurozone here at cafebabel.com - so it was nice to catch this little Youtube video circulated by the FT's chief economics commentator. Hilarious, though frightening

Europe and PIIGS: bitchy politics

('Tim Mac an Airchinnigh',) — Tue, 04 May 2010 17:38:23 -0000

The acronym 'PIIGS' seems to have characterised the five eurozone losers as that nasty group of girls that everyone hated in school. Since things turned sour on Europe’s financial front, the EU community has shown its bitchy side - a sentiment which is hardly emblematic of the shared vision that the EU was founded on. Rant

PIIGS unwelcome in the EU parlour: war of words rocks Eurozone

("naomi o'leary",) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:00:00 -0000

Despite Silvio Berlusconi’s dreams, the next member of the Eurozone is unlikely to be Israel; even Croatia or Turkey have taken a back seat. The current pan-EU squabble is over who should have been admitted to the eurozone in the first place

Monetary union and media stress: young Greeks and Germans debate

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:30:00 -0000

This month, Greece was announced to be suffering a eurozone deficit of 12% - the maximum is 3%. The German media has called them the 'deceivers of the euro-family'. The Greeks respond that they are hypocrites, holding them accountable for debts from 1945. Who wants whose diplomatic blood? We hear immediate reactions from the two sides

Polish migrants post-crisis in Ireland: is there no place like home?

('Angela Steen',) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:47:11 -0000

EU enlargement in 2004 meant that the Poles made the most indelible imprint on Irish society - and surprise, they're happy in their new home, despite the fact that both countries have experienced polar fortunes in the recent recession

Europe apprehensive about Athens

('euro topics',) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:36:14 -0000

Ahead of the 11 February summit meeting on Greece in Brussels, several EU members are apparently willing to provide aid to the crisis-riden state. The German, Bulgarian, Belgian and Czech press fear a devaluation of the euro and say any measures to help the country should be attached to strict requirements

Iceland elections: next stop, Brussels?

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:26:23 -0000

On 26 January 2009, Iceland’s conservative-led government collapsed, the latest victim of the international financial crisis that has capsized the tiny island-state. Current percentages of the possible winning coalition are 31% for the socialists and 24% for the green-leftists

Lisbon treaty and recession Europe, give us a kiss

('Andrew Christie',) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 -0000

In these times of economic crisis Europe is able to laugh and is supposedly stronger for it. Even the Lisbon treaty gives a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. 2009 will be a decisive year

Estonians feel recession, but there's a euro at the end of the tunnel

('Susannah Readett-Bayley',) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0000

‘We have been too optimistic’ - a gentle landing was predicted for Estonia’s 2011 entry into the Eurozone, but the economy is entering turbulent times following its exponential growth. Interview macro-economic expert in Tallinn