cafebabel.com

From elections to christmas, same old campaign in Spain

('Elaine Jordan',) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:07:11 -0000

Spain’s recent congress and senate elections on 20 November bombarded our tired eyes and weary spirits. Now we are hit with another inevitable bomb shell: christmas. We face another equally exhausting and worrying campaign

Social lending: Noba.hu and the problematic Hungarian 'peer to peer' system

('Alex-',) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:52:37 -0000

Since their emergence in 2005 'person to person' or 'p2p' lending platforms have become an increasing global alternative to conventional banking. But Hungary's version of the online banking model has found its ability to make the concept financially appealing to potential clientele stifled by Hungarian law

Slash your bonus wrists: what bankers want for christmas

('Lindsey Evans',) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 -0000

Quite a remarkable christmas list found its way into my hands recently in France. 'Basically, Father Christmas, I just don’t know what more I can do to get decent payment for my hard work and the hard work of my brothers and sisters. That’s why I’m counting on you to change things.' At first glance, who would you assume these people were? Unemployed young people hit by the recession? Generation precarity? Underpaid interns?

Calling Europe’s anarchist class 2008-2009: no need to smash bank windows

('james whyte',) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:42:38 -0000

Today, anarchy has nothing to offer the public; a five-year-old sat in McDonalds could think of a better way to govern the people. Those that push it – the protesters on Europe's streets, as most popularly depicted in the media - are merely self-serving fools who ignore what democracy has done for us, and who are driven by some sort of warped fantasy of idyllic life

Albert Pintat: 'Yes, Andorra is a tax haven, but...'

('Sarah Truesdale',) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:45:00 -0000

At the end of 2008, Andorra organised a summit on the future of Europe (from 27 to 28 November). Prime minister Albert Pintat has initiated an economic metamorphosis and has since had to face pressure from France to reform his fiscal system. This interview takes place on the eve of the legislative elections on 27 April

British Baroness to 'trade' for EU

('Anna Patton',) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:29:46 -0000

...after Peter Mandelson resigned on 3 October to return to the UK. Meanwhile the European council on the Lisbon treaty, Polish energy and Brussels bashes out road - and purse – safety - the weekly news from Brussels

The 2008 economic crisis explained

('Dave Keating',) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0000

These trying times for Europe’s economy have been driven by two main factors, neither of which were created by Europe. Now there is little the continent can do but wait and hope external factors change

José Manuel Barroso on the financial crisis: 'national borders mean little'

('Jos\xc3\xa9 Manuel Dur\xc3\xa3o Barroso',) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:29:15 -0000

Pulling together; the official word from the president of the European commission, which hit Europe's national dailys on 2 October