Euro

Is Poland Europe’s El Dorado?

In less than two decades the current holder of the EU council presidency has gone from being communist to the sixth biggest economic power in the EU. Poland was also the only country to not suffer from the recession. Experts say this is the country’s golden era; a Polish expat and student share their views

by Silvia Diez Ginestar @ // 09/12/11

euro, economic growth, europe, poland, crise, politics, jobs

Iceland elections: next stop, Brussels?

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

by Maite de Sola @ , domenec ruiz devesa , roberto foa // 22/04/09

euro, nationalism, enlargement, green parties, socialist, politics, iceland

Lisbon treaty and recession Europe, give us a kiss

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

by Katharina Kloss @ // 23/02/09

euro, currency, iceland, european union, referendum, czech republic, denmark

What the fridge are convergence criteria?

These are the conditions that a member state must fulfil in order to adopt the euro and become part of the economic and monetary union. Once they have joined, member states must maintain stability and continue to respect the convergence criteria - or else face sanctions

by Lucie Dupin @ // 16/01/09

euro, what the hell is, monetary union, politics, stability pact, european union, economy

Euro: the ten-year itch

The European single currency was launched on 1 January 1999. By 2002, 304 million Europeans were jiggling the same coins around in their wallets. Today, sixteen countries use the euro, including Slovakia. It's got more stable on the markets and stands strong against the dollar and pound, but its users struggle to see the advantage what with the rising cost of life

• Read the special edition Euro: the ten-year itch
• A decade of the euro - in cartoons
• Economic crisis in Britain: don't mention the euro

God save our illegal euro coins

Or Eoin Ryan - on 3 December the divine Irish MEP called for a ‘stitch in time’ to ‘save nine’ – stop fake notes!

by Anna Castellari @ // 12/12/08

euro, european parliament, euweek, economy

Cost of Life day: Budapest Europe’s cheapest capital?

Twelve cafebabel.com local teams, from Sofia to London, spent one night simultaneously going for a movie, followed by dinner, a drink and a ride home on public transport. Compare their costs, and you’ll find that Europe is not as homogenised as we tend to believe

by Ole Skambraks @ // 10/12/08

euro, budapest, best of cafebabel.com, parigi, stockholm, blogs, lyon

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

‘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

by Jane Mery @ // 25/11/08

euro, estonia, eu debate on the ground, europe de l'est, europe on the ground, tallinn, central and eastern europe