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In Europe

Mario Draghi

In Europe 22nd May 2015

Draghi calls for (more) structural reforms and economic flexibility in Europe

The Corner | May 22, 2015 | “Structural reforms that reverse the downward drift in potential growth are now vital for the euro area, which is why I believe, as the guardian of the currency, we have a legitimate interest in talking about them,” ECB’s president Mario Draghi said in a speech in Sintra (Portugal). He praised the ECB’s monthly bond purchases but insisted that monetary easing needs to be combined with reforms.

migrant tragedy

In Europe 20th May 2015

In depth: Migration in Europe –the Mediterranean cemetery

LETTER FROM AFRICA | May 20, 2015 | By Donato Ndongo | Europe needs to fix this human tragedy that has meant the death of 23,000 people in the last 13 years. Strengthen borders control and providing charitable assistance to starving sub-Saharan Africans who achieve to reach the rich northern shore after a terrible journey through deserts and seas is not working. Tripling the budget will only raise the price of the seat in a boat.

Wake-up call

In Europe 18th May 2015

Brussels gives Spain a wake-up call

MADRID | May 18, 2015 | By Francisco López | The Spanish economy does not shake off the Brussels’ yoke even when is leading the growth of the eurozone. The European Commission is still placing us in the group of the European countries with the most serious economic imbalances.

Investment in Spain

In Europe 12th May 2015

Foreign investors own half of Spanish debt

MADRID | May 12, 2015 | By Fernando G. Urbaneja | The show of confidence belies an economic weakness: half of Spain’s debt is in the hands of foreign investors. After the uncertainties leading up to the summer of 2012, they are once again stocking up their portfolios with Spanish securities. 

Greek debt

In Europe 11th May 2015

How Greece kept its budget on track in Q1

ATHENS | May 11, 2015 | By Manos Giakoumis via MacroPolis | Recent Greek budget data showed the huge revenue gap of 968 million euros recorded in January narrowed to 389 million by the end of the first quarter (Q1) of 2015. At the same time, primary expenditure, which was just 53 million better than target in January, displayed a strong outperformance of 1.18 billion by the end of March. 

Tsipras and Varoufakis

In Europe 11th May 2015

Greece has more room to maneouvre than you think

The Corner | May 11, 2015 |  As Athens enters a critical week –it has to pay about €750 million euros ($837 million) to the IMF tomorrow and needs some sign of progress at today’s Eurogroup in Brussels–, very few voices are still talking about a Grexit scenario. “Greece will meet its commitment,” analysts at Bankinter stress. “In 70 years of the IMF’s History no developed country has defaulted.”