Presseurop.eu | By Marc Semo | As the most populated and wealthy region in the country, Lombardy will play a key role in the outcome of the Italian legislative elections scheduled for February 24 and 25. However, troubled by the lack of ethics among politicians, the region’s all-important Catholic vote is more undecided than ever.
MADRID | By Tania Suárez | Profim EAFI’s head of financial analysis José María Luna said in an interview for consensodelmercado.com that the ECB should cut interest rates the sooner the better.
By CaixaBank Research | Tensions have eased in the sovereign debt markets of the periphery. The government is preparing to reform Spain’s public sector in 2013.
By Liberlaboratory | The EU and the USA announced last week that they will launch negotiations for a free trade agreement. The potential benefits appear huge with the two giants representing 47% of global GDP. But mind the gaps ahead.
Ferrovial Services will double its presence in the country, where it operates through Amey. Enterprise will be integrated into Amey to create one company with over 21,000 employees and revenues in excess of 2.6 billion euro.
BARCELONA | By CaixaBank analysts | It is necessary to advance towards banking and fiscal union. Without it, the eurozone–particularly periphery countries–will not be able to face the numerous challenges still ahead.
By Chris Kendall | The nation state is no more ‘natural’ a political unit than any other, including the EU. Arguments against the EU which are premised on the notion that the nation state has more legitimacy are fundamentally flawed.
Presseurop.eu | By François Musseau |European leaders are counting on Portugal to set an example of how austerity can succeed when it is applied seriously. Sadly, despite a unprecedented tightening of the screw, Lisbon is still being forced to sell off its “crown jewels” to halt its spiralling debts.
By non-profit German political foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung | Eurocrisis, austerity policy and the European social model: how crisis policies in southern Europe threaten the EU’s social dimension.
BARCELONA |By CaixaBank analysts | The Basel III liquidity requirements are made more flexible. Those countries in crisis can postpone the application of bank liquidity coverage ratio regulations.