PRAGUE | By Daniel Gros at Project Syndicate via Presseurop | German ardour for the European project is not cooling, as some would have the public believe. Instead, Germany is recognising the value of the EU and above all the single currency, now more than ever.
PARIS | By François Bazin at Le Nouvel Observateur via Presseurop | “For the first time,” the Front National (FN) has taken the lead in a survey of voting intentions in France, reports an Le Nouvel Observateur.
BEIJING | By Hong Hao via Caixin | Lurking behind the U.S. fiscal deadlock is an assortment of risks to Chinese capital markets – but for now, China appears to be standing on a steady perch.
THE CORNER | As expected, U.S. President Barack Obama appointed Janet Yellen as the Federal Reserve’s next leader, the first woman in the 100-year-history of the central bank. Among her first words: “More needs to be done to strengthen the recovery,” even though progress has been made, and: “too many Americans still cannot find a job and worry how they will pay their bills and provide for their families.” Were those hints about how she will deal with QE? Although she is considered a dove, some analysts believe that is a bit overstated. Anyway Obama called her “tough”, joking that it was not just because she was born in Brooklyn.
MADRID | By A. R. Mendizabal via Capitalmadrid | Total figures pile up, percentages keep on rising, the country level moves down… The statistical office of the European Union, Eurostat, certifies that 27% of Spaniards are currently living at risk of poverty and social exclusion –which means one out of four citizens.
MADRID | By Francisco López | In recent times there has not been any other banking sector as closely tested as the Spanish. However, despite the continuing ‘streap-tease’ of different financial institutions, the big international investors do not fully trust in the health of the Spanish banking sector.
BERLIN | By Cicero via Presseurop | “I’m sorry. They are still talking about it. Maybe HE will bring you a new government.”
MADRID | By Alex García.
MEXICO CITY | By David Brunat | “If Mexico is capable of passing its energy reform in a way that enables them to attract foreign investment, it will mean that Canada, United States and Mexico will altogether become the new Middle East in terms of gas and oil production,” U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar recently said. For some experts the North American country is dealing with its most important political decision of the last century.
BRUSSELS | By Hein de Haas at De Morgen via Presseurop | The calls for stricter border controls, which are echoing throughout Europe, will increase rather than decrease the risk of tragedies such as the Lampedusa disaster, argues an immigration expert. That is why the EU should first reform its asylum policy.