MADRID | By JP Marín Arrese | The ECB has made crystal clear it has no intention to undertake any extra effort in helping the economy to overcome its current recession. Its message utterly fails to provide confidence.
Ralf Grahn | The panicky fear behind France’s linguistic policies is somewhat baffling for someone from a Nordic country or one of the even smaller member states of the European Union.
MADRID | By Julia Pastor | Most of these third-country workers in the EU find a job in the agriculture and tourism sectors, but the labour market segmentation divides them into first and second class.
BRUSSELS/MADRID | Barroso took advantage of the Spanish president’s presence to push for an agenda Berlin still feels reticent about: the European Banking Union.
MADRID | By JP Marín Arrese | Lacking enough resources to shore up potential contingencies, Spanish banks might be forced to ask for further assistance under the rescue umbrella.
VALENCIA | By Álvaro Mohorte | The operation, now in an early stage, is basically online although some distribution shops in countries like the UK have showed interest.
Eurozone countries are under an obligation to reduce their deficits to below 3% of GDP by this year. Failing could mean to be fined up to 0.2% of GDP. But the Commission seems to have eased its austerity-led policies in order to boost growth. “It may be reasonable to extend the deadline by two years and to correct the excessive deficit by 2015 at the latest,” European commissioner for economic and monetary affairs and the euro Olli Rehn has said.
MADRID | By Javier Flores of Asinver | Rising the actual minimum wages would benefit families at risk of social exclusion and poverty with no backlash results for the stability of those jobs.
MADRID | By El País | A total of €6bn for 6 million unemployed young Europeans. The plan presented by Germany and France is a response to an absolute emergency. But for it to work, it must be supported by a collective will.
LONDON | Anders Borg (Stockholm, 1968), Finance Minister of Sweden: “Handling the crisis is not primarily about how well we manage short-term stabilisation. Instead, the crucial issue is our readiness to confront more fundamental questions that will determine long-term growth.”