Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy would rather talk about the economy
MADRID | By capitalmadrid.com | Rajoy deliberately shifted the spotlight from the Barcenas corruption case towards an optimistic view of the country’s future.
In Europe
Can a current account surplus become a problem in the European Union?
BARCELONA | By CaixaBank research team | Some EU countries have a current account surplus that is larger than the one allowed by the European Commission and, if not corrected, they might finally be asked to take measures to boost domestic demand.
Angela Merkel sets the pace for the re-founding of Europe
BARCELONA | By Oriol Aspachs and Joan Daniel Pina, at CaixaBank research department | To date it is the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, who has set the pace of Europe’s construction. Without purporting to be a great leader, Germany is fulfilling this role.
How Austerity Broke European Stability
LUGANO | By Andrea Terzi, professor of Economics at Franklin College | All that is required is a political commitment that the euro is the currency of Europe and that it should be distributed in a sufficient volume to sustain overall growth and employment.
Youth unemployment needs an EU response
BRUSSELS | By Alessio Pisanò | Only the EU has the means, if the Member States stop undermining the EU budget, the structure and the social and cultural requirements to fight youth unemployment.
Spanish tourism industry: full steam ahead
BARCELONA | By CaixaBank research team | The arrival of tourists from outside Europe has been key to boosting the Spanish tourism industry. Between January 2008 and December 2012, the number of non-European visitors rose by 1.5 million, an increase of 39.3%.
Unpacking Euroscepticism
LONDON | By Simon Usherwood is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Politics, University of Surrey | We have the more diffuse and non-organised wave of opposition that has emerged in recent years: all the groups and parties that have started tacking on expressions of dissatisfaction with European integration to their programmes.
Spain’s online spending higher than in France, UK
MADRID | By Nora Herrera, via capitalmadrid.com | The average Spanish spending in a year is €185, ahead of France and the United Kingdom, and mobile e-commerce has seen a spike of 141% according to comScore.
It’s the communication, people!
VALENCIA | By XTB analyst Miguel Rodríguez | The word is communication, one of the saddest failures of European politicians in general, who should take note of the Federal Reserve governor Ben Bernanke’s skills.
Cyprus rescue is painful
LISBON | A delegation of the troika is in Cyprus until the end of July to check up on the implementation of the bailout finalised in the spring. For the Greek population of the island, the therapy to restore order to the finances of the country is already being felt. Excerpts by Ana Cristina Pereira at Portuguese newspaper Público via Presseurop.