In Europe

banking union

We still need a Banking Union in 2013

By Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, XTB analyst | The toxic assets aren’t just linked to real estate and construction companies, but to sovereign debt holdings, too. Which is why, without a Banking Union the whole euro nightmare will repeat itself.


Portugal

How Portugal charms investors

Presseurope | by  | Hard-hit by the crisis, Lisbon is wooing rich investors from its former colonies. Anyone who invests in the country has a good chance of obtaining a visa — and an open door to the rest of Europe.




Irish economy

The Irish economy’s riddle

MADRID | This year, the budget cut therapy ordered by Brussels upon the euro area’s weakest economies will have to pass an exam in Dublin. If the Irish economy burdens itself with more public debt while missing growth, the failure could make current European Union policies untenable.


angela merkel

Angela Merkel is the best it could have happened to Europe

AMSTERDAM | Presseurop.eu | By Melvyn Krauss | The last minute negotiations in Washington to avoid a budget shortfall show that short-termism is well grounded in US politics. And by contrast, it shows that despite her controversial handling of the euro crisis, the German chancellor is wise enough to instead push for long-term solutions.




Spain bailout

Spain needs assistance, rather than financial bailout

Spain needs technical but also political assistance to redress the hesitant and often deficient action of the current government. Even if backed by an overall majority in Parliament, the government seems unable to offer a solvent alternative.


mario monti

Mario Monti, the fake pretender

If Mario Monti achieves his goal and sits again as the prime minister of Italy, the message sent to the rest of the periphery will be one of great uncertainty and suspicion: lack of democracy and national accountability will not spark popular support to reforms, but most probably the opposite.