Posts Tagged eu

It’s déjà EU… all over again

By Scott Benson

On 10th October, a vote of no confidence, which was tied to plans to enhance the European Financial Stability Facility, forced Slovakian Prime Minister Iveta Radičová to step down. Exactly a month later, the Greek and Italian Parliaments have put similar pressure on their respective leaders to resign.

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Greek Expectations

If there is one thing we should learn from the Eurozone crisis it is to expect the unexpected and, whatever you do, don’t breathe a sigh of relief too soon. With every hard-negotiated plan to keep the euro area afloat another twist emerges; for who could have predicted that Greece – given a lifeline just a week ago after an eleventh hour summit – would be so ready to cut its own rope and potentially take the rest of Europe down with it. Mere days after the markets bounced back and headlines declared there was ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ the Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has left many in the EU horrified by his decision to put the latest bailout package to a Greek referendum.

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A CAP on Growth

By Scott Benson

Last night’s Eurozone summit may have provided a plan to help solve the immediate sovereign debt crisis but the competitiveness of European industries still remains a cause for concern.  This is particularly true in agriculture where EU policy-makers struggle to reconcile the demands of the industry with environmental sustainability.

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EU holds back UK economic recovery

Britain must plan exit strategy from failing EU, but should keep trade links

As Europe’s leaders gamble their nations’ finances on saving the Euro, a new Civitas report reveals that the European Union is damaging Britain’s economic recovery and sapping job growth. Time to Say No, by Ian Milne, shows that a break with the EU need not represent a drastic break with Europe itself. Instead, it will permit a pragmatic reform of trade and immigration relations. Existing international institutions can achieve this without the current burdens of bureaucracy in the EU. It will also revive democracy at home.

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Ill-Advised Advice Opt Out

Successive governments have been censured for ensnaring the UK in unwanted, unwarranted EU legislation. Given the vigour with which the country has repeatedly signed up to obligations of spurious merit, it is particularly disheartening to see the Government opt out of a Directive that has the potential to assist some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

Immigrant crime

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Jiminy Cricket! The EU’s bizarre new research projects

This week the EU has launched two new and rather unusual research projects; projects which, despite the EU’s seemingly good intentions behind their creation, are likely to be met by a storm of controversy. Whilst both projects are geared towards improving wellbeing – one aimed at animals and one targeting humans – the trivial focus of the research spending, especially in such times of austerity, seems utter folly.

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