Posts Tagged Greece
It’s déjà EU… all over again
Posted by Natalie Hamill in Economics, European Union on 10/11/2011
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.
Greek Expectations
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 02/11/2011
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.
The State of the Union
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 29/09/2011
Long anticipated plans to introduce a financial transaction tax (FTT) have come a step closer to fruition with the European Commission President announcing the proposal in his state of the union address. Speaking to the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday (Wednesday 28 September), José Manuel Barroso announced that the college of commissioners has already adopted the controversial proposal, which could generate revenue of more than €55 billion a year.
Un- ‘Finnish’ business
Posted by Natalie Hamill in European Union on 24/08/2011
Greece’s second bailout package looks to be on the cusp of unravelling, as several member states are pushing for their own conditions in return for their bailout contributions. The ring leader, Finland’s new government, is proving a thorn in the side of the would-be Eurozone ‘fixers’, obstinately refusing to roll over and ‘play ball’ and leading others along the path of rebellion. The bailout package, agreed only last month, may well not be ready for Greece’s September payments and, after all the thrashing to try to stay afloat, Greece could finally go under.
Between an economic rock and a political hard place
Posted by Stephen Clarke in Economics, Politics on 18/07/2011
One of the more interesting changes resulting from the financial crash and ensuing recession could be the way in which financiers seek to analyse future market movements: it could be a case of out with the economists and in with the politicians.
The Great Escape
Posted by Carolina Bracken in Civil Liberty, Crime, European Union, Human Rights on 22/06/2011
After ten months in barbaric captivity, and a further three years in legal limbo, Andrew Symeou has been acquitted of manslaughter and can return to the UK. His story must serve as evidence of the worst excesses of the European Arrest Warrant, and be used as a platform to achieve long-overdue and far-reaching change.
