European Debt Crisis

Return Of The Mummy

Newly Engaged Berlusconi Returns Unwelcomed To Italian Arena

Silvio Berlusconi got a chilly reception upon his comeback, but that has never deterred Berlusconi.

First Aid EU Summit Concludes

Clash Between Hollande And Cameron Highlight Of Ho Hum Summit

The EU summit in Brussels concluded without real landmarks.

Berlusconi Pulls Plug On Monti

Berlusconi Attempts Comeback, Former Allies Pan Him As Dinosaur

Silvio Berlusconi has effectively prompted the resignation of the technocratic Mario Monti government, sparking criticism.

Italian Left Emulates French

More Than 3 Million Vote In Left's Open Primaries In Italy

Emulating the French Socialists, Italy's Democratic Party staged a primary in the hope that this will pave way to electoral victory.

EU Giveth But Taketh Away

Loss Of EU Membership Major Roadblock For Would-Be Separatists

Convergence and Unity, the moderate Catalan nationalist party, expects to get a vote of confidence to pursue independence.

France Compounds Euro Blues

Downgrading Threatens Bailout Funds; Budget Talks Snarled

The problems facing the French economy also threaten the European Union as a whole.

Merkel Ups Social Spending

German Coalition Finds Something For Everyone With Eye To Voters

To increase reelection prospects the German coalition is increasing welfare spending.

27 Countries And One Budget

EU Tries To Reconcile Differences On Spending And Priorities

The EU is racing the clock to find a compromise on its 7 year budget.

No Joy In Waiting For Rajoy

Spain Pressed To End Its Vacillations On Accepting A Bailout

Spain's Mariano Rajoy is being pressed to decide on whether Spain wants or rejects a bailout.

Catalonia Madrid On Collision

Economic Crisis Drives Catalan Independence Aspirations

The economic crisis is unraveling the compromise reached on regional autonomy in Spain

Mixing Centralism & Legitimacy

11 European States Chart Course For A Federal Europe With Army

Europe is making moves towards forming a federal state with a military capacity.

Two Sources Of Cheer For EU

Dutch Elections And Constitutional Decision In Germany Cheer EU

The defeat of explicitly anti-EU parties in Dutch elections and German court's ruling on constitutionality of ESM avert crisis - for now.

Austerity By Any Other Name

Francois Hollande Outlines Path To €30 Billion Deficit Slash

Francois Hollande has outlined his blueprint for taming the French budget deficit. No one is pleased.

France Feeling The Blues

French Pessimism Returns Three Months After Hollande's Victory

Francoise Hollande, who briefly inspired hope in both France and Southern Europe, no longer offers any.

Greeks Told Time Is Money

Greek PM Samaras Faces Stiff Headwind In Pleas For More Time

The statements coming out of Germany are intended to tell Greek PM Samaras not to imagine renegotiating bailout.

Spain Feels Economic Pain

The Austerity In Spain Is Forcing Desperate Measures

Spain's economic crisis is felt in schools, supermarkets and rubbish bins.

Italians Angry With Germany

Italian Commentator Accuses Germany Of Establishing 4th Reich

Italy and Spain have sought to get the ECB to purchase their bonds. Germany has blocked this approach, stirring resentment.

More Bad News From Europe

The News From Europe on the Economy Is Universally Depressing

The euro rallied today, but there are strong doubts it can keep up the pretense, given the succession of bad news. Germany's rating is down.

European Regions See Red (Ink)

Regional Excess Spending Aggravates European Debt Crisis

The indebted regions have aggravated the financial plight of Spain and Italy and may lose some competencies.

Britain In Policy Reversal

Coalition Embraces Growth By Betting On Infrastructures

Attempting to jump-start a sagging economy, Britain will underwrite loans to infrastructure projects.

Bickering Worsens Spain's Pain

Italian PM Lashes Out At 'Inappropriate' Remarks by EU Members

European finance ministers hit resistance while trying to stave off a rout prompted by skyrocketing interest charges on Spanish debt.

Romanian Crisis Hits Currency

Romanian Government Criticized for Toying With Constitution

Rumania, with looming financial crisis, is drawing criticism for tinkering with the constitution to impeach President Basescu

Socialists Rather Tax Than Cut

French Socialists Now Face The Challenge Of Balancing The Budget

Despite calls for slashing government spending from the national audit, the Socialist government of France is signalling higher taxation.

Cyprus: Small Broke President

Cyprus Takes Over Rotating EU Presidency With Low Expectations

Small countries that are economically endangered don't usually make successful European presidents.

Cameron Uses "R" Word

MPs Want Referendum Now; Cameron Says Maybe Later

David Cameron is increasingly hemmed in by Europe's evolution to greater centralization while his MPs call for getting out of EU.

EU Harper Clash At G-20

Harper Rules Out Canadian Cash For European Bailouts

Canadian Prime Minister chided European leaders for lack of resolution and adhering to extravagant social spending.

French Socialists In Big Win

With Majority In National Assembly, French Socialists In Control

The French Socialists scored an absolute majority in the legislative elections, the first time they have accomplished this since 1981.

A Pyrrhic Victory For Samaras?

Antonis Samaras Will Have No Honeymoon After Narrow Victory

The victory of New Democracy provides temporary relief for the Eurozone but the onerous problems remain.

Hollande Merkel Feud Simmers

Hollande Warned By Germans As He Collects Allies Against Merkel

The simmering feud over policy between Germany and France was evident last week.

Spain: Just Temporary Relief

Bank Bailout In Spain Fails To Quell Questions On Debt Repayment

The usual cycle of solution, temporary euphoria and return to nervousness accompanied the Spanish bank bailout.

Spain Wants Bank Bailout

Spain Wants Bailout Without Calling It By Name

Spain wants direct help to its troubled banking system claims it is a cheaper alternative.

EU Gives France A Slight Nudge

EU Commission Gives France Polite Warning About Deficit Control

Feeling its way with the new French president, the EU reminds France that its obligations remain in force.

Greeks Returning To Reality

After Rebellious Fling In May 6 Elections Greeks More Realistic

Greece very much wants to stay in the Euro and fears the consequences of an exit. This may shift the vote in the rerun of the elections.

EU Carrots & Sticks For Greeks

Merkel For Once Plays Good Cop Finance Ministers Are Bad Cops

The EU hopes that some reality checks like a bank run coupled with growth promises will produce a positive Greek vote.

Greece EU Near Endgame

Breakdown Of Greek Coalition Talks Push Greece To Euro Exit

As hopes dim that Greece will abide by the austerity package, there is increasing acceptance that Greece may leave the euro.

Irish Take In Greece & France

Sinn Fein Asks Irish To Join Anti Austerity Revolt And Nix Pact

The elections in France and Greece have narrowed the odds on Irish approval of the European Stability Pact.

Greece Revives Euro Jitters

After Elections, Greek Implementation Of Bailout Terms Now Iffy

It will be hard to put a coherent Greek government together, increasing jitters in the Eurozone.

Hollande Win = Motor Trouble?

Hollande's Expected Victory Casts Shadow On Franco-German Motor

For now the financial markets are discounting Francois Hollande's campaign pledges as mere rhetoric.

The EU Becomes The Issue

The Breakup Of The EU Becomes A Campaign Issue In Europe

The current financial crisis has stirred resentment against the EU and strengthened calls for restoring national sovereignty..

Sarkozy Not Abandoning Ship

Sarkozy Offer Of Referendum Reflects Legislative Roadblock

Even though his offer of a referendum reflects constitutional reality, Sarkozy's position further unnerves EU.

Le Pen Blame Game Begins In EU

Sarkozy Trades Barbs With EU Partisans As He Woos Le Pen Voters

The success of anti-EU candidate Marine Le Pen has caused a slanging match between the EU and French politicians.

There Are Free Lunches

EU Ambassador Denies That EU Takes Anti-Israel Position

Ambassador Andrew Standley defended EU Mideast policy before skeptical journalists and conceded that the EU was facing its worst crisis.

Rajoy: No Spanish Economic Joy

Spanish Interest Rises As Debt Expected To Balloon This Year

Investors are getting jittery about Europe with Spain becoming the epicenter of the crisis

German Pirates Shock Pollsters

Pirate Party Success Dents Image Of German System's Stability

The surprising surge in the polls of the German Pirate party has shaken assumptions about German stability.

Merkel's Victory Bittersweet

Merkel Got Her Second Bailout But Faces Increasing Opposition

Angela Merkel got a lopsided vote in the Bundestag favoring a bailout but is facing growing dissent in her coalition and public opinion.