CER (2014) “The EU and an independent Scotland“, Centre for European Reform Blog, 23 July.   Scots living in Scotland vote on September 18th on whether to end their 300-year union with England. If they win, the nationalists aim for actual independence, and full EU membership, in March 2016. Opinion polls currently show a lead for the pro-Union side, but 15 or 20 per cent remain undecided. The debate is …Read More

Terzi, A. (2014) “Europe Must Escape A Savings Trap, Not A Liquidity Trap“, Social Europe Journal, 23 July.   The anti-austerity vote in the European elections reflected two different kinds of discontent. One is a feeling of frustration, which is invigorating nationalism: the vote for “less Europe.” The other is a lack of confidence in current EU policies: the vote for “another Europe.” In both cases, voters  revealed that they …Read More

Solana, J. (2014) “The Gallic Heart of Europe“, Project Syndicate, 22 July.   Europe needs a France that is proud, prosperous, and able to overcome its gloomy suspicions. We need the great country that was and will be – the France that inspired the entire world with its revolution, culture, and values. Alain Peyrefitte, the scholar, politician, and confidant of Charles de Gaulle, said that “without Europe, France will be …Read More

Boskin J. Μ. (2014) “Europe’s Options“, Project Syndicate, 22 July.   Many Europeans have come to believe that they have weathered the economic and financial storm. In the last two years, deficits and debt have stabilized. Yields on the sovereign debt of the eurozone periphery’s weak economies have fallen sharply. Portugal and Ireland have exited their bailout programs. Talk of Greece leaving the euro has subsided. CommentsView/Create comment on this …Read More

Tamborini, R. & Farina, F. (2014) “Europe’s Stalemate“, Economonitor, 17 Ιουλίου.   The causes of the present crisis of the European Union trace back to the past phases of the integration process.  In the 1980s, the series of agreements and common policies of “mutual advantage” among the EU members came to an end. Most economies of scale had been exploited by the EU countries, as an effect of the access …Read More

Nahles, A. (2014) “European Social Policy For The Next Five Years“, Social Europe Journal, 21 July.   For generations, Europe was a project of hope. To my parents’ generation, after a time of war and hostility, Europe represented the hope of achieving economic progress together in an atmosphere of peace and friendship. To my generation, Europe symbolised a place of hope and freedom following the Cold War. We criss-crossed fading …Read More

Lannoo, K. (2014) “Juncker raises high expectations with ambitious agenda“, Politics and Institutions, CEPS Commentaries, 16 July.   Based on his speech to the European Parliament on July 15th, following his election as President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker has clearly opted for ‘more Union’ during his five-year term, offering up an ambitious agenda that raises a host of expectations. In this CEPS Commentary, Karel Lannoo outlines the most …Read More

Wolff, Β. G. (2014) “Why Juncker’s industrial goals are unlikely to be achieved“, Bruegel Institute, 16 July.   Instead of setting numerical goals, the new Commission president should focus on framework conditions, the single market and market failures ‘Industrial policy is back!’ This is the message given by the President Elect of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, at his confirmation by the European Parliament yesterday. In his speech, Juncker said …Read More

Hugh, E. (2014) “Spain and the IMF: Round the Bend or Out of the Woods?“, A Fistful of Euros-European Opinion Blog, 15 Ιουλίου.   “Spain has turned the corner”. With this stark statement the IMF opened it’s annual Article IV consultation report for 2014. Naturally the statement rankled, with this author among others, because at first sight it seems to be saying something which on closer reading of the report …Read More

Hoffer, F. (2014) “Why We Need Movement Of Free People“, Social Europe Journal, 15 July.   When Franklin Roosevelt outlined his essential four freedoms in 1941 he was convinced democracy could only be defended and advanced beyond the remaining 11 democracies by replacing classical liberalism with a comprehensive concept based on freedom of expression, freedom of worship, freedom of want and freedom from fear. Real freedom cannot exist if one of …Read More