MADRID | By Antonio Sánchez-Gijón at CapitalMadrid | On May 9 the European Union will deliver Charlemagne Prize to Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite. The idea is not to reward her as a former EC Commissioner, but as the person who embodies the success of three small countries of Northern Europe out of their deep economic crisis in two years. While the populations of the Mediterranean Europe and France are raised in arms against austerity policies imposed from Brussels and Frankfurt to exit the stagnation and save the euro, two European Baltic nations are looking forward to joining the common currency.
Cyprus bailout effects: Eurozone integration remains vulnerable
With the great amount of debate, chatter, and serious analysis about the EU’s financial rescue of Cyprus from insolvency and potential departure from the eurozone, many wonder if the EU policy emerging from the Cypriot “bail out” will have a lasting impact on the political and economic integration of the Europe. In John Sydney Hopkins view, the EU rescue of Cyprus will be seen as a milestone event with a lasting impact on the EU’s ability to manage the process of integration.
EU against interchanging fees: Should we save the Euro at all costs?
The European interchange fees reduction project is very similar to the measures adopted by the Spanish Government in 2005. However, several studies show that measures adopted to reduce interchange fees have finally harmed consumers, as French site Bursorama points out. Is there any ideological agenda behind it?
Spanish exports fiesta: 40% more companies selling their goods abroad
MADRID | By Juan de la Cruz Martín Rozas, Crédito y Caución | Spain contributes with 1.7% to the global exchange of goods trade, after Germany, France, Italy or the United Kingdom. However, the growth experienced by Spanish exports in recent years, including 2012, is the highest of the European economies.
Reform of securitized Spanish mortgage market crucial to foreign investors
MADRID | By Santiago Carbó and Francisco Rodríguez (Funcas) | Spanish mortgage market being so highly securitized, any changes affecting its evolution is of vital importance for international investors.
Cyprus: Of course it’s a template!
LONDON | City-based fund manager Pawel Morski (pseudonym) believes the EU is recognising it is moving towards a new regime of bailing in banks. For a non-template, he points out, the Cyprus solution drops some cracking clues as to Brussels’ priorities.
Can the City afford going the Thatcher way?
LONDON | The Swiss approach sounds exactly like the type of relation the eurosceptic Iron Lady wanted for Britain regarding the EU. But the path is punctuated by so many partial surrenders that it almost looks not worth the effort, the City appears to think.
Should non-euro area countries join the SSM?
By Zsolt Darvas, Guntram B. Wolff | Bruegel Think Tank | Irrespective of the euro crisis, a European banking union makes sense, including for non-euro area countries, because of the extent of European Union financial integration. The Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) is the first element of the banking union.
Anti-EU media poison UK public opinion
BRUSSELS | By Ralf Grahn, lawyer and EU adviser | Sustained campaigns by anti-EU mass market papers deliberately distort public opinion, preparing the ground for secession (Brexit).
Where free markets meet big state
MADRID | Post-war capitalism, in which the state had a leading hand addressing needs and creating markets, had extraordinary good results.
