POLITICS & POLICY EU
Uk- Brexit: UK requests
European Parliament President Martin Schulz appears to disagree with some of the UK’s requests. Indeed, he argued that opting for a “multi-currency union” could paralyze the Economic and Monetary Union and lead to the concession of a de facto veto right for all member states. Moreover, he declared that “no parliament in the world can prejudge the outcome of its legislative work” and made clear that the UK’s demand to restrain migrants’ benefits could not be guaranteed.
Source: Times of Malta, 18/02/2016
Germany – Warnings: Not again
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned the New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis that Greece does not have the possibility not to meet its lenders’requests, as it did last year. She added that this time she would not be able to convince German MPs to agree to any bailout programme. It is of paramount importance that Greece respects what was agreed last summer. According to Eurogroup chief and Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, cuts to pensions are necessary.
Source: Ekathimerini, 18/02/2016
Bulgaria – Borders: Greek protests
The Bulgarian Parliament asked today to the European Commission to take immediate action against the Greek government due to its incapability of lifting the border blockade set by Greek farmers in the last month. Bulgaria wants Greek authorities to implement adequate measures for restoring order and allowing the free cross-border movement of people. The situation became rather tense when Bulgarian truck-drivers staged a counter-blockade after Greek farmers failed to maintain their promise to temporarily interrupt the blockade at certain hours.
Source: Novinite, 19/02/2016
THE STATEMENT
“[Mario Draghi] said that although the rules of the Stability Pact need to be respected, governments should reduce taxes and allocate more resources for investment. In other words, he is suggesting that governments adopt an expansionary fiscal policy within the rules of the Stability Pact. This is the first time that the president of the ECB has in effect spoken against austerity measures. It opens once more the debate on how to best address the economic situation in a number of countries that are still reeling from the effects of the recession. The problem with the eurozone is the lack of homogeneity”.
Lawrence Zammit, writing about Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank
Source: Times of Malta, 19/02/2016
NUMBERS
2,800
The number of vehicles blocked at Greek-Bulgarian border.
Source: Ekathimerini, 18/02/2016
1
The million euros that Laurastar is investing in a production hall in Kapuvár, Hungary.
Source: Bbj, 18/02/2016
Photo credits CC: ECB European Central Bank
Also published on Medium.
Leave a comment