Latvia joins Euro Zone, and is the EU going from crisis to complacency?

Latvia becomes 18th state to join the Eurozone

The euro: from crisis to complacency

Euro-zone debt crisis is over but serious issues persist

Merkel says permanently fixing euro zone crisis vital for Germany

and finally, a somewhat technical opinion piece from the Financial Times:

What euro crisis watchers should look for in 2014

 

Germany, Ukraine and Immigration in Thanksgiving weekend headlines

German parties finalize coalition agreement
Looks like some interesting compromises have been made - including offering dual citizenship to Turks and others born and raised in Germany!

"Despite loud criticism from his party’s rank and file, Mr. Gabriel said he was confident that his members would back the agreement when the party vote concludes Dec. 14. Only then will the new cabinet ministers be named."

Commentary prior to this week's negotiations was rather pessimistic about the possibility of a coalition agreement being agreed to by the SPD rank and file:

Merkel’s Quest for Consensus

Ukraine's Battle for Europe

Summit Flop: EU Needs New Russia Policy after Ukraine Debacle

David Cameron's Commentary in the FT on Intra-EU Migration

 

Cameron's commentary comes in the context of frustration over immigration policy change

 

Influx of EU workers sparks surprise rise in net migration


From the NY Times: Dispute Over Immigration Widens Between Britain and E.U.

 

 

 

Nuclear Deal Reached with Iran, German Parties continue Coalition Negotiations

Iran nuclear deal tops the headlines on a cold and blustery Sunday in Austin, Texas:

Major Powers Reach Deal With Iran To Freeze Nuclear Program 

Catherine Ashton has played a key role in the negotiations

 

Iran nuclear deal takes Catherine Ashton from 'zero' to hero

 

France, Once Opposed to Deal, Sings Its Praises

Meanwhile, Germany moves closer to a coalition deal, after the Bundestag election last September

 

German parties edge warily towards 'grand coalition' deal

 

Eurozone recovery grinds to a halt - European headlines for mid-November

European leaders met at a recent summit, with the economic situation at the top of the agenda.

With France stalling, euro zone recovery comes to near halt

 

EU officials welcome end of aid for Ireland, Spain

Radical Right parties are on the rise and focusing on European Parliament elections in May 2014:

'A warning for Europe and Germany'

Monnet’s Europe needs reform to fit the 21st century

 

"Can the Eurozone be Saved" Conference at the LBJ School of Public Affairs - Sessions 1 through 4

The first panel of the conference, "Is the European Crisis Over" was predictably pessimistic.  The consensus is that the crisis is definitely NOT over and that we may just be in the eye of the storm at the moment.  There is still the possibility of an end to the Euro, and current policies (or lack thereof) are exacerbating the crisis.  Panelists discussed issues surrounding the regime of the Eurozone and the inability of the EU countries to respond "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" by pursuing neoliberal policies. Issues discussed included the lack of a Treasury partner, Iceland's much quicker recovery because of their ability to devalue their currency and that they did not bail out their banks.

The second panel, which I participated in, focused on issues related to labor, politics and the impact of austerity. Damon Silvers of the AFL-CIO discussed the situation for labor and labor unions.  He has observed that German leaders are dealing with the moral politics of the crisis within Germany, and that they don't care necessarily about their trading partners on the European periphery, they care more about China. He noted that, "countries that are doing the right thing are nonetheless going over the cliff" - and shouldn't we look at whether or not they are actually doing the right thing? This has been a recurring thing throughout the conference, and was emphasized by the macroeconomic data presented by Gustav Horn, who argues that current policy has been a failure in producing the desired outcome, reducing debt burdens.  Unemployment levels are unsustainable, and Greece has lost 25% of it's GDP since the crisis began. George Stathakis made a similar point, that the idea that "You can pay back your public debt through austerity" has been proven wrong. Greek unions no longer have collective bargaining. Later speakers would note that reducing wages might improve exports, but at the cost of domestic markets. The young and the unskilled have borne the brunt of loss of employment.

Yves Leterme of the OECD gave the keynote during lunch, talking about the need for reform in education, labor markets and training. In general he was more upbeat than other speakers about the future of the Eurozone, he feels that we are past the crisis and have reached a point of stability, given that the ECB has said that it will do whatever it takes to maintain the Eurozone.

In fact many are touting the success of austerity measures while unemployment is still rising and the young are being told that they must accept the loss of solidarity measure and lower their expectations. It remains to be seen if this will lead to a revolt by the young...

Here's the latest opinion piece by Wolfgang Munchau of the Financial Times:  http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/1ceb7c36-42e1-11e3-8350-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2jiJ1ZBNQ

The week in Europe: EU summit issues range from Migration to NSA spying - Italy coalition in trouble

Europe Turns Its Eye to Migration Policies, Amid Another Sea Rescue

EU summit leaders delay immigration reforms, boost Frontex rescue force

Germany's Angela Merkel: Relations with U.S. 'severely shaken' over spying claims

Merkel spying row: 'Seeds of mistrust sown'

Opinion: Optimism about the end to the Euro crisis is wrong

Italian government coalition weakens

Eurozone still in crisis...

Italy's government led by Prime Minister Enrico Letta survived a challenge from Silvio Berlusconi, but is still faced with budget deficits and is looking to sell off prime properties to raise funds:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2455543/Italy-sell-50-historic-sites-try-pay-government-debt.html


Hunger is becoming an issue for many who have lost jobs due to budget cuts:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/10/10/328709/43-million-people-lack-food-in-europe/
and some Greeks are living in caves:
http://www.euronews.com/2013/10/10/what-would-socrates-think-of-homeless-greeks-in-caves-today/
However, Ireland is set to exit the international bailout program:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-13/ireland-poised-to-exit-eu-imf-bailout-program/5019064

More sad news as another ship filled with migrants from Africa sank near the island of Lampedusa:
http://news.yahoo.com/boat-believed-carrying-migrants-sinks-off-sicily-173055026.html;_ylt=A2KJ3CZkBFpSYjQAggTQtDMD

Will the Euro crisis lead to support for anti-EU parties in the 2014 EU Parliament elections?  The National Front in France appears to be surging:
http://euobserver.com/political/121724