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

Crisis in Italy, Neo-Nazi party labeled a criminal group in Greece, etc...

Berlusconi ministerial resignations spark Italy crisis

The Italian prime minister accused Mr Berlusconi of telling a "huge lie"

 

Greece crackdown: Golden Dawn leader Michaloliakos charged

 

Coalition Purgatory: Will Merkel's Party Buckle on Tax Hikes?

 

...and an update on the Euro Crisis from the Wall Street Journal

Retirees marched Wednesday in Lisbon against plans by the government for a 10% cut in pensions for public servants.

German election results

Official Results 

Preliminary Election Results from Der Spiegel

 

 

SPD Deflects talk of grand coalition 

Next Steps

 

Germany's Parties

 

From the Wall Street Journal

Merkel's Victory

 

From the BBC:  

Angela Merkel celebrates after German election win

 

 

More on German Elections

Polls indicate it will be a close call for Merkel's coalition:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/world/europe/race-tightens-ahead-of-german-vote.html?_r=0


Election posters:


A primer on German electoral rules:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-19/how-germany-s-election-system-works-what-to-watch-for-sept-22.html

Who's who in the German Election: http://news.yahoo.com/whos-germanys-election-062013638.html

German Elections - Will the Free Democrats survive?

As Germany enters the final week of the election campaign, Bavarian state election gives the CDU/CSU a boost, but the FDP's poor showing may foreshadow national level issues:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/16/world/europe/strong-showing-for-merkels-conservative-allies-in-bavaria.html

The Wall St. Journal focuses on the possibility of a grand coalition: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323527004579077163110377446.html



The Economist magazine endorses Merkel in advance of the September 22nd election: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21586343-german-voters-should-re-elect-angela-merkel-their-chancellorand-europes-leader-one-woman

Germany and the EU, Barroso and the Tories, Syria

Analysts find that Germany doesn't have a clear strategy for moving Europe forward through the crisis - "muddling through":
German policy on Europe lacking say some experts | euronews, world news

But Commission President Barroso finds signs of economic recovery in the latest figures:
http://www.euronews.com/2013/09/12/barroso-figures-show-start-of-economic-recovery/



Barroso had a tough exchange with the leader of the UK Conservatives in the European Parliament after his speech on the State of the European Union:
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/07b0e41e-1acd-11e3-87da-00144feab7de.html

British Prime Minister David Cameron also had a few things to say about Barroso's comments regarding the Tories and UKIP:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/12/us-britain-europe-row-idUSBRE98B12D20130912

Syria remains at the top of the headlines as the U.S. and Russia begin talks in Geneva regarding the disposition of Syria's chemical weapons, and Vladimir Putin writes to the American public:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24072799


http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0