News archive

S&P warns of key risks to bank credit ratings
The emergency liquidity provided by governments and central banks has offered vital "breathing space" and banks' credit worthiness will rely on this support until confidence is restored, says S&P

EU piracy policy is 'a classic case of double standards'
Threatening Somali pirates with imprisonment is laughable when you consider that many are on a suicide mission, but this is nevertheless the basis of European Union policy - writes Justin Stares

OECD: Europe reaches 'potential turning point'
Europe has reached a "potential turning point" that could see an upturn in its economic fortunes, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said today

Europe leads way in digital 'revolution'
A study shows that Europe is the global leader in making the best use of information and communication technology to boost business innovation, entrepreneurship and social well-being

Jihadists regrouping in Africa, claims think-tank
New terrorist threats could be faced as al-Qaida "regroups" and "re-energises" in Africa, a new report from the Royal United Services warns

EU countries criticised for cutting aid budgets
European Union countries have been accused by non-governmental organisations of "turning their backs" on the world's poorest people by slashing their international aid budgets

Europe in recession until late 2012, S&P warns
Europe's recession will drag into the third quarter of 2012 before returning to modest growth late in the year and into 2013, says Standard & Poor's

Will Basque peace process stall as the economy distracts minds?
The next few months will see the entry into the European Parliament of the first deputy whose party had links to the banned separatist political arm of ETA – or Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, which translates to Basque Homeland and Freedom – but will the peace process really gain momentum amid so many uncertainties – asks Francesco Guarascio

Euro crisis response ineffective, say MEPs
The eurozone sovereign debt crisis has been badly handled by Europe's political leaders and has made future European integration more difficult, according to a majority of MEPs surveyed in a new poll

Portugal 'on track' but recession deepening
Portugal will suffer a deeper recession this year than previously forecast but won praise from the troika for its "remarkable" fiscal consolidation efforts this year and last

Croatia's shrinking economy unlikely to boost EU
Hopes that Croatia will give Europe a financial boost when the country joins the EU next year now seem misguided

EU hopes petition tool will create 'European demos'
A direct democracy tool allowing ordinary citizens to propose legislation to the European Commission – if they gather the support of at least one million people – was launched at the beginning of this month

Kenny urges Irish 'yes' vote in treaty referendum
Ireland's Prime Minister Enda Kenny has urged voters to say 'yes' to the fiscal stability treaty in next month's referendum, claiming it would prevent a repeat of the economic crisis

Falklands could not be defended, UK warned
Britain's armed forces would struggle to defend, reinforce or retake the Falkland Islands if Argentina invaded again, a defence pressure group has warned

Eurozone unemployment rate hits new high
Eurozone unemployment rose in February to its highest level since the introduction of the euro, with a total of 17.134 million people out of work in the 17 countries that use the single currency