Tag Archives: Athens

Jeroen Dijsselbloem: Jean-Claude Juncker damaging Commission’s credibility – POLITICO

June 3, 2016 By in Austerity, Brexit, Business Administration, David Cameron, Defense Policy, Democracy, Economics, Euro Crisis, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, George Osborne, Growth, Healthcare, Immigration, People, Politics Tags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

This is an important article from Politico, citing the Eurogroup chief slamming Juncker’s comments that Commission goes easy on France ‘because it’s France.’

Source: Jeroen Dijsselbloem: Jean-Claude Juncker damaging Commission’s credibility – POLITICO

Let’s face it, the EU is not about equals. Since the beginning France has drafted the rules in her favor and then is always ready to bend the rules.

The financial crisis in Euroland has been perpetuated because French banks were protected from debt write-offs. France has again and again been a special case.

France did not suffer the extended doses of austerity prescribed to Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Ireland and Cyprus.

Why is France allowed to get away with bending the rules, without sanctions?

Thoughts?

Greece bailout: Eurozone agrees ‘breakthrough’ debt deal – BBC News

May 25, 2016 By in Austerity, Business Administration, Euro Crisis, Fiscal Policy, People, Politics Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
English: Various Euro bills.

English: Various Euro bills. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The BBC reports that Eurozone finance ministers agree to extend a further bailout loan to Greece as well as debt relief, in what they call a “major breakthrough”.

Source: Greece bailout: Eurozone agrees ‘breakthrough’ debt deal – BBC News

The breakthrough is that the IMF‘s insistence on debt relief has finally won the day.

Whilst I am no great fan of the IMF and its bitter medicine, I respect it as an internationally institution with some of the finest economic brains in the World. As for the other members of the troika, they are part of the problem, just as much as Greece herself.

The ECB has repeatedly had its powers curtailed by Germany.

Similarly, the EU has been Angela Merkel‘s puppet.

It’s no surprise they Greece has pulled back from further austerity. Look at the terrible lives of the Greek people. They have made mistakes but they deserve better.

BUT the true villains who have escaped attention are the French and German banks who gave uncommercial loans to Greece in the first place. So far, these banks have not suffered because they have had the patronage of Angela Merkel’s government.

Ultimately, it’s the Euro and the structure supporting it that has been responsible for the context. Germany has benefited enormously from the Euro and is not prepared to adjust its economic policy for Europe benefit.

It is time for the German and French banks to be held accountable.

Thoughts?