Spain: the Brussels budget ‘suicide pact’
As Easter approaches in Andalusia, Faisal Islam visits the Eurozone’s biggest headache.
As Easter approaches in Andalusia, Faisal Islam visits the Eurozone’s biggest headache.
What are the implications of the Irish having a referendum on the European fiscal compact treaty?
Channel 4 News Economic Editor Faisal Islam ruminates on the latest Greek bailout deal secured at a meeting of Eurozone ministers
As the Greek president hits back at criticisms of his country from the EU, it looks like the Greek deal could be unravelling.
Greece has voted in favour of the EU/IMF austerity package. But why is Germany pushing stability throughout Europe – and what is it hoping to achieve?
Quite a few normally outspoken MPs genuinely thought the PM “had no choice” over Europe’s fiscal compact, though there is a sense amongst some that he has marched people up the hill again.
The biggest political porkies of 2011: Channel 4 News’ FactCheck team run through the dodgiest politics claims of the year.
“An EU-wide Robin Hood Tax – which John Major called a “heat-seeking missile” pointed at the heart of the Square Mile (surely it should have been an arrow?) – does now appear to have stalled on the launchpad.”
What did the UK “win” in Brussels that justified deploying the tactical weapon of the veto?
It looks to many here in Brussels like a flick of the tail from someone heading for the exit. He’s got his work cut out convincing them otherwise, writes Channel 4 News Political Editor Gary Gibbon.
After David Cameron’s dramatic decision to veto an EU-wide agreement on greater fiscal union for the eurozone countries, it now looks likely that all 26 other European Union (EU) members will try to hammer out a new deal without the UK. But the question still remains, how on earth will it work?
A European Comission source tells Gary Gibbon that that the UK is deluded to think that with the 17 going it alone they wouldn’t – potentially joined by others – be operating a single market within the single market.
Cameron’s emphasis on his own veto did not obscure the reality that 17 Euro members, plus some half a dozen aspirant members, have agreed a much tighter fiscal regime, trading significant areas of sovereignty to achieve it.
As David Cameron slugged away on a deal to save the eurozone, David Davis hit the airwaves to insist that the PM should put his foot down should any seperate deal be tabled by the 17 euro members. All Cameron has to do is “point out the legalities”, Davis said, adding that the idea of a plan that didn’t include all 27 members was “not feasible”. Is he right or could the 17 go it alone?
A European Commission source tells Gary Gibbon that it’s time for Britain to make some tough decisions on Europe, decisions “it has dodged for too long”.