Europe, Debt And 2012
- December 27th, 2011
- Posted by Lee Duffield
The push will be on in the New Year to extend the powers of the European Union, in the hope of it dealing better with challenges like the debt crisis.
More in the short-term, with the threat of a general recession, new efforts will be focused on setting up the permanent guarantee fund, the European Stability Mechanism, by mid-year; and on the possible issue of joint European bonds, guaranteed by governments in a group.
Disputes will go beyond immediate action, to wider ideas of what “Europe” should be, whether a collection of states, or a closer union more on the federal plan. … Read More »
Jose Manuel Barroso (picture) has taken up the doctrine of an integrated and more powerful European Union to handle demands of the 21st Century.
Australia’s EU Ambassador Brendan Nelson says he is getting the idea about the European Idea.
Changing relations with the Europeans …
The armed conflict in Libya moved towards a dramatic new phase on Friday when the United Nations Security Council voted 10-0 (with five abstentions) for intervention. 
Members of the European Parliament have called for bringing more pressure on the Russian government to change its ways, to improve independence of the judiciary and the state of human rights. 
European Foreign Ministers were set to debate the chaotic state of affairs in Egypt at a scheduled meeting today in Brussels.