Egemen Bagis, Turkey’s minister for European affairs and the chief EU negotiator, talks to Al Jazeera about why Turkey still wants to join the EU; press freedom and judiciary reform; the issue of the Armenian genocide; and foreign policy.
Finally a Realistic Way to Get Debt Relief
Egemen Bagis, Turkey’s minister for European affairs and the chief EU negotiator, talks to Al Jazeera about why Turkey still wants to join the EU; press freedom and judiciary reform; the issue of the Armenian genocide; and foreign policy.
www.euronews.net European leaders are holding their 17th summit in two years as the bloc battles to resolve its sovereign debt problems. In Brussels 26 of the 27 members are expected to sign up to a fiscal treaty including a balanced budget rule written into constitutions. However Britain will not be included as its government has rejected the move. Then there is the creation of a permanent rescue fund. Everyone is expected to sign a treaty creating the European Stability Mechanism – which is due to become operational in July.
The problems in the European Union have not had much of a negative effect on the global stock markets since December 19, 2011. Earlier today, Italy had successful bond auction, however, the unemployment level in Spain increased again. The problems in Greece and Portugal remain unresolved and the markets do not seem to care. The roller coaster ride called the Euro-zone debt crisis is now having less effect on the major stock indexes. We have seen this complacency before when it comes to the European Union, then when investors least expect it the problems erupt again. Investors should realize that the European debt crisis is not over by a long shot.
New talks with creditors kick off in Athens in in a renewed attempt to slash the country’s debt and stave off default.
www.euronews.net Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt has outlined her government’s EU presidency priorities to the European Parliament. Addressing MEPs in Strasbourg she admitted the next six months would be a challenge, but insisted Denmark would not be daunted.
The series resumed Friday 13 Jan. 2012 when Barbadian Tourism Minister Hon. Richard Sealy spoke on “The Effect of the Euro-Zone Debt Crisis on Tourism and International Business” at the “Errol Barrow Gallery”, DLP Headquarters, ‘Kennington’, George Street, Belleville, St. Michael
www.euronews.net Another round of strong US economic data — including growth in the labour market — lifted the US dollar against the euro on Friday with the single European currency under pressure due to fears that the region’s debt crisis will hurt the global economy As well as having been at 16-month lows against the dollar and the pound it was at the weakest in 11 years against the Japanese yen.
While individual careers may be flourishing, whole countries are drowning in debt. Next, we head to New York, where the Resident asks people in the streets for tips on what should be done to rescue the global economy. RT on Twitter twitter.com RT on Facebook www.facebook.com
Jan.4 – Britain’s No.2 clothing retailer warns sales and profit growth in 2012-13 will be modest thanks to the euro zone debt crisis, a credit squeeze and rising unemployment. Hayley Platt reports.
2011 will be remembered for its mass protests in Greece where angry crowds clashed with police and trashed the streets of Athens in response to the government’s austerity measures. The leaders there remain have been under immense pressure from the EU to make saving cuts in order to qualify for desperately-needed bailout money. RT’s correspondent Sara Firth has been covering the protests in Greece during the past year. RT on Facebook: www.facebook.com RT on Twitter: twitter.com