A Change In Course Towards A Social Europe

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A unified Europe without dividing borders, with the certainty of a peaceful future and social security accompanied by social and economic progress – this has always been and still is the essence of the ‘European dream’. To us it describes the hope we associate with the project of a Social Europe. After all that we [...]

A Social Dimension For A Changing European Union

Jaroslav Zavadil

„It is exactly nine years since our country became a full member of the EU“. The Czech Republic set out to join the EU in a period dominated by the challenging process of transformation to adapt the economy to market conditions and in a situation in which its economy was remarkably open to the dramatic [...]

The Problem Is Not Eurozone Discipline But The Financialisation Of Everything

saskia sassen

Has the Eurozone crisis undermined Europe’s place in the world? In an interview with EUROPP’s editors Stuart A Brown and Chris Gilson, Saskia Sassen discusses the role of finance in the crisis, the threat posed by transnational systems of surveillance, and the potential for public disorder to give a political voice to the powerless. In your view, [...]

The Social And Political Scope Of EU Reform Policy

Ignacio Fernández Toxo

At the end of next June the European Council summit will debate a proposal to reform the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) based on the roadmap approved last December. The debate and decisions adopted will discuss the worst crisis faced by the EU since its birth in 1957. The nature of this crisis is, at [...]

The Lessons Of The North Atlantic Crisis For Economic Theory And Policy

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The world has seen a hundred financial crises in the past three decades. In this column, Nobelist Joe Stiglitz argues that we could have done much more to prevent this crisis and to mitigate its effects. Looking ahead, we can do much more to prevent the next one. This is a chance to revolutionise flawed [...]

Democracy, Solidarity And The European Crisis

Juergen Habermas

The renowned German philosopher and sociologist Jürgen Habermas came to the University Leuven and shared his perspective on the future of a democratic Europe on April 26 2013 in the Pieter De Somer Auditorium. The lecture was introduced by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy.

Why Inequality Is The Root Of The Crisis

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A very interesting video on the link between inequality and the origin of the financial crisis on The Real News. This is in line with recent research in Europe.

The ECB Disappoints Again

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I planned to blog on the failure of the ECB to take the opportunity of its Council meeting today to inject confidence and optimism (or at least counter fear and pessimism) in the face of the recession, record unemployment and falling inflation by announcing concrete steps to underpin the promise “to do all its takes” [...]

On The Eurozone Crisis And The Danger It Poses For The EU

george soros

Watch investor and philanthropist George Soros discuss the Eurozone Crisis and the existential danger it poses for the European integration process.The talk was recorded in New York at the event ‘A Discussion on the Future of Europe,’ organized by the Center on Global Economic Goverenance, SIPA, Columbia University, with The Brookings Institution and World Leaders [...]

Greece And The Eurozone Crisis

george papandreou

Watch former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou discuss the Eurozone Crisis and Greece’s role in it. The talk was recorded in New York at the event ‘A Discussion on the Future of Europe,’ organized by the Center on Global Economic Goverenance, SIPA, Columbia University, with The Brookings Institution and World Leaders Forum. The event took [...]

Labour Lawyers Urge EU Leaders To Respect Fundamental Social Rights

henning

This is a timely and urgent initiative! More than 380 social and labour lawyers have signed a manifesto urging the EU to respect and promote fundamental social rights in the crisis-related measures it calls for. Members of the Transnational Trade Union Rights Experts Network (TTUR) drafted a manifesto with the intention of raising awareness about [...]

Panic-driven Austerity In The Eurozone And Its Implications

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Eurozone policy seems driven by market sentiment. This column argues that fear and panic led to excessive, and possibly self-defeating, austerity in the south while failing to induce offsetting stimulus in the north. The resulting deflation bias produced the double-dip recession and perhaps more dire consequences. As it becomes obvious that austerity produces unnecessary suffering, [...]