Analysis

Expert analysis, features and profiles of key topical issues in the European Union.

British business chiefs urge Cameron to avoid EU isolation — 15 January 2013, 10:58 CET

Prime Minister David Cameron must not risk jeopardising Britain's EU membership and damaging the weak economy, business chiefs warned ahead of the premier's key Europe speech later this week.

Relaxing bank liquidity rules sparks hope for euro lending boost — 09 January 2013, 10:30 CET

The loosening of liquidity rules due to come into effect on banks raises hopes among some analysts to a recovery of lending the eurozone.

Serb nationalist regime turns a step closer to EU — 30 December 2012, 13:40 CET

Serbia's new government, a coalition of nationalists and socialists that led the country during the 1990s Balkan wars, has surprised many with its pro-European moves, especially regarding breakaway Kosovo.

Germany's fabled chimney sweeps to try luck in free market — 30 December 2012, 14:12 CET

The new year will bring big changes to chimney sweep Norbert Skrobek and his tradition-steeped trade, as Germany overhauls the market after years of resistance against pressure from Brussels.

Euro crisis undercuts EU rotating presidency — 28 December 2012, 11:44 CET

The European Union's rotating six-month presidency has lost much of its authority in recent years as the eurozone crisis and increased powers for Brussels have undercut its role and importance.

Cyprus living hand to mouth until EU bailout comes — 19 December 2012, 10:54 CET

Cyprus has taken the extraordinary step of dipping into public authority pension funds to pay salaries for December but it still teeters precariously on the brink while waiting for EU bailout money.

France, Germany bury hatchet to nail EU bank deal — 13 December 2012, 22:04 CET

France and Germany, seemingly set on divergent political paths, pulled out all the stops Thursday to lay the symbolic foundation stone towards greater eurozone integration.

Europe bank accord lauded but long road ahead — 13 December 2012, 18:16 CET

Europe's new bank supervision system, agreed after marathon talks, is welcomed as a key step towards preventing any repeat of the crisis which nearly brought down the euro, but some reservations remain.

Germany wants to cast EU bank supervisor in its own image — 11 December 2012, 21:16 CET

As talks drag on over a proposed EU-wide bank supervisor, Germany, Europe's effective paymaster, seems to be dragging its feet as it seeks to cast the new body in its own image.

EU feted with Nobel in eurosceptic Norway — 09 December 2012, 23:19 CET

While facing more and more critics within its own borders, the European Union on Monday ironically collects one of the world's top honours, the Nobel Peace Prize, in a country stubbornly refusing to join its ranks.

UKIP success sounds alarm bells for Britain's Tories — 09 December 2012, 13:12 CET

British Prime Minister David Cameron may once have dismissed them as "fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists" but the UK Independence Party is riding a wave of success which could come back to hit him.

A trio of gas pipelines fight for southern Europe — 07 December 2012, 17:05 CET

Three competing pipelines, South Stream, Nabucco and TAP, have launched projects in the past few years to supply southern Europe with gas from Russia, the Caspian Sea and beyond as Europe seeks to diversify its gas sources:

Is the Nobel Peace Prize losing some of its prestige? — 07 December 2012, 11:04 CET

Often described as the most prestigious award in the world, the Nobel Peace Prize risks losing some of its lustre because of the prize committee's unexpected and controversial choices of late, some observers warn.

EU 'diplomatic tsunami' over Israel settlement plans — 04 December 2012, 11:07 CET

Israel's premier faces a European "diplomatic tsunami" over controversial settlement plans as he heads to Germany this week, but also pressure at home to hew to his tough line ahead of January elections.

Romania on tightrope to secure growth: analysts — 07 December 2012, 16:16 CET

Romania, still recovering from a painful austerity drive, will have to walk a tightrope between cutting spending and spurring growth no matter who wins polls on December 9, analysts warn.

From buy-back to write-off: plans to slash Greece's debts — 27 November 2012, 11:57 CET

Before, they were just ideas on how governments that bailed out Greece could sell losses to sceptical voters. Now, concrete ways to slash Greece's long-term debt burden without being seen to offer a third bailout are formally on the table.

Options considered to lessen Greece's debt mountain — 26 November 2012, 23:32 CET

Greece's creditors are seeking ways to ease the country's long-term debt burden and fill a hole of more than 30 billion euros without stepping in to offer a third bailout, with key elections looming in eurozone powerhouse Germany next year.

Battered EU budgeting for more painful talks — 25 November 2012, 12:58 CET

The collapse of EU talks Friday without agreeing a seven-year budget is not calamitous, the bloc will continue to function, but it does heap yet more pressure on a divided European Union mired in an intractable debt crisis.

Facts and figures on EU budget — 22 November 2012, 12:50 CET

Europe's leaders gather in Brussels Thursday for an extraordinary European Union summit aimed at agreeing the bloc's next trillion-euro budget for 2014-2020.

Ancient Czech cheese thrives as stinky EU delicacy — 22 November 2012, 23:56 CET

Tvaruzky, a stinky low-fat Czech curd cheese has won a coveted EU protected geographical indication (PGI), similar to Italy's venerable Parmesan or France's Roquefort cheese.

Impoverished Romania fails to use EU funds — 21 November 2012, 10:51 CET

Joining the European Union unlocked billions in aid for Romania, among the continent's poorest countries, but five years on the central city of Brasov is still waiting for a new highway seen as vital for its ambitions to become a business hub in the heart of the Carpathians.

Crisis-hit Spain pays price of joining EU rich club — 21 November 2012, 03:47 CET

Blighted by recession and tottering on the edge of a sovereign bailout, Spain is about to pay the price of joining the club of richest nations in the European Union.

In Britain, an EU exit is no longer taboo — 19 November 2012, 10:46 CET

Euroscepticism in Britain has been exacerbated by the eurozone crisis and a British exit from the European Union is now being openly discussed -- unless London's calls for reforms are taken seriously.

In ex-East Germany, EU farm payments a necessary evil — 19 November 2012, 10:45 CET

On a vast farm in former communist East Germany, payments from the EU's Common Agricultural Policy are seen as a necessary evil that keep the wolf from the door but cause huge administrative headaches.

Turkmenistan pushes ambitious trans-Afghan pipeline — 18 November 2012, 12:58 CET

Turkmenistan is pushing ahead with plans to build a hugely ambitious pipeline to transport its gas through conflict-torn Afghanistan to India and Pakistan, despite concerns about the viability of the project.