Analysis

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

Privatisations, a long-haul task in debt-wracked Greece — 16 September 2012, 14:01 CET

Greece has relaunched its privatisation programme to appease its bailout creditors, but efforts so far to raise money by selling off state assets have failed to attract investors.

Unending Greek crisis testing IMF-Europe ties — 14 September 2012, 10:52 CET

The massive financial rescue of Greece, with the country still struggling to meet its lenders' conditions, is placing strains on relations between the IMF and its European partners in the bailouts.

Europe's fiscal treaty, or budget 'golden rules' — 12 September 2012, 11:10 CET

The new fiscal treaty for most EU countries, held up awaiting a ruling on its legality by Germany's Constitutional Court on Wednesday, aims to reinforce budgetary discipline in the wake of the debt crisis.

Germany's Constitutional Court and the euro — 12 September 2012, 11:13 CET

Germany's Constitutional Court holds the fate of the euro in its hands on Wednesday as it rules on the legality of key weapons in the fight against the near three-year debt crisis.

Key facts on Kosovo — 10 September 2012, 15:57 CET

Here are key facts about Kosovo, which on Monday was to be granted full sovereignty as the main western countries end their international supervision of the territory:

ECB 'last resort' welcome, but political problems remain — 07 September 2012, 14:55 CET

Dramatic ECB moves to clean up unsustainable debt among fallen eurozone countries are what investors wanted, but political hurdles remain starting with a crucial German court decision next week.

The ECB's new bond-buying programme — 06 September 2012, 21:35 CET

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Thursday unveiled a new hotly awaited programme to buy the bonds of struggling eurozone countries in a bid to save the crumbling 17-nation bloc.

After Islam, Dutch far-right leader Wilders targets Europe — 05 September 2012, 11:09 CET

Amid a Europe-dominated election campaign, Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders has swapped his traditional bugbear Islam for the meddling EU in a bid to boost support.

Europe dominates Dutch elections — 30 August 2012, 11:37 CET

Questions of who rules in the European Union and whether to aid eurozone partners to get out of the debt crisis are the dominant issues in the campaign for next month's Dutch elections.

Greece hoping for calmer EU waters after Samaras tour — 26 August 2012, 20:44 CET

Greece voiced hope Sunday that a charm offensive around Europe by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will halt a barrage of criticism as it labours to put delayed reforms on track and restore its credibility.

Greece's fiscal requirements by 2014 under existing accords — 24 August 2012, 19:13 CET

Greece is bound under its loan agreement with the EU and the IMF to bring its public deficit to below 3.0 percent of output by 2014 to continue receiving bankruptcy-saving funds.

The EU's new budgetary 'golden rules' — 10 August 2012, 00:18 CET

The EU's fiscal treaty, which France's Constitutional Council ruled Thursday does not require a constitutional amendment, aims to reinforce budgetary discipline in the wake of the debt crisis. Signed by 25 European Union states minus the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom, the treaty was a German demand as the price of financial solidarity with debt-laden, recession-hit eurozone partners and will introduce "golden rules" making balanced budgets mandatory. En route to winning office, French President Francois Hollande threatened to block ratificaton but settled for agreement on extra measures to boost growth.

Chinese and EU solar makers at war over dumping — 27 July 2012, 11:35 CET

A host of EU solar makers have called on the Commission to probe alleged dumping practices by its Chinese rivals, as Beijing warns an investigation could trigger a trade war.

Greece and the eurozone caught in a race against time — 26 July 2012, 11:19 CET

Greece could be heading towards a default on its public debt, under pressure from fed up EU-IMF creditors and caught in a race against time to remain in the eurozone.

Morocco struggles to withstand eurozone crisis — 25 July 2012, 12:23 CET

After a decade of prosperity, Morocco is suffering the knock-on effects of the debt crisis in Europe, its largest trade partner, cutting growth forecasts as prices rise and social discontent simmers.

Markets panic as eurozone faces turbulent summer — 24 July 2012, 10:41 CET

The world market panic that started the week looked all too familiar: an alarming reminder of last summer's financial storm brought on by the eurozone debt crisis.

As world watches, Merkel finds hands tied on euro rescue — 17 July 2012, 12:38 CET

As markets and debt-wracked eurozone countries cry out to Chancellor Angela Merkel for immediate action, a defiant top court and a strengthened role for Germany's parliament are slamming on the brakes.

Czech teens, Europe's heaviest underage drinkers — 11 July 2012, 11:12 CET

Shaken awake by police on a park bench, a 12-year-old boy from Prague was so drunk he could neither walk nor talk -- grim evidence of an unparalleled alcohol scourge affecting underage Czechs.

Montenegro hopes EU talks will help tackle crisis — 29 June 2012, 16:52 CET

Montenegro will open EU accession talks that the tiny Balkan country hopes will help it overcome a serious economic crisis and stamp out corruption and organised crime.

EU clinches deal to combat crisis: what was agreed — 29 June 2012, 07:22 CET

In what European Union president Herman Van Rompuy described as a "real breakthrough", leaders agreed a 120-billion-euro growth pact, short-term measures to help Spain and Italy and a longer-term roadmap to reshape the 17-nation eurozone.

Montenegro hopes EU talks will help tackle crisis — 29 June 2012, 04:52 CET

Montenegro is set to open EU accession talks that the tiny Balkan country hopes will help it overcome a serious economic crisis and stamp out corruption and organised crime.

Europe's growth pact: 120 bn euros to attack the crisis — 29 June 2012, 00:57 CET

The European Union compact for growth, which a European diplomat said was "being held hostage" by Italy and Spain, is aimed at injecting life into stalling economies and reversing record unemployment.

Nicosia, a capital straddling two cultures — 28 June 2012, 11:13 CET

"A few steps take you from one culture to another," said Vedia Izzet, a Turkish Cypriot, speaking of her daily trips between the Cypriot capital's Turkish-controlled north and Greek Cypriot south.

Cyprus: facts and figures — 27 June 2012, 03:57 CET

Herewith a few facts and figures about the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus, which takes over the six-month presidency of the European Union on July 1.

Chaotic start for Greek government after shock resignation — 26 June 2012, 18:34 CET

Greece's newly-elected government has got off to a chaotic start overshadowed by health troubles, as money to pay salaries and pensions runs down and just days to go before a key European Union summit.