Tag: Europe

• Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 01:42 UTC

  EU Full Support for Euro (and Greece) to Fight Contagion: Creates Stabilization Mechanism

  

  Leaders of the 16 EU member states that use the Euro have approved a 110 billion Euro loan to Greece to prevent its debt crisis from spreading. European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said the Eurozone would do whatever it took to safeguard Greece's financial stability. In return for the three-year loan, Athens must cut public spending.

• Friday, May 7th 2010 - 05:36 UTC

  Greek Default “Is Not an Option” and “Never Has Been” Says IMF

  

  A default by Greece on its debt obligations is not and has never been an option, a spokeswoman for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday. A Greek “default is not on the table, has not been on the table” insisted IMF director of external relations Caroline Atkinson.

• Friday, May 7th 2010 - 00:47 UTC

  Greek Contagion Threatens South Europe and UK Banks Warns Rating Agency

  

  Banks in the United Kingdom and Europe risk their credit ratings being damaged because of “contagion” from Greece's debt crisis, a ratings agency has warned. Moody's said banking systems faced “very real, common threats” if doubts were raised about their governments' abilities to pay debts. It referred specifically to UK, Irish, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish banking systems.

• Thursday, May 6th 2010 - 03:00 UTC

  Bad Signal: Spanish Government and Opposition Remain on Collision Course

  

  The Spanish government and opposition made on Wednesday an attempt to join forces against the country's economic crisis amid international concern that Spain could be heading for a Greek-style meltdown.

• Thursday, May 6th 2010 - 00:20 UTC

  Greenpeace Condemns Spain's Fishing “Armada” for Plundering World Oceans

  

  Spain's fishing fleet, Europe's largest, is using massive European Union (EU) subsidies to “plunder” the oceans of the world, environmental group Greenpeace charged this week.

• Wednesday, May 5th 2010 - 21:28 UTC

  Fresh Volcanic Ash Cloud Delay Hundreds of Flights in Scotland and Ireland

  

  Thousands of passengers are facing long delays after airports in Scotland and Ireland closed because of a fresh cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland. Flights have been grounded in Glasgow, Prestwick and Derry since 0700 BST, while the airspace over Dublin, Belfast and Edinburgh has also since closed.

• Wednesday, May 5th 2010 - 06:35 UTC

  Greek Aid Package Hard to Sell: Stock Markets World Wide Fall Sharply

  

  Stock markets fell sharply Tuesday as concerns about high levels of European government debt continue to shake investor confidence. The Euro fell to a 13-month-low against the dollar, dropping to 1.3004, after earlier slipping below the 1.30 mark.

• Wednesday, May 5th 2010 - 06:28 UTC

  EU Anticipates Further Regulation for Credit Rating Agencies

  

  A European Commissioner has warned it may be necessary to further regulate the role of credit rating agencies. Michel Barnier, in charge of revamping financial services, told the European Parliament he had been surprised by the rapid deterioration of Greece's rating.

• Wednesday, May 5th 2010 - 02:49 UTC

  EU Wants to Reactivate Negotiations with Mercosur for Association Agreement

  

  The European Commission (EC) has proposed to reactivate its negotiations with Mercosur, stagnant since 2004, with the objective of reaching an association agreement. In its weekly meeting, the EU executive decided to re-establish discussions with Mercosur since it considers “that an eventual pact could generate economic benefits for both parts,” according to an EC communiqué.

• Tuesday, May 4th 2010 - 05:48 UTC

  European Central Bank Beefs Greek Rescue-Plan; Takes “Junk” Bonds as Collateral

  

  The European Central Bank (ECB) has moved to shore up the €110 billion EU/IMF rescue of Greece by offsetting the impact of the “junk” rating on the country’s debt.