The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Several EU countries buy and sell equipment used in torture such as spike batons, metal thumb cuffs and electric-shock stun sleeves delivering 50,000-volt shocks to detainees, despite a 2006 EU law against the trade, according to a report from human rights watchdogs Amnesty international and the Omega Research Foundation. The report reveals how EU countries including Spain, Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic have authorised exports of policing weapons and other possible torture tools to at least nine countries where use of such equipment in torture has been documented. "The introduction of European controls on the trade in `tools of torture' ... was a landmark piece of legislation. But three years after these controls came into force, several European states have failed to properly implement or enforce the law," said Nicolas Beger, director of Amnesty International's EU office. According to the document, law enforcement equipment suppliers in Italy and Spain have promoted the sale of illegal electroshock cuffs or sleeves thanks to loopholes in the EU law that permit their trade, even though similar electric stun belts are prohibited for import and export across the EU on the grounds that their use inherently constitutes torture or ill treatment. Hungary in 2005 even declared its intention to introduce such electric stun belts into its own prisons and police stations, despite the import and export ban.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Several EU countries buy and sell equipment used in torture such as spike batons, metal thumb cuffs and electric-shock stun sleeves delivering 50,000-volt shocks to detainees, despite a 2006 EU law against the trade, according to a report from human rights watchdogs Amnesty international and the Omega Research Foundation.
The report reveals how EU countries including Spain, Germany, Hungary and the Czech Republic have authorised exports of policing weapons and other possible torture tools to at least nine countries where use of such equipment in torture has been documented.
"The introduction of European controls on the trade in `tools of torture' ... was a landmark piece of legislation. But three years after these controls came into force, several European states have failed to properly implement or enforce the law," said Nicolas Beger, director of Amnesty International's EU office.
According to the document, law enforcement equipment suppliers in Italy and Spain have promoted the sale of illegal electroshock cuffs or sleeves thanks to loopholes in the EU law that permit their trade, even though similar electric stun belts are prohibited for import and export across the EU on the grounds that their use inherently constitutes torture or ill treatment.
Hungary in 2005 even declared its intention to introduce such electric stun belts into its own prisons and police stations, despite the import and export ban.
The EU ban on trade of instruments of torture may be consulted through this web page.
Italy seems to be leading the pack of scoundrels with six companies (page 34).
As folk may know I have spent the past year touring the country getting audiences to propose, discuss and vote for policies to make the world a better place. The end result is the People's Manifesto published by Ebury Press (out 28th Jan 10). Before publication the publishers PR department called and asked if I had any ideas to promote the book. "Er thats your job." I whined , clearing my throat before continuing,"I do the writing and you do the PR. I don't phone you up and say, "Have you got any spare commas?" "Well it's your book, we just thought you might want it to do well...." "OK. What about this for an idea, if you want to stand in the general election you have to pay £500 deposit, which you don't get back if you get less than 5% of the vote. Most independent candidates lose their deposit, which I reckon discourages people from standing... So would Ebury be prepared to pay a candidates deposit?" "What in the election?" "Yes. Pay their deposit and £500 worth of campaigning funds to help them out... Obviously whoever stands has to use the People's Manifesto as the basis for their election campaign."
As folk may know I have spent the past year touring the country getting audiences to propose, discuss and vote for policies to make the world a better place. The end result is the People's Manifesto published by Ebury Press (out 28th Jan 10). Before publication the publishers PR department called and asked if I had any ideas to promote the book.
"Er thats your job." I whined , clearing my throat before continuing,"I do the writing and you do the PR. I don't phone you up and say, "Have you got any spare commas?"
"Well it's your book, we just thought you might want it to do well...."
"OK. What about this for an idea, if you want to stand in the general election you have to pay £500 deposit, which you don't get back if you get less than 5% of the vote. Most independent candidates lose their deposit, which I reckon discourages people from standing... So would Ebury be prepared to pay a candidates deposit?"
"What in the election?"
"Yes. Pay their deposit and £500 worth of campaigning funds to help them out... Obviously whoever stands has to use the People's Manifesto as the basis for their election campaign."
German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has announced his desire to push forward a planned reduction in the length of conscription for German soldiers.A measure to reduce the time Bundeswehr soldiers serve from nine to six months is already scheduled to come into effect on January 1. According to statements made to German public broadcaster ARD, Guttenberg hopes to implement these changes before the end of this year.
Yes, though there is a civil service option for conscientious objectors. This is easy to get; maybe too easy. One argument against abolishing it is the fear that the hospitals, old-age homes etc have become too dependent on it.
Do they sand conscripts to Afghanistan?
I think it's voluntary, but I'm not sure.
Things started to loosen up in the 80s. After the wall came down, a country of 80m had to figure out how to wind down a total military of almost 800k to around (IIRC) 350k today. At the same time, social services had (and have!) been growing ever more dependent on cheap labor in kindergartens, senior care, etc., and the status of alternative service had risen with their increasing presence. Today, alternative service is the tail that wags the dog (social service providers are screaming this morning).
Out-of-area missions are staffed solely by career soldiers and voluntary recruits. The fact is that what we're experiencing right now is a top-down disaster. -Paul Krugman
However, I can imagine that the rise of alternative service could do quite a bit for social cohesion, especially across generations.
A traffic stop of a suspected stolen vehicle turned deadly Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on French police near Paris, killing one officer. Spain has blamed the Basque militant group ETA for the crime. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has blamed members of the Basque separatist group ETA for the shooting death of a French police officer near Paris on Tuesday evening. According to police reports obtained by the French media, police officers stopped a vehicle suspected of being stolen from a nearby car lot in the Paris suburb Dammarie-les-Lys. During the traffic stop, another car appeared and opened fire on the officers, hitting one of them in the chest despite his bulletproof vest. The suspects then fled the scene, but one was later apprehended and reportedly gave a Basque identification. The officer died from his wounds.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has blamed members of the Basque separatist group ETA for the shooting death of a French police officer near Paris on Tuesday evening.
According to police reports obtained by the French media, police officers stopped a vehicle suspected of being stolen from a nearby car lot in the Paris suburb Dammarie-les-Lys. During the traffic stop, another car appeared and opened fire on the officers, hitting one of them in the chest despite his bulletproof vest.
The suspects then fled the scene, but one was later apprehended and reportedly gave a Basque identification. The officer died from his wounds.
The head of the Catholic church in Ireland has used his annual St Patrick's Day sermon to apologise for his role in the cover-up of child abuse by one of the country's most notorious paedophile priests.Cardinal Sean Brady is under intense pressure to resign after he admitted attending meetings where two 10-year-olds were forced to sign vows of silence over complaints against Father Brendan Smyth, who continued abusing children for another 18 years.Brady said last weekend that he had taken notes during one meeting and interviewed the children in another. He referred the abuse claims to his superior but did not report them to the police, and it was only in 1994 that Smyth's appalling abuse came to light. Smyth died in prison 13 years ago, while serving 12 years for 74 sexual assaults on children.
The head of the Catholic church in Ireland has used his annual St Patrick's Day sermon to apologise for his role in the cover-up of child abuse by one of the country's most notorious paedophile priests.
Cardinal Sean Brady is under intense pressure to resign after he admitted attending meetings where two 10-year-olds were forced to sign vows of silence over complaints against Father Brendan Smyth, who continued abusing children for another 18 years.
Brady said last weekend that he had taken notes during one meeting and interviewed the children in another. He referred the abuse claims to his superior but did not report them to the police, and it was only in 1994 that Smyth's appalling abuse came to light. Smyth died in prison 13 years ago, while serving 12 years for 74 sexual assaults on children.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants more openness about child abuse by Catholic priests in Germany, but ruled out a specific inquiry into the Church. Meanwhile, the pope is to address Irish Catholics on similar issues. Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for more details to be made public about the sexual abuse of children within the Roman Catholic Church, but insisted that any crimes that have taken place reflect a wider problem in society. In a speech to parliament Merkel ruled out the idea of a specific investigation into the clergy. She agreed with clerics such as the head of Germany's Catholic Church, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, that abuse should be treated as a wider issue. "We all agree that sexual abuse against children is a despicable crime," said Merkel. "There is only one way for society to come clean and that is truth and clarity about everything that has happened. "Even if the first cases we've heard about are from the Catholic Church, it doesn't make any sense to limit this to one group," said Merkel. "It's happened in many parts of society." Since the beginning of the year, more than 150 cases of sexual abuse in Catholic institutions have come to light, dating as far back as the 1950s.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for more details to be made public about the sexual abuse of children within the Roman Catholic Church, but insisted that any crimes that have taken place reflect a wider problem in society.
In a speech to parliament Merkel ruled out the idea of a specific investigation into the clergy. She agreed with clerics such as the head of Germany's Catholic Church, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, that abuse should be treated as a wider issue.
"We all agree that sexual abuse against children is a despicable crime," said Merkel. "There is only one way for society to come clean and that is truth and clarity about everything that has happened.
"Even if the first cases we've heard about are from the Catholic Church, it doesn't make any sense to limit this to one group," said Merkel. "It's happened in many parts of society."
Since the beginning of the year, more than 150 cases of sexual abuse in Catholic institutions have come to light, dating as far back as the 1950s.
The government of Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych has announced its intention to pass a law to keep the country out of military alliances, which would end the debate over Ukraine joining NATO. The government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has issued a formal statement of intent that it is planning legislation to keep Ukraine out of all military alliances. This would provide a legal block to the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO. During Yanukovych's recent election campaign, keeping Ukraine out of NATO was one of his campaign promises.
The government of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has issued a formal statement of intent that it is planning legislation to keep Ukraine out of all military alliances. This would provide a legal block to the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO.
During Yanukovych's recent election campaign, keeping Ukraine out of NATO was one of his campaign promises.
Leaders of Turkish descent across Europe recently received an invitation to a fancy event in Istanbul, all expenses paid. But what sounded innocent enough appears to have been an attempt by Ankara to get members of the Turkish diaspora to represent Turkish interests abroad. Turkish-German politicians have reacted angrily to the brazen lobbying. The invitation that numerous Turkish-German politicians received in February sounded enticing: Lunch in a five-star hotel in Istanbul, travel expenses included. The session was titled: "Wherever One of Our Compatriots Is, We Are There Too." Around 1,500 people of Turkish descent from several European countries accepted the tempting offer. Among the speakers at the event, which took place at the end of February, were businesspeople, NGO representatives and a member of the Belgian parliament of Turkish descent. But the meeting, which has sparked outrage among Turkish-German politicians, was more than a harmless gathering of the Turkish diaspora. The event was organized by the Turkish government, which is led by the conservative-religious Justice and Development (AKP) party, in an attempt to send a clear message to the participants that they should represent Turkey in other countries. Turks living abroad should take the citizenship of their new home country -- not, however, with the intention of becoming an integrated part of that society, but so they can become politically active, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who spoke at the event. Erdogan also compared Islamophobia with anti-Semitism in his speech and said that countries which oppose dual citizenship are violating people's fundamental rights. (Germany, for example, generally does not allow its citizens to hold dual nationality.) 'Crime Against Humanity' Participants in the session told SPIEGEL ONLINE that the Turkish prime minister then repeated a sentence which had already sparked fierce criticism when he said it during a 2008 speech in Cologne: "Assimilation is a crime against humanity." And even stronger language was apparently used by one representative of the Turkish government. According to Ali Ertan Toprak, the vice chairman of the Alevi community in Germany, who was present at the lunch, one speaker went so far as to say: "We need to inoculate European culture with Turkish culture."
Leaders of Turkish descent across Europe recently received an invitation to a fancy event in Istanbul, all expenses paid. But what sounded innocent enough appears to have been an attempt by Ankara to get members of the Turkish diaspora to represent Turkish interests abroad. Turkish-German politicians have reacted angrily to the brazen lobbying.
The invitation that numerous Turkish-German politicians received in February sounded enticing: Lunch in a five-star hotel in Istanbul, travel expenses included. The session was titled: "Wherever One of Our Compatriots Is, We Are There Too."
Around 1,500 people of Turkish descent from several European countries accepted the tempting offer. Among the speakers at the event, which took place at the end of February, were businesspeople, NGO representatives and a member of the Belgian parliament of Turkish descent. But the meeting, which has sparked outrage among Turkish-German politicians, was more than a harmless gathering of the Turkish diaspora.
The event was organized by the Turkish government, which is led by the conservative-religious Justice and Development (AKP) party, in an attempt to send a clear message to the participants that they should represent Turkey in other countries. Turks living abroad should take the citizenship of their new home country -- not, however, with the intention of becoming an integrated part of that society, but so they can become politically active, said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who spoke at the event. Erdogan also compared Islamophobia with anti-Semitism in his speech and said that countries which oppose dual citizenship are violating people's fundamental rights. (Germany, for example, generally does not allow its citizens to hold dual nationality.)
'Crime Against Humanity'
Participants in the session told SPIEGEL ONLINE that the Turkish prime minister then repeated a sentence which had already sparked fierce criticism when he said it during a 2008 speech in Cologne: "Assimilation is a crime against humanity." And even stronger language was apparently used by one representative of the Turkish government. According to Ali Ertan Toprak, the vice chairman of the Alevi community in Germany, who was present at the lunch, one speaker went so far as to say: "We need to inoculate European culture with Turkish culture."
does he mean vaccinate, as in protect against more threatening aspects of islam?
or that we don't have enough oud music?
or did he mean enrich our cultural plasma some other way? ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
Also, a nation cannot expect immigrants to lose their identity and lifelong cultures in exchange for mimicry of the people they are now surrounded by.
Cultures must accept those who join it willingly by doing their part. Surely they will find useful things to take, usually food is the first, followed by fashion, arts and music. Eventually, especially over generations, you find the ideas of the immigrant cultures penetrating the national psyche.
Simply look at the United States where cultures that were considered very foreign to each other have completely melded to an extent that most people are unaware of ethnicity at all (not that ignorance is admirable in this respect). Many things that are considered hallmarks of "America" were foreign and resisted 150 years ago. The same can be true of anywhere, in fact that is exactly what some are resisting.
i do admire the melting pot aspect of america, and am enjoying seeing how many young europeans i'm meeting are so much more international in worldview than in previous generations.
but we are far behind still, even if one factors in the language issue.
cheap travel, the ERASMUS programme, ubiquitous 24/7 world news, and the internet are globalising the young in a good way.
your comments about immigrants and indigenes meeting halfway are right on point. ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
Raising the stakes in Turkey's rejection of the genocide label by US and Swedish lawmakers for the mass deaths of Armenians a century ago, Turkey says it might send home up to 100,000 Armenians currently living in Turkey without citizenship. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, angry over the decision earlier this month by a US congressional committee and by the Swedish parliament to call the 1915 deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians a "genocide," has said the issue could disrupt a nascent Turkey-Armenia reconciliation process started last year.Mr. Erdogan is now unlikely to attend an energy summit hosted by Barack Obama in April, Hurriyet newspaper reported. Erdogan already pulled out of a top-level meeting in Sweden, and Turkey withdrew ambassadors from both Washington and Stockholm after the two votes.The issue of deaths during the expulsion of Christian Armenians by forces of the crumbling Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I are sensitive in Turkey, which argues that killing took place on both sides.More broadly, NATO member and European Union candidate Turkey does not want to be lumped with Nazi Germany, Cambodia, or Rwanda as perpetrators of genocide in the 20th century.
Raising the stakes in Turkey's rejection of the genocide label by US and Swedish lawmakers for the mass deaths of Armenians a century ago, Turkey says it might send home up to 100,000 Armenians currently living in Turkey without citizenship.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, angry over the decision earlier this month by a US congressional committee and by the Swedish parliament to call the 1915 deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians a "genocide," has said the issue could disrupt a nascent Turkey-Armenia reconciliation process started last year.
Mr. Erdogan is now unlikely to attend an energy summit hosted by Barack Obama in April, Hurriyet newspaper reported. Erdogan already pulled out of a top-level meeting in Sweden, and Turkey withdrew ambassadors from both Washington and Stockholm after the two votes.
The issue of deaths during the expulsion of Christian Armenians by forces of the crumbling Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I are sensitive in Turkey, which argues that killing took place on both sides.
More broadly, NATO member and European Union candidate Turkey does not want to be lumped with Nazi Germany, Cambodia, or Rwanda as perpetrators of genocide in the 20th century.
Would be cool media, no? A circle of elders and chiefs, and in the middle, Obama, letting the elders know he's grateful they survived, and he wishes to learn something about stewardship. Akwego Skennah. "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
The 16-nation euro zone must be able to remove members who persistently break fiscal rules, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday. She added that the Greek debt crisis, which has rattled the euro, should be dealt with at its "roots". AFP - The 16-nation eurozone must have the option of removing one of its members from the club if a country persistently breaks its fiscal rules, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday. The option, which would be used only "as a last resort", should apply to countries which "again and again do not fulfil the conditions" to which euro area members are bound, she said in a speech to parliament. The chancellor added that the current rules in the European Union's Stability and Growth Pact were no longer sufficient to deal with the current crisis, which she described as the euro's "greatest-ever challenge."
AFP - The 16-nation eurozone must have the option of removing one of its members from the club if a country persistently breaks its fiscal rules, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday. The option, which would be used only "as a last resort", should apply to countries which "again and again do not fulfil the conditions" to which euro area members are bound, she said in a speech to parliament. The chancellor added that the current rules in the European Union's Stability and Growth Pact were no longer sufficient to deal with the current crisis, which she described as the euro's "greatest-ever challenge."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the eurozone must be able to expel members that repeatedly break the club's fiscal rules in the future. In a speech to the German parliament on Wednesday (17 March), the chancellor stressed that such an option would only be used "as a last resort", but added that the EU's current Stability and Growth Pact rules are no longer sufficient to deal with the euro area's difficulties. Angela Merkel says the eurozone's current rules are not sufficient "In the future, we need an entry in the [Lisbon] Treaty that would make it possible, as a last resort, to exclude a country from the eurozone if the conditions are not fulfilled again and again over the long term," Ms Merkel said. "Otherwise co-operation is impossible." Market doubts over Greece's ability to meet refinancing needs in the coming months have plunged the euro area into its greatest crisis in its 11-year history, with the possibility of a sovereign debt default weighing heavily on the euro currency.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the eurozone must be able to expel members that repeatedly break the club's fiscal rules in the future.
In a speech to the German parliament on Wednesday (17 March), the chancellor stressed that such an option would only be used "as a last resort", but added that the EU's current Stability and Growth Pact rules are no longer sufficient to deal with the euro area's difficulties.
Angela Merkel says the eurozone's current rules are not sufficient
"In the future, we need an entry in the [Lisbon] Treaty that would make it possible, as a last resort, to exclude a country from the eurozone if the conditions are not fulfilled again and again over the long term," Ms Merkel said. "Otherwise co-operation is impossible."
Market doubts over Greece's ability to meet refinancing needs in the coming months have plunged the euro area into its greatest crisis in its 11-year history, with the possibility of a sovereign debt default weighing heavily on the euro currency.
Not sure how much stock to put into that analysis or if it was a Europe.Is.Doomed report, but it was an interesting take on this particular proposal. "Schiller sprach zu Goethe, Steck in dem Arsch die Flöte! Goethe sagte zu Schiller, Mein Arsch ist kein Triller!"
You know, if Merkel wants to talk about the "roots" of the crisis, it's better to get rid of the Growth and Stability Suicide Pact, not saying that it is "no longer sufficient". The brainless should not be in banking -- Willem Buiter
Germany's Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told the Bundestag on March 16 that the country may have to consider ordering "intelligence agencies to set up surveillance of who is getting together with whom for which kinds of speculative processes, and where" to protect the euro. ... European politicians blamed speculators after the euro tumbled against the dollar and the cost of insuring Greek government debt rose by a third this year, causing budget cuts that triggered street protests in Athens. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that trading in credit default swaps exacerbated the crisis.
...
European politicians blamed speculators after the euro tumbled against the dollar and the cost of insuring Greek government debt rose by a third this year, causing budget cuts that triggered street protests in Athens. Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that trading in credit default swaps exacerbated the crisis.
The 16-nation eurozone must have the option of removing one of its members from the club if a country persistently breaks its fiscal rules, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
At the end of 2008, the lowest ratios of government debt to GDP were recorded in Estonia (4.6%), Luxembourg (13.5%), Romania (13.6%), Bulgaria (14.1%), and Lithuania (15.6%). Nine Member States had government debt ratios higher than 60% of GDP in 2008: Italy (105.8%), Greece (99.2%), Belgium (89.8%), Hungary (72.9%), France (67.4%), Portugal (66.3%), Germany (65.9%), Malta (63.8%) and Austria (62.6%).
The chancellor added that the current rules in the European Union's Stability and Growth Pact were no longer sufficient to deal with the current crisis, which she described as the euro's "greatest-ever challenge."
1997 59.7 1998 60.3 1999 60.9 2000 59.7 2001 58.8 2002 60.4 2003 63.9 2004 65.7 2005 68.0 2006 67.6 2007 65.0 2008 65.9
Heads of state and government agreed at the March 2005 Summit to revise the EU's Stability and Growth Pact reform. Under the revised rules, member states must still keep their public deficits under a 3% GDP/deficit ratio and their debts under a 60% GDP/debt ratio. However, the pact's rules have been made more 'flexible' across a range of areas. For example, member states will avoid an excessive deficit procedure (EDP) if they experience any negative growth at all (previously -2%), can draw on more "relevant factors" to avoid an EDP and will have longer deadlines if they do move into an EDP. ... In essence, big countries such as France and Germany have won concessions making the pact more 'flexible' in various parts, adding up to a considerable relaxation of the rules. In return, countries such as Austria and Netherlands have won references to "enhanced surveillance, peer support and peer pressure". The two thresholds - 60% for the debt and 3% for the deficit - remain unchanged.
However, the pact's rules have been made more 'flexible' across a range of areas. For example, member states will avoid an excessive deficit procedure (EDP) if they experience any negative growth at all (previously -2%), can draw on more "relevant factors" to avoid an EDP and will have longer deadlines if they do move into an EDP.
In essence, big countries such as France and Germany have won concessions making the pact more 'flexible' in various parts, adding up to a considerable relaxation of the rules. In return, countries such as Austria and Netherlands have won references to "enhanced surveillance, peer support and peer pressure".
The two thresholds - 60% for the debt and 3% for the deficit - remain unchanged.
It is really, really hard to take Germany seriously at all on this. The brainless should not be in banking -- Willem Buiter
I mean Excessive Debt Procedure. The brainless should not be in banking -- Willem Buiter
So, since they were fudging numbers, I can't really say that it's a total shock that the deficit went from 100% to 120% in that period.
I assumed that things were much worse (in terms of the level of deception). I realize now that the deception is actually the level of deficit in the annual budget, but total budget should be a much bigger concern than annual budget. I believe they jumped from 7% to 12.7% in the annual budget, and that's where the anger arose. A 6% annual revision adds about 15 billion euros to the federal deficit, so 15 billion would be the level of deception.
Something is really really funky in all the numbers. You can't simply add the new debt from 2009 to the previous debt from 2008 to get to the current debt level. Either the degree of trouble for Greece was obvious in plain sight in previous reporting, or the current numbers that we're working with now are off. There's definitely something wrong there.
1997 96.6 1998 94.5 -2.1 1999 94.0 -0.5 2000 103.4 +9.4 2001 103.7 +0.3 2002 101.7 -2.0 2003 97.4 -4.3 2004 98.6 +1.2 2005 100.0 +1.4 2006 97.1 -2.9 2007 95.6 -1.5 2008 99.2 +3.6
So, the numbers are funky.
I really will give up on this. I think what happens is as warren Buffet said, "When the tied goes out, we see who is swimming naked." 100% debt to GDP is ok when your economy is growing. When times get tough, it's a scandal.
The fear of course is that several get together and decide they don't like the rules and split the Eurozone.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Fighting cross-border crime in the EU still faces "practical difficulties" due to scarce resources in member states and the ability of criminals to move freely from one country to another, Eurojust's new chief Aled Williams told MEPs on Wednesday (17 March). Tasked with ensuring co-operation of prosecutors and police when faced with cross-border criminal cases, Eurojust is grappling with 27 different legal systems while skilled criminals are easily able to take advantage of the confusion. Eurojust is headquartered in the Hague "The first set of difficulties in judicial co-operation between member states is very practical - lack of resources and the fact that criminals are able to take advantage of the freedom of movement all other law-abiding citizens enjoy," Mr Williams said during a hearing in the European Parliament's justice and home affairs committee.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Fighting cross-border crime in the EU still faces "practical difficulties" due to scarce resources in member states and the ability of criminals to move freely from one country to another, Eurojust's new chief Aled Williams told MEPs on Wednesday (17 March).
Tasked with ensuring co-operation of prosecutors and police when faced with cross-border criminal cases, Eurojust is grappling with 27 different legal systems while skilled criminals are easily able to take advantage of the confusion.
Eurojust is headquartered in the Hague
"The first set of difficulties in judicial co-operation between member states is very practical - lack of resources and the fact that criminals are able to take advantage of the freedom of movement all other law-abiding citizens enjoy," Mr Williams said during a hearing in the European Parliament's justice and home affairs committee.
Elena Salgado, the Spanish finance minister, joined the calls on Wednesday for faster consolidation of the country's weaker savings banks, admitting in the process that up to a third of lending institutions could face "solvency problems".Speaking in parliament, Ms Salgado was seeking to reassure Spaniards that the difficulties of some cajas de ahorros - unlisted savings banks usually controlled by regional governments - had not unduly restricted the flow of credit to cash-starved private businesses....Miguel Angel Fernández Ordóñez, Bank of Spain governor, called last year for a third of the 45 cajas to be absorbed by stronger institutions. But he has been frustrated by the slow progress and the reluctance of autonomous regional governments to abandon their hold on the cajas....According to official data from the Bank of Spain, the bad loan ratios of the cajas appear to have reached a collective plateau at just over 5 per cent of assets, but the true figure is much higher if lenders' debt-for-asset swaps and property repossessions are counted. Two days after José María Roldán, the central bank's head of regulation, warned of the likelihood of further bad loan provisions by banks and cajas to cover the riskier parts of their €445bn in Spanish construction and real estate assets, Ms Salgado told parliament on Wednesday that "the government is going to do everything it can to accelerate [banking reforms]."
Speaking in parliament, Ms Salgado was seeking to reassure Spaniards that the difficulties of some cajas de ahorros - unlisted savings banks usually controlled by regional governments - had not unduly restricted the flow of credit to cash-starved private businesses....Miguel Angel Fernández Ordóñez, Bank of Spain governor, called last year for a third of the 45 cajas to be absorbed by stronger institutions. But he has been frustrated by the slow progress and the reluctance of autonomous regional governments to abandon their hold on the cajas....According to official data from the Bank of Spain, the bad loan ratios of the cajas appear to have reached a collective plateau at just over 5 per cent of assets, but the true figure is much higher if lenders' debt-for-asset swaps and property repossessions are counted.
Two days after José María Roldán, the central bank's head of regulation, warned of the likelihood of further bad loan provisions by banks and cajas to cover the riskier parts of their €445bn in Spanish construction and real estate assets, Ms Salgado told parliament on Wednesday that "the government is going to do everything it can to accelerate [banking reforms]."
The BBC has shelved a Panorama documentary about the business affairs of the Tory billionaire Lord Ashcroft, because of a threat of legal action. The Corporation has received what one insider described as "several very heavy letters" from Lord Ashcroft's lawyers. There is now little or no prospect of the investigation being broadcast before the general election, if it goes out at all.
The BBC has shelved a Panorama documentary about the business affairs of the Tory billionaire Lord Ashcroft, because of a threat of legal action.
The Corporation has received what one insider described as "several very heavy letters" from Lord Ashcroft's lawyers. There is now little or no prospect of the investigation being broadcast before the general election, if it goes out at all.
