Revolting Europe
EU
The two scenarios now facing Greece
By Sergio Cesaratto The victory of ‘no’ opens two scenarios. The most likely is the further effort by the Syriza-led government to reach a new agreement with the Troika, but it is not clear why it should be given something that had not been given before. The financial upheaval of recent days may be such as … Continue reading
Greece, Europe and sovereignty
What image will remain in the European Union in the wake of the Greek crisis? Indeed, whatever the outcome of this crisis, whether it results in a Greek default and a possible exit from the euro zone, or a capitulation of the Greek government, the consequences of this crisis on the EU and its image … Continue reading
Crisis of democracy and sovereignty: the case of France
By Jacques Sapir France currently suffers from a deep democratic deficit. This can be measured in the rise in abstention during elections for almost twenty years. This is widely acknowledged, even if we differ on the analysis of the causes of this situation. Some dream of institutional reform. Such as a “Sixth Republic” advanced by … Continue reading
Euro, Europe and peace
One of the most well used arguments to criticize anything that directly or indirectly relates to a dissolution of the Euro (be it Grexit or other assumptions) is that this would significantly weaken the European Union or cause its dissolution. In saying this, those who defend this argument move seamlessly from an analytical finding (a … Continue reading
Renzi one year on: austerity still rules Italy
One year after PM Renzi came to power and three governments since Berlusconi, Italy is still depressed, thanks to unending austerity programmes, finds Leopoldo Nascia* Seven years of crisis and three and half years of political shocks the have brought, in succession, the governments Mario Monti, Enrico Letta and Matteo Renzi, have failed to pull … Continue reading
I am ashamed to be European
By Giorgio Cremaschi Double standards have always been a hallmark of the European ruling classes. At least since the governments and liberal revolutions of the late 1700s proclaimed human rights, except for slaves overseas and most of the workers. Europe’s double standards collapsed exactly one hundred years ago with the first world war. After twenty … Continue reading
How EU-inspired Big Banking has deepened Italy’s North-South divide
Salvatore Perri* When it comes to savings among Italian households there is no “cultural” difference between the country’s north and south, figures for the pre-crisis period (1989-2007) [1] show us. Even more suprising is the fact that the southern region of Campania, whose capital is Naples, has seen the highest rate of growth in the … Continue reading
The European Commission, the autopilot for neo-liberal policies
By Bernard Cassen The first concern of any institution is to perpetuate its existence and expand its areas of intervention. In the latter case, such an ambition usually encounters forces and structures that do not intend to be deprived of all or part of their territory and their prerogatives. When these forces and structures do … Continue reading
EU, the Grand Coalition and austerity. Where does Italy’s Renzi stand?
The choice of Juncker as the next president of the European Commission is in total continuity with the harmful policies of rigor imposed in recent years by the Troika. The Italian prime minister on the one hand seems to beat his fists against the diktats of Berlin, on the other hand make us believe – … Continue reading
French PM Valls ploughs on with stability plan but at what price?
By Guillaume Duval Despite the political thunder of the European elections of 25 May, France’s President and Prime Minister chose the moment to stay the course of their “stability program” presented a month earlier to the National Assembly and approved by it after a fraught debate. This document, submitted to the European authorities, describes the … Continue reading
Why Turkey is no longer interested in Europe
IN THE RADICAL PRESS / IL MANIFESTO EU Membership is no longer on the policy agenda and isn’t an issue for the youth of Gezi, says Nedim Gürsel The EU and Turkey is a story of a relationship that has lasted since ’64. With the prospect of membership fading, what view does Turkey have of … Continue reading
French councils and regions campaign against translantic free trade zone
A movement against the US-EU free trade zone is gaining momentum in France with fifteen local governments, including the Parisian and four other regions raising the alarm about the proposed transatlantic market that is being negotiated in secret. France has traditionally been one of the strongest opponents of free trade in the EU and now more and more … Continue reading
Banking Union – The Big Fix?
Last week, MEPs finally signed off on European banking union. This, we are told, is the big fix to the out of control banking system that caused the 2008 economic meltdown that has rocked Europe ever since. The narrative is, as Reuters puts it, ‘unlike in the United States, where regulators and the central bank acted promptly … Continue reading
French socialist revolt continues
The revolt in France’s socialist party continued this week as details of a fresh austerity plan were unveiled by new Prime Minister Manuel Valls. Valls has announced a 50 billion euro austerity plan to be funded largely by cuts to pensions, a freeze in public servants’ salaries and cuts to public services. The announcement was “received as a … Continue reading
The great private pensions fraud
Fresh from implementing reforms of its pension system Mariano Rajoy’s Spain is now preaching the merits of its pro-market policies to the rest of Europe, backed by the Troika. But state pension cuts and the virtues of private insurance-based schemes are built on myths that serve financial capital, argues Vicenç Navarro There’s been a constant onslaught by banks and … Continue reading
THE EURO
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