Which way for the European economy?

Newsletter 24 november 2011

25 November 2011

TNI

The ‘Six Pack’ has been billed by EU leaders as the solution to the sovereign debt crisis, but huge opposition from the European public, as well as an increasing number of critical economists, journalists and academics, raises serious questions about the legitimacy of their claims.

En español

Indeed, mounting evidence shows that more cuts to social spending will actually worsen the state of European economies, and the European Parliament's vote in favour of the measures reveals a starkly undemocratic shift of power in the EU. We were in Brussels earlier this month for a debate on EU economic governance:

EU Economic Governance – For People or for the Banks?
Did fiscal irresponsibility cause the EU crisis? Are European institutions democratically accountable? Is the European Commission politically neutral? Important questions discussed during a public debate with a representative of the European Commission.

Which Ways Forward?
Brid Brennan and Julie de los Reyes
The adoption of the 'Six Pack', effectively giving unprecedented power to the European Commission on member states' fiscal and budgetary affairs, was voted on Wednesday, 28 September 2011. The series of votes come amid serious reservations that the proposed legislative changes put overemphasis on reigning in the budget deficit, at the expense of employment, public services and jumpstarting the real economy.

End financial control european governance
Interview with Susan George
The Euro crisis is clear evidence that we need to break out of the economic straight-jacket imposed by the Lisbon Treaty, the European Central Bank and the over-powerful financial sector.

What must be done to save Europe's Economy
Susan George
Despite the bailouts and the hype - nothing significant has actually changed in the financial industry; and the crisis in Europe remains. Susan talks about what still must be done to prevent further economic crises in Europe, stabilise, and green the economy.

Latest from TNI

Legalised profiteering?
Nick Buxton

The secretive and lucrative world of international investment arbitration has enriched a small coterie of multi-billion dollar international firms, which actively promote and even help finance litigations against states and have fought fiercely to prevent changes to an unjust international investment regime.

Cannabis social club activists in Spain liberated
Tom Blickman

Cultivation and consumption of cannabis is decriminalised to an extent but lack of guidelines causes rogue social clubs to undermine the success of self-regulated social clubs. The result; an unwarranted arrest of three Pannagh activists.

Publications

Civil Society Gaining Ground
Tom Kramer

Local organisations have adopted different strategies towards the authoritarian government in Burma. Focussing on the dynamics of civil society Tom Kramer looks into the possibilities and risks of growing international interest in engagement with these groups.

Social and environmental impacts of sugarcane production in Brazil
Carlos Vinicius Xavier, Fábio T. Pitta and Maria Luisa Mendonça

In this publication, data and recent analyses will be presented on the expansion of sugar cane monoculture for ethanol production in Brazil, and in particular on the monopolisation in the sector due to mergers and the takeover of production plants by foreign companies.

En español

¿Un golpe de Estado en la Unión Europea?
Susan George
¡Las demandas de los trabajadores de la Unión Europea de salarios y condiciones de trabajo mejores, pensiones generosas, largas vacaciones y permisos cuando sean necesarios deben controlarse! ¡Ya está bien!

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Events

Hunger, Food and Agroecological Alternatives
TNI, ICAS and LDPI bring together the world’s leading radical thinkers and activists on the issues of food and future of farming 12 December in The Hague

In our network

In Place of Austerity Reconstructing the economy, state and public services Dexter Whitfield

Surviving Progress A film by Mathieu Roy & Harold Crooks

Between a rock and a hard place David Mansfield Counter-narcotics efforts and their effects in Nangarhar and Helmand in the 2010-11 growing season

The Rise and Fall of the Welfare State Asbjørn Wahl In an age of government imposed austerity, and after 30 years of neo-liberal restructuring, the future of the welfare state looks increasingly uncertain

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Recent publications from Democratising Europe

The right to say no As European Union (EU) member states consider the implications of environmentally risky shale gas development (fracking), negotiations are underway for a controversial EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) which would grant investors the right to challenge governments’ decision to ban and regulate fracking.	Guns, debt and corruption High levels of military spending played a key role in the unfolding economic crisis in Europe and continues to undermine efforts to resolve it.
Privatising Europe This working paper and infographic provide an overview of a great ‘fire sale’ of public services and national assets across Europe that is providing profits for a few transnational companies but is often fiercely opposed by its citizens.	EU crisis infographics Why are those responsible for the EU crisis profiting from it? Why are the same policies that caused the crisis being used to resolve it? An infographic expose of the EU crisis, its causes and its social impacts.