European Economy
The German chancellor’s Christmas message
By Ulrich Rippert, December 21, 2012
In an interview last weekend with the Financial Times, the German chancellor declares that the European welfare state cannot be sustained.
Social discontent grows in Greece against austerity
By Christoph Dreier, December 21, 2012
Workers are vehemently opposed to the implementation of the most recent cuts package, in particular the massive layoffs planned for the public sector.
Ireland’s United Left Alliance presents its “alternative” budget
By Jordan Shilton, December 17, 2012
The United Left Alliance’s “alternative budget” for Ireland makes clear that the pseudo-left is lining up to defend capitalism against growing opposition within the working class.
British Labour backs welfare benefit cuts
By Robert Stevens, December 17, 2012
Labour has utilised the coalition government’s recent budget to assure big business it is prepared to enforce attacks on the poor.
UK local authorities plan more than a billion pounds in cuts
By Robert Stevens, December 15, 2012
Local authority councils throughout the UK are planning more than a billion pounds in further cuts to be imposed next year and years beyond.
EU summit—years more of austerity and crisis
By Stefan Steinberg, December 15, 2012
A two day summit of European heads of state and finance ministers ended on Friday with general agreement to extend and deepen the austerity measures which have already plunged millions of Europeans into unemployment and poverty.
Irish budget deepens misery for working people
By Jordan Shilton, December 11, 2012
Ireland’s sixth austerity budget in less than five years will intensify the attacks on working people.
The political economy of the Spanish bank bailout
By Nick Beams, December 11, 2012
The initial measures are widely regarded as the prelude to a full-scale bailout of the Spanish state and the establishment of a financial dictatorship of the kind now in place in Greece.
Inter-European conflicts torpedo plans for banking union
By Stefan Steinberg, December 10, 2012
Discussions between European Union finance ministers on the formation of a banking union for the euro zone broke down last Tuesday.
UK Autumn budget: Austerity without end for workers
By Julie Hyland, December 8, 2012
Chancellor George Osborne has added a further £5 billion cuts targeting welfare to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition’s austerity package of £155 billion.
The destruction of health care in Greece
By Ernst Wolf, December 8, 2012
Five austerity packages within the space of two and a half years have reduced the health system in Greece to the level of a developing country.
Spanish bank bailout paves way for new attacks on working class
By Alex Lantier, December 7, 2012
On Monday night euro zone finance ministers approved a bailout requested for Spain’s banking sector.
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