German press.

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Things have been frozen for a long time.


http://www.spiegel.de/international/topic/euro_crisis/

Civil Disobedience Greek Mayors Rebel Against Public Layoffs

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 13, 2012 While the Greek government has passed the most recent austerity measures demanded by its international lenders, it continues to encounter resistence to their implementation. In a rare act of unity, cities and unions are refusing to comply with demands for layoffs. By Georgios Christidis in Thessaloniki, Greece more...

The World From Berlin 'Stabilizing Greece is the Least Costly Option'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 13, 2012 Euro-zone finance ministers agreed on Monday to give Greece two more years to meet its budget goals, but this was overshadowed by a rift between the ministers and the International Monetary Fund over whether Greece should get a further debt cut. German commentators say the crisis could boil over again. more...

'Not a Joke' EU-IMF Spat over Greece Worries Investors

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 13, 2012 Even as European finance ministers agreed with the International Monetary Fund on Monday to grant Athens more time to meet its budget reduction targets, a deep rift became apparent. Greece's overall debt load is massive, and the EU and IMF are in conflict over the best method and timeframe for reducing it. more... [ Forum ]

'Merkel Get Out!' Chancellor Faces Angry Protests in Portugal

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 13, 2012 Following her visit to Greece a few weeks ago, Angela Merkel made her first official visit crisis-plagued Portugal on Monday. With the trip, the German chancellor sought to bring a bit of hope to the struggling nation. But as in other Southern European countries, a weary public greeted her with angry protests. By Philipp Wittrock in Lisbon more... [ Forum ]

Progress in Athens Troika Delivers 'Positive' Report on Greece

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 12, 2012 Greece's international creditors have finally filed their report on the state of the country's reform efforts. According to top euro-zone official Jean-Claude Juncker, the document is largely "positive" in tone. Still, no final decision has yet been made on the payout of the next tranche of aid Greece so desperately needs. more...

The End of 'Drachmophobia'? Greek Parliament Narrowly Passes Deep New Cuts

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 08, 2012 The Greek parliament on Wednesday night passed yet another package of deep cuts in order to qualify for the next tranche of vital euro-zone aid. But the coalition of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras showed signs of fracturing, while protests on the streets outside grew violent. more...

Eve of Austerity Strikes Consume Greece Ahead of New Cuts

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 06, 2012 Thousands of Greeks took to the streets of Athens on Tuesday on the first of two days of strikes to protest yet more biting austerity measures. Their anger is palpable, but if parliament fails to pass the cuts on Wednesday, the consequences could be dire. more...

Greek Editor Vaxevanis on Tax Scandal 'Many Friends of Leading Politicians Are on the List'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 06, 2012 Police arrested Kostas Vaxevanis at the end of October for publishing the names of hundreds of rich Greeks suspected of tax evasion, only to be released a short time later. He tells SPIEGEL that Greek politicians are complicit in the scam and seek to pass laws to retroactively legalize tax offenses. more... [ Forum ]

Cyprus Bailout Talks Stalled Money Laundering Accusations Could Delay Aid

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 06, 2012 Talks on a euro-zone bailout for Cyprus could be delayed by accusations reported in SPIEGEL that the island is helping rich Russians launder money. Cyprus has denied the accusations but is likely to come under increasing pressure to reform its financial sector to secure aid. By Carsten Volkery more... [ Forum ]

Who You Gonna Call? Tim Geithner Finds Europe's Phone Number

SPIEGEL ONLINE - November 06, 2012 One of the European Union's greatest shortcomings is its lack of a strong leader. A novel analysis of the meetings and phone calls of the US treasury secretary shows that, among the EU's oligarchy of commissioners and presidents, there is one institution here that Timothy Geithner turns to for consultations than any other: the European Central Bank. more...

Bailing Out Oligarchs EU Aid for Cyprus A Political Minefield for Merkel

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 05.11.2012 The EU is likely to bail out the banks of tiny member state Cyprus with 10 billion euros of credit. But a secret German intelligence report reveals that the main beneficiaries of the aid would be rich Russians who have invested illegal money there. It's a big dilemma for Chancellor Angela Merkel. By Markus Dettmer and Christian Reiermann more...

German Intelligence Report Aid to Cyprus Could Benefit Russian Oligarchs

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 05.11.2012 Cyprus could soon seek aid from the European Union's bailout fund. But according to a secret report by Germany's BND intelligence service, the aid might mainly benefit Russian oligarchs who have parked illegal money in bank accounts in Cyprus, SPIEGEL has learned. Russian deposits there total $26 billion. more...

Debt Crisis Wealthy Greeks Still Don't Pay Taxes

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 01.11.2012 Average Greeks are reeling under the strict austerity measures passed in order to balance the country's budget. Top earners, on the other hand, continue to evade the tax man. Most of the self-employed in Greece significantly underreport their earnings, whereas shipping magnates enjoy generous exemptions. By Georgios Christidis more... [ Forum ]

Jobless in the Crisis Euro-Zone Unemployment Higher than Ever Before

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 31.10.2012 The European debt crisis and related austerity measures continue to drive up unemployment across the euro zone. In September, according to statistics released on Wednesday, fully 18.5 million people were without work in the common currency area, more than ever before. more...

Crisis Sparks Boom in Language Lessons Once Scorned, German Now Popular in Italy

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 29.10.2012 As the euro crisis grinds on, Italians are storming German language classes to improve their job prospects. They hope that mastering the complicated grammar and tongue- twisting vocabulary will help them land high-paying jobs in Germany. By Hans-Jürgen Schlamp in Massa Marittima, Italy more...

The World from Berlin 'EU Should Admit that Greece Will Need Debt Cut'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 29.10.2012 Greece's international creditors have proposed that the country receive another debt writedown, this time from EU governments. That, say German media commentators, is hardly a surprise. Fresh aid for Athens, they argue, has been inevitable for months, but leaders have shied away from telling the truth. more...

Interview with ECB President Mario Draghi 'We Couldn't Just Sit Back and Do Nothing'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 29.10.2012 In an interview with SPIEGEL, President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi defends his euro crisis policies and promises to keep prices stable. He also says he's on Germany's side when it comes to encouraging reforms in the euro zone. more... [ Forum ]

Another Default? Troika Calls for New Debt Relief for Greece

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 29.10.2012 Greece's international creditors are calling for a new debt haircut for the country so as to bring down its massive debt load. This time, however, taxpayer money from Germany and other donor countries would be involved. Resistance, not surprisingly, is substantial. more... [ Forum ]

The World from Berlin 'Euro-Zone Plans to Fix Greece Have Failed'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 25.10.2012 Greece says it has been granted an extra two years to meet austerity targets. The EU and IMF deny it. According to press reports, Athens needs an extra 20 billion euros in aid. It is difficult to determine exactly what might come next for the country, but commentators say it is clear that Europe is at a crossroads. more...

Two More Years for Athens? Report Says Greece Will Get More Time

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 24.10.2012 A German newspaper on Wednesday is reporting that Greece's creditors will grant the heavily indebted country two more years to meet its budget targets. Despite high-level denials, momentum appears to be growing for such a delay, which would necessitate further aid to Athens. more... [ Forum ]

Euro Crisis Lull Schäuble Warns Worst Is Yet to Come

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 23.10.2012 Europe's debt crisis seems to have entered a calm phase, but that's only an illusion, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said on Tuesday. The worst is probably still to come, he warned. more...

Parallel Universes in Paris and Berlin Is the Franco-German Axis Kaput?

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 22.10.2012 The most recent European Union summit exposed deep differences between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande. Berlin wants Brussels to be bestowed with greater power over national budgets and Paris is calling for an end to austerity. The dispute threatens to intensify the euro crisis. By SPIEGEL Staff more...

Lost in Translation Berlin Sends Contradictory Messages on Greece

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 22.10.2012 German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has been inconsistent in his statements about Greece recently, and is now having to explain himself. But even as he has tried to clarify, yet another contradiction has appeared. more...

The World From Berlin Informal Debate Marks Start of Election Season

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 19.10.2012 Angela Merkel went head to head for the first time with Peer Steinbrück, the opposition's candidate for the Chancellery in next year's general election, in the German parliament on Thursday. On the editorial pages Friday, German commentators note the candidates have so much in common politically that Social Democrat Steinbrück will have to work hard to show how he's different. more...

EU Summit Strife Berlin and Paris Compromise on Bank Oversight

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 19.10.2012 Ahead of this week's European Union summit in Brussels, Chancellor Merkel and French President Hollande staged a public battle over euro-zone reform. On Thursday night, however, the two quickly reached a compromise on the introduction of banking oversight. But difficult questions remain. By Carsten Volkery  in Brussels more... [ Forum ]

Poisoned Atmosphere France and Germany at Odds ahead of EU Summit

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 18.10.2012 Germany has a clear vision for the future of the European Union -- but so does France. Unfortunately, the two concepts are radically different, and neither side seems interested in backing down. The conflict is set to dominate the EU summit on Thursday and Friday. By Carsten Volkery more... [ Forum ]

The World from Berlin Schäuble Plan 'Would Fundmentally Change Euro Zone'

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 17.10.2012 Days ahead of a European Union summit, Wolfgang Schäuble is pushing for Brussels to be given greater oversight and power over budgets of euro-zone countries. German editorialists say the finance minister's proposal has little hope of success. more... [ Forum ]

'Devastating Impact' Euro Exit by Southern Nations Could Cost 17 Trillion Euros

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 17.10.2012 A new study by a German think tank warns that a euro exit by Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy would cut global GDP by 17 trillion euros and plunge the world into recession, with France suffering the biggest loss. A Greek exit alone would be manageable, but must be avoided to forestall a domino effect, it says. more...

'We Are Greedy and Asocial' Corruption Continues Virtually Unchecked in Greece

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 16.10.2012 While Athens waits for more aid from the European Union, the country continues to be administered in the same old careless manner. Corrupt politicians and the rich continue to help themselves to Greece's funds, and little is being done about it. By Julia Amalia Heyer more... [ Forum ]

New Powers for Brussels Germany's Schäuble Presents Master Plan for Euro

SPIEGEL ONLINE - 16.10.2012 German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is determined to end the euro crisis once and for all. On Sunday he effectively ruled out a Greek bankruptcy, and is now proposing far-reaching reforms to stabilize the currency union. Under his plan, Brussels would be granted far greater powers over national budgets. more...