Galaxy Europe

By Matteo Adduci

Presenting the freshly reached agreement on a fiscal pact ratified by 25 EU member states (everyone except the UK – same old story - and the Czech Republic – due to “different problems in relation to the possible adoption of the agreement”), Italian PM Mario Monti stated that Italy had had significant impact in the achievement of this “very good and successful result”.

By Julie Kavanagh

The Party of European Socialists have dismissed as ¨empty proposals¨ a new EU draft paper detailling measures to tackle youth unemployment. With the issue expected to be high on the agenda at today´s informal summit, politicians and policy-makers alike are eager to emphasise youth employment as pivotal to growth.

By Hans Mund



Two figures of the Eurozone safer team: Van Rompuy and Italien's Prime Minister Mario Monti

The coming week that starts on Monday 23rd, can be considered as the kick-off for the year 2012 when it comes to EU politics. It will be the first real working week of the Danish Presidency. It is the start of the last 6 months of the first permanent Council Presidency of Herman van Rompuy. It started with the meeting of the Finance Ministers of the Eurogroup members last Monday, the financial compact drafted and released by Van Rompuy, was discussed. For the Danish presidency, it will be the first test in acting as “the bridge over troubled water”; in itself, it is not a member of the Eurozone , but Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and her Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen are aware of what is ahead of them and intend on getting a solution soon.

By Davide Martinotti and Lisa Kittel

Photos: Davide Martinotti

By Cristina Mariani

“The debilitating effects of two bloody wars and the weakening of Europe's position in the world brought a growing realisation that only peace and concerted action could make the dream of a strong, unified Europe come true. … A start was made with a coal and steel community. Other economic activities, such as agriculture, were subsequently added in. A genuine single market was eventually established forgoods, persons, services and capital, and a single currency was added in 1999. On 1 January 2002 the euro is to become a day-to-day realityfor 300 million European citizens.”

By Tanja Milevska

European leaders have not given candidate status to Serbia. “Unwise decision” for some…This last European Council of heads of states and governments of the EU will have displeased many, not only inside the EU but also among those waiting at its doors, such as some candidates to enlargement. The first one is Serbia, who has been sent back to the European waiting room for at least three more months.

By Dominique Strzyz
Photo: Davide Martinotti

       Waiting for the dancing queen

The Merkozy duet proposes to open the music box of the Lisbon Treaty whether we dance with 27 or with 17. But what can we dance together to persuade the maestros of financial markets that we are dancing to the same melody? The leaders of 27 EU members are gathered today in Brussels to resolve this urgent question. And it is very probable that the summit will continue much longer than Friday afternoon as originally scheduled.

Photo: Davide Martinotti



Prior to the informal meeting, few heads of state were talkative. Angela Merkel then made a spontaneous statement about the evening’s proceedings...

By Cristina Mariani

After the last Eurogroup meeting, on 30th December, Commissioner Olli Rehn, in charge of Economic and Monetary Affairs, warned Eurozone governors to complete the crisis response of the European Union within a 10-days period of time, or they will have to face the risk of the disintegration of the European Union itself. On the 8-9th December, EU leaders will meet again for another urgent “make or break” summit. In addition to the signing of the Croatian accession treaty, they will review the overall economic situation in Europe and try to reach a consensus to prevent bailout contagion. “Apocalypse Euro”?

By Lisa Kittel

When you arrive in Bilbao, it’s impossible to feel stressed. I mean, I've tried: A day of waiting, flight, waiting, flight, waiting, bus... Looking for a hostel in the middle of the night in Bilbao was dreamlike. A city of calm, full of green spaces, where men clean the streets with water until they are spotless. The few people still on the streets were friendly and relaxed. If a city as a whole could be considered a workplace, there is probably no better ambiance than in Bilbao for the “Healthy Workplaces Summit on Safe Maintenance”. They must do something right there.