Deutsch
English
FrançaisSub menu: Home
Home / Index of Authors
Offeddu, Luigi
Subscribe to receive the texts of "Offeddu, Luigi" as RSS feeds
5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Lack of unity foils good intentions
Whether it's stress tests, bank taxes or a financial transaction tax - the EU heads of state and government are promising things on which they have no general consensus, the liberal-conservative daily Corriere della Sera writes: "The need for greater transparency in the financial sector is, like all other demands, nothing more than a promise of good intentions which run the danger of not even being shared by all. However it reflects Europe's mood. It was formulated by Germany, less by France. Paris had demanded new crisis measures tailored to the Eurozone. It wanted an economic government for the Eurozone. None of that will happen. ... France has no other option but to comply. The relations between Paris and Berlin, which threatened to break down only ten days ago, have been patched up and even appear to be improving. The all too dusty spectre of the 'directorate' won't be revived, but one thing's for sure: Only two are sitting at the EU's helm."
» more information (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Europe
Merkel's battle against hedge funds
Great Britain's opposition to Angela Merkel's plans for financial market reform was doomed to failure, the liberal-conservative Corriere della Sera writes: "It may not yet be a drawbridge that will hinder an invasion but at least what the 27 EU finance ministers agreed on under massive pressure yesterday constitutes a powerful safety barrier. The end is nigh for the hedge funds. Europe is demanding a kind of passport from all speculative funds from the US and London City that intend to make a foray on its financial markets. ... It was above all France and Germany who forcefully backed this measure while the new conservative government in London opposed it with equal vigour. Despite the tensions between the fronts the British didn't stand a chance. For Germany seems no longer willing to wait for the ditherers when it comes to putting up hurdles to stop speculators: Starting today 'naked short-selling' [the practice of selling shares without owning them] is banned in Germany."
» more information (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Germany, » United Kingdom, » Europe
A risky situation
The central problem is European dependence on Russian energy supplies, writes Corriere della Sera newspaper: "The political sky over Nice is leaden today. Europe's thirst for energy can hardly be ignored, and looms over the negotiation table like a teetering boulder. The EU is trying to free its gas pipelines from the claws of the Russian bear, while Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is trying to do just the opposite. The EU wants to be able to supply its own needs as soon as the Kremlin shuts off the tap, and is striving to create an emergency energy network comprising Dutch wind energy and Norwegian hydropower as well as the trans-Sahara gas pipeline from Nigeria and gas from Azerbaijan. The 27 EU countries import 61 percent of their energy requirements from Russia, while seven, among them the Baltic countries, are completely dependent on Moscow. This situation is too risky."
» full article (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU Policy, » Russia, » Europe
Discrimination in the country of Santa Claus
The daily Corriere della Sera describes the dismissal of journalist and newly appointed editor in chief Johanna Korhosen by the Finnish newspaper Lapin Kansa as a shocking event in the country of equal rights: "In any case her dismissal, which the publisher of the newspaper Heikki Tuomi Nikula justified pointing to the journalist's homosexual orientation, has provoked demonstrations and strike threats among journalists. The dismissal has landed in parliament and even made its way as far as the office of President Tarja Halonen, who as a former leader of the equal rights movement is naturally appalled. The MPs have demanded a public discussion on equality of civil rights and, citing EU regulations, have stressed that a dismissal based on sexual behaviour is not legally binding. Cynics are saying the publisher should make Santa Claus his next editor in chief because little is known about his sexual orientation."
» more information (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » Print media, » Finland
Fishermen's protests in Brussels
Luigi Offeddu comments on Wednesday's clashes in Brussels between police and protesting fishermen from Italy, Spain and France. "In the Rue de la Loi, the street of the law, the defenders of the law confronted ... fishermen from Italy and France. ... Hundreds of fishermen came to Brussels demanding a green light from the EU for domestic aid, tax relief and subsidies for boat fuel and a relaxation of fishing quotas. ... The EU has no short-term recipe, and makes concessions only ... on diesel prices; the rest must be solved by the individual countries. At home the fishermen have blocked harbours, occupied markets and obstructed supplies to agricultural centres. A new protest wave is descending on Brussels, uniting farmers and fishermen. Price rises have accomplished what Marx and Lenin were unable to do: workers and farmers from across Europe are uniting."
» full article (external link, Italian)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Agriculture, » Economic Policy, » France, » Italy, » Spain, » Europe
© 2005-2012