Main focus of Thursday, October 18, 2007

European identities and the euro

Just before the opening of the EU summit in Lisbon, a few controversial issues still remain to be resolved. One is Bulgaria's insistence that the word 'euro' be spelt "Ebpo" in Cyrillic script. What is the connection between national identity and the single European currency?

taz - Germany

For Brussels correspondent Daniela Weingärtner, the row over the spelling of the word 'euro' is of a fundamental nature. "This is because the coins and the notes of the European single currency are a visible manifestation of the issue that will be at dispute to the very last minute in Lisbon: namely finding the right balance between unity and diversity. ... In the medium term such conflicts between the desire for diversity and the need for unity may be resolved in a Europe of diverse regions where the nation-state level has become redundant. But if the euro is to remain the strong single currency it has become in the seven years since its introduction, Bulgarians will have to renounce the spelling 'Ebpo', with which they are familiar." (18/10/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Tax Policy, » Europe, » Bulgaria
All available articles from » Daniela Weingärtner

Hufvudstadsbladet - Finland

Björn Mansson sympathises with Bulgaria's calls for the designation 'euro' to be also given in Cyrillic script on euro notes. "Finland's Prime Minister Maati Vanhanen advocates a technical solution. Here in Finland we're used to bilingual texts. One option would be to use smaller print for the Cyrillic script, as is often done with minority languages. Another would be to use only the euro sign '€' in future. Apropos, it's a good thing the Swedes, who like the Bulgarians don't yet belong to the euro zone, write 'euro' even though they insist on pronouncing it 'ev-roh'. Perhaps the Bulgarian spelling 'ebpo' would make it easier for them to adopt the currency?" (18/10/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Tax Policy, » Sweden, » Bulgaria
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Klassa - Bulgaria

The newspaper is perplexed by Bulgaria's demands that the word euro be spelt in Cyrillic letters: "We are witnessing the most foolish battle Bulgarian politicians have ever fought. Ebpo or euro - does it make any difference? No. But great damage has been done. We have insulted the Montenegrins. It will be decades before that small but strategically positioned nation forgives us for blocking its entry to the EU." The daily points out that Bulgaria had threatened to refuse to sign an association agreement with Montenegro. "Poland's behaviour often makes Europe's hair stand on end, but at least that's always about genuine political interests, not letters." (18/10/2007)

» full article (external link, Bulgarian)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Economic Policy, » Tax Policy, » Europe, » Bulgaria

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland

The EU Council of Ministers criticised on October 8th the fact that Montenegro uses the euro as its currency even though the country is not an EU member state. Martin Woker examines the alternatives: "Should it create its own currency? That would be too expensive. Should it adopt the currency of a neighbouring country, as other smaller European states have done? The Croat kuna, Bosnia's convertible marka, the Albanian lek or even the Serb dinar? Never! The proud Montenegrins would never tolerate their neighbours' money in their pockets. That would be out of the question. The only conceivable solution would be to adopt the currency now circulating in Kosovo. Pristina's cash dispensers have long since translated Kosovo's European integration into reality. They spit out what the entire Balkan region wants: the euro." (18/10/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Tax Policy, » South East Europe
All available articles from » Martin Woker

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