⊂ EUROPE ⊃ ECB raises emergency funding: The European Central Bank has increased the amount of money Greek banks can borrow under an emergency lending programme, as tense negotiations between Athens and its creditors continue. The ECB raised the amount the Greek central bank can lend banks to 83 billion euros. The leaders of Germany, …
⊂ EUROPE ⊃ Vote on TTIP suspended: Parliament President Martin Schulz has decided to postpone a key vote set for Wednesday on the US-EU trade deal known as TTIP. It appears one of the reasons were differences of opinion between parties over the disputed arbitration courts. Many social democrats planned to vote against the proposal. …
⊂ EUROPE ⊃ Varoufakis criticizes creditors: According to Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, a proposal by Greece’s creditors IMF, ECB, and EU Commission contained no solution for the debt crisis. After talks with his German counterpart Wolfgang Schäuble, Varoufakis struck a softer tone, calling Monday’s meeting helpful and productive. Criticism by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker …
G7 summit in Bavaria: US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks as the G7 summit of economic powers began in southern Germany. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Council President Donald Tusk were also present. As always, commerce, including pushing for free trade deals, will figure high on the G7 …
G7 summit in Bavaria: Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in Bavaria to protest the G7 meeting of leaders of the world’s seven most industrialized countries – Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. The rally has so far been peaceful, bringing together activists defending various causes, from anti-globalisation to peace, …
⊂ EUROPE ⊃ Heavy fighting in Eastern Ukraine: Fighting surged between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed rebels in the east of the country on Wednesday, in what both sides described as the most intense battle in months. Ukraine accused the rebels of launching a full-scale offensive in violation of a truce. The separatists deny this. The …
⊂ EUROPE ⊃ Creditors agree on compromise proposal: Sources said the meeting in Berlin on Monday night revolved around getting the International Monetary Fund on board. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said his government had presented a complete reform plan to creditors. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, however, does not expect a final agreement before the …
⊂ EUROPE ⊃ Germany and France want to improve EU migrant plan: In a joint statement released at a meeting of six EU interior ministers in Dresden, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere and his French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve, called for the migrant quotas proposed by the EU Commission to be made more equitable. They …
⊂ EUROPE ⊃ Wish for treaty change isolates Cameron: Except for Great Britain, no other European Union member state seeks to change its EU treaty within the next two years. During a meeting of high-ranking officials from the 28 member states and representatives from the EU institutions, a report about the future of the monetary …
⊂ EUROPE ⊃ EU institutions reach deal on investment fund: After extensive negotiations, the EU institutions have agreed on a new billion euro fund for investments. The European Fund for Strategic Investments will become operational and start financing projects at the end of the summer. It could generate up to 315 billion euros in private- …