By Tony Moriarty, Research Officer, Unite Trade Union

The Eurozone crisis has abated. As Mario Draghi pointed out at his last press conference: CDS rates are lower, stock markets are higher, volatility rates are at recent lows, the deposits in periphery banks are up and bond yields are converging. The Euro is saved – for now.  It will become more secure as the Fiscal Compact Treaty takes hold and as the European Banking regulatory regime starts to function, followed by a full banking union.

Pro-Cyclical Policies Hamper Eurozone Recovery and Drag Down Global Economic Growth

Mark Weisbrot
The Guardian Unlimited, May 30, 2012

This note focuses on the economic questions surrounding the Fiscal Treaty. The structural deficit and debt brake rules are explained, and potential sources of funding are outlined.

Rather than advocating which way citizens should vote, the paper aims to help voters make an informed decision.
 

The Greek people choose

Tony Simpson

The clean lines of the Parthenon, high up on the Acropolis, stood out clearly in the early March sunshine. Down below, outside the Greek Parliament, a man pushed his supermarket shopping trolley down the hill towards Syntagma Square, where much of the public drama of Greece’s contemporary tragedy has played out prior to the recent general election. Balanced across the trolley was a discarded metal bath, on its way to be sold for a few euros. So it is that some residents of Athens eke out their existence in 2012.

EU in crisis - another Europe is possible (May 8th)
http://www.corporateeurope.org/news/eu-crisis-another-europe-possible

Growing Movement Rejects EU Austerity Treaty (May 7th)
http://www.corporateeurope.org/pressreleases/2012/growing-movement-rejec...

The Guide contains an introduction to the content of each treaty and explains how the two treaties are interlinked.   

Contribution to the Sub-Committee on the Referendum on the Intergovernmental Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union, 18^th April 2012

ON 31 JANUARY 2012, the Fine Gael/Labour Government signed up to the Eurozone austerity treaty. Here are 10 things you need to know about the new agreement.