Economic Crisis

The neo-liberal Taliban have brought Europe to its knees. For the first time in its history, the European idea has been weakened to the point that its survival is now at risk.

The failed austerity strategy imposed by the Troika is coming under increasing criticism, sometimes from unexpected corners. The time has come for a renegotiation of the debt incurred by the Portuguese State.

One of the major drivers of change in the agricultural sector has been fluctuations in the price of different commodities. For developing countries, such changes have had a disastrous impact and urgent steps need to be taken to return their agricultural sectors to a sustainable footing.

If “you are what you eat” than what happens when you don’t eat? In Greece, the economic crisis is forcing a rethink of people’s relationship with food, and the consequences are positive.

Inequality helped set in motion a downward spiral that resulted in the global financial crisis. Today, that inequality has finally been acknowledged as a central problem, and addressing it successfully can help us to not only overcome the crisis but to move to a more sustainable society.

An interview with Fintan Farrell, Director of the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN).

The situation on the ground in Greece continues to worsen, with each bailout ending in failure and increased poverty. Not only do such conditions act as fertile ground for the far-right, but the failure of leadership from the EU also call into question the very future of Europe.

With one of the highest growth rates in the European Union, the Polish economy seems to escape the crisis. But there is another side of the coin. The Polish are working more and more but earning less. This is the result of a practical obligation to systematically work overtime during weekends and the impossibility of taking annual leave. But what is the social impact of this inequality?

Ireland will vote on the European Union’s ‘Stability Treaty’ on May 31st, the only EU Member State to have a public vote on the treaty. The campaign will reignite a debate in Ireland about its relationship with the EU. For most of its time as a member of the EU, Ireland has perceived ‘Brussels’ as a positive player in Irish economic and social development. However, the economic implosion has raised awkward questions, and led to a re-evaluation of this relationship.

Inequalities lie at both ends of the equation of the crisis. Inequality is unsustainable in many ways: it puts in danger the cohesion of our societies and it is a driving force of our unsustainable consumption model. An interview with Jean Lambert MEP and Romual Jagodzinski from the ETUI.