Brexit: Assessing scenarios

The Brexit question is hitting Europe in rather unsteady times. After long years of crises in the Eurozone, Greece almost exited the single currency in July 2015. Although other challenges dominate European politics today, it is very likely that Grexit is not off the table. The…

Political Briefing #21/2016

POLITICS & POLICY

Germany — Greek crisis: No more time

Germany has refused to grant Greece more time in order to reach budget goals agreed with its lenders. Due to Austrian recent border…

The European Semester and the social partners: Any chance of friendship?

The fact that the European sovereign debt crisis has redesigned the European institutional landscape is by now unquestionable. One of the major changes has been the strengthening of the Stability and…

Spain’s social model in the balance as parties attempt to form a government

Last December, general elections in Spain rendered a parliament split into four large blocks: those of the traditional two main parties, the conservative Partido Popular (PP) and socialist PSOE — both…

Political Briefing #24/2016

POLITICS & POLICY

UK — Homelessness: Budget review

The Chancellor George Osborne has announced that he will add extra cash in Wednesday’s budget to address the recent increase in homelessness in…

Political Briefing #23/2016

POLITICS & POLICY

Ireland — Brexit: Minimum wage

According to Ibec, the Irish employers group, Brexit could increase the gap between the Irish and UK minimum wage. At the beginning of January…

Political Briefing #19/2016

POLITICS & POLICY

Bulgaria — Merger: Greece and Bulgaria

Postbank, the Bulgarian subsidiary of the Greek Eurobank, successfully concluded the acquisition agreement for the operations of the…