The fishermen in north-eastern Scotland have some strong opinions about the EU. According to Andrew Charles, a seafood processor, “The EU has been devastating for the Scottish fishing industry.” The bloc’s fleet reduction policies have forced many fishermen out of the business. Recently, the number of Scottish fishing boats fell from 2365 in 2004 to…
Author Archives: Derrik Brunner
EU Comments on Spanish Overhaul of Banking Sector
Spain’s recent overhaul of their banking sector as part of the euro-zone bailout is moving forward. The European Commission recently reported, however, on even more steps that Spain needs to take. The review was co-authored by the Commission and the European Central Bank. The review said that “much work remains ahead” so that the asset…
Unemployment Rates in the EU
Unemployment in the EU hit a record high in December and sales before Christmas were dismal. As economists look at the Eurozone, they believe that these signs may indicate a slow emergence from the recession years. While there has been recent optimism about the eurozone’s ability to climb out of the deep banking and public…
EU Auto Registrations Down Drastically
New auto registrations in the EU have been in continued decline for 14 months. In November, they were down 10.3% when compared to November of 2011. While the UK has not had a decline of this sort, almost all of the other EU countries have. Sales have been down 3.5% in Germany, 19.2% in France,…
EU Receives Nobel Peace Prize Today
Today, the EU will receive the Nobel Peace Prize in a move that has everyone talking. While accepting the prize on Monday in Oslo, Norway, the three presidents of the EU’s main bodies will represent the entire EU for, as the Norwegian Nobel Committee has explained it, “for over six decades contributed to the advancement…
EU Climate Commissioner Thrilled with Australia
EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard showed her excitement when Australia recently signed up for a second round of emission reductions with the Kyoto Protocol. Neighboring New Zealand, however, is joining a separate convention and forgoing the Kyoto choices. New UN climate negotiations are scheduled to start in Qatar this month with a planned discussion of…
The Race to Invest in Greece’s OPAP
Greece is set to sell off a number of major assets in an effort to curb their drastic recession and stick to their austerity plan. The first major sales will include gambling company OPAP, state gas business DEPA and a number of real estate projects. These sales are projected to be completed as early as…
Meeting Between ASEAN & The EU
Today, the finance ministers who come from the countries of the Association of South Eastern Nations (ASEAN) will meet in Bangkok with those from the EU. The goal of the meeting is to increase trade and investments between the two as the EU attempts to exit from the Eurozone’s sovereign debt crisis. The expectation is…
List of Top 50 Most Successful Authors in Britain
Should you wonder who the wealthiest authors in Britain are, wonder no more. The Bookseller recently drew up a list of Britain’s 50th most successful authors of all time. And some of these are certainly not a surprise. JK Rowling tops the list with sales that have reached more than £237.6million Second in line is…
German Real Estate New Safe Haven for Investors
German Bunds may still be considered safe havens despite their recent low and negative returns as investors continue to seek low risk assets. According to CNBC, however, “investors are flocking to the German real estate market, lured by steadily rising house prices, low mortgage rates and a stable macroeconomic outlook.” Dr. Frank Porschke of Jones…
