WASHINGTON — “Bush was right” is not a view frequently expressed in the New York Times.  But, there it was, in Thomas Friedman’s March 10 column:  “Former President George W. Bush’s gut instinct that this region craved and needed democracy was always right.”

Friedman was referring to … Continue Reading…

VENICE — The Greek crisis is the product of decades of mismanagement in public finance, a lack of transparency, and the pitfalls of sovereign debt in an age of credit default swaps. But the resolution of this crisis and others of differing scale and kind besetting Portugal, Spain, and Italy … Continue Reading…

BERLIN — “The King is dead.  Long live the King!” is a traditional proclamation made following the accession of a new monarch.  The same pragmatic approach was adopted by the EU Commission President when the new Ukrainian President visited Brussels Monday on his first official trip abroad: José Manuel Barroso, … Continue Reading…

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — When Aleksander Lukashenko, the authoritarian president of Belarus, recently began a campaign to intimidate and punish members of the country’s disobedient Polish community, he opened a new front not only with neighboring Poland, but also with the EU as a whole.  That challenge must now be met … Continue Reading…

The US is less engaged in the response to Greece’s crisis than it should be. For the US, and the EU, a role for the IMF would be good.

In recent weeks, the Greek debt crisis now embroiling European bond markets has been seized upon by conservative commentators in the United … Continue Reading…

BUCHAREST - In the historic beginnings of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, athletes would all carry olive branches to the Games as a symbol of peace.  While the actual olive branches are no longer an official part of the Games, to this very day the Olympics remain … Continue Reading…

Greece is one of the most important investors in the Balkans and most analysts are concerned that the financial crisis will have a spillover effect on the Balkan countries. Greece dominates the region’s banking sector with ownership or control of nearly 28 percent of the financial institutions. With almost 2,000 … Continue Reading…

PARIS - On October 4, 2009, the Greek Socialist Party Pasok scored a large victory in early national elections. With a clear majority (160 out of 300 seats) in the Greek legislature, Pasok’s top candidate George Papandreou became prime minister. A few days later, the new government announced that the budget … Continue Reading…

In his Transatlantic Take piece, Francois Lafond reflects on recent developments and offers some pointers for future economic governance within the Eurozone.  Having just returned from Athens, let me add some additional reflections on the potential geopolitical implications of the crisis. 

First, the scale of the budget crisis facing the new … Continue Reading…

The European Union spends €55 billion a year on farm subsidies. Until recently the question of where the money goes was a closely-guarded secret. But thanks to a campaign by journalists, … Continue Reading…