antoniacolibasanu

About Antonia Colibasanu

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So far Antonia Colibasanu has created 28 blog entries.

Structures and Solutions for the EU?

The economic crisis has been the main topic of discussion for a few years in the European Union.  Apart from sovereign debt and the financial aspect, there are three other fundamental dimensions to the crisis that Europeans must resolve: The political and social dimensions, and the question of competitiveness. The Competitiveness Dimension Europe’s struggle to remain competitive starts with the peripheral countries in the south and east of the European Union, which are not as dynamic as the north or the manufacturing bases that have emerged in Asia over the past decade. However, we’re also seeing a slowdown of Europe’s core economies — Germany and France — coupled with an increase in [...]

Sweden and the European Transition

Conferences as a general rule are meant as networking events – rarely do you attend one that provides new insights into reality. Over the last three weeks I have traveled and attended conferences in Slovakia, Switzerland and Romania. Considering that the three events I attended focused much on international security and defense policy, I was surprised to observe the persistence of two general themes: the pessimistic view on the future of the European Union and the questions marks flying up in the air whenever talking about NATO. Looking back, news coming from one country — Sweden — highlighted the two worries. Since early March, the Swedish media has been a [...]

By |2017-11-14T21:28:41+02:00May 14th, 2013|Antonia Colibasanu., Blogs|0 Comments

Redefining Country Risk in Europe after Cyprus?

The transformation currently taking place within the European Union not only casts doubt on the future of the bloc, but it also brings to the forefront elements that redefine the notion of country risk. The conditions Brussels has attached to its assistance to Cyprus have opened a discussion on how much control a country’s government should have over the financial sector and, ultimately, its citizens’ savings. Ever since the great depression in the 1920s, the idea that bank deposits are secure has been a fundamental banking principle. Brussels’ demand that depositors pay for the bailout of their Cypriot banks breaks the social contract in place in Europe since the 20s. [...]

By |2017-11-14T21:28:42+02:00April 9th, 2013|Antonia Colibasanu., Blogs|0 Comments

Roles of EU and US in Israel-Gaza conflict

In the past few days, we’ve observed Gaza and hoped for an ending of the current conflict. I was writing last week that it is regional powers that will be the main drivers of a potential cease-fire, considering that the current foreign policy focus of the EU members and the U.S. is elsewhere. Cairo is indeed mediating the cease-fire talks. However, recent interesting moves from Washington and Paris allow us to better understand the challenges of the current situation. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, en route to Cambodia, made a stop in the region, but this does not necessarily mean the United States will get involved in the conflict. [...]

By |2017-11-14T21:28:43+02:00March 25th, 2013|Antonia Colibasanu., Blogs|0 Comments

Borders, secession movements and the EU

The last weeks have been all about Gaza and the Middle East. While that region remains key in international affairs, the old Europe proved to have interesting news as well recently. The European Commission said that Scotland would have to apply for membership, according to a report in The Scotsman newspaper. This statement came as the Scottish government said that independent Scotland will remain in the EU. The Commission move is a clear message from the EU, indicating that it has taken sides with the central governments of European countries in making it clear again that any secessionist country would have to apply for EU membership. This is a message [...]

By |2017-11-14T21:28:43+02:00March 25th, 2013|Antonia Colibasanu., Blogs|0 Comments
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