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Protesters raise their hands at a demonstration against austerity measures in Athens.
It took less than a week for confidence in the euro zone to evaporate. Again. Last Wednesday, European Union leaders agreed to sweeping measures aimed at saving the common currency. But the shocking announcement on Monday by Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou that his country intended to hold a referendum on the conditions of the bailout measures, with its rigid and unpopular austerity measures, was all it took to shake markets again and raise doubts about the strength of the bailout.
As if that weren't bad enough, interest rates are rising on Italian government bonds again -- this week increasing to 6.4 percent and ever closer to the psychologically important 7 percent figure at which analysts believe the country will begin to have significant difficulties refinancing its debt.
On Thursday, even as Papandreou abandoned his referendum plans, he reinforced the image of a bumbling euro zone unable to get a grip on its currency crisis. His about face came within 24 hours of an emergency meeting with euro-zone leaders in Cannes -- and under tremendous pressure from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
For the first time, the pair broke a longstanding taboo by raising the prospect that Greece might be forced to exit the euro. "We are prepared," Merkel said. And high-ranking representatives of the euro states said they were already reviewing scenarios of a Greek insolvency. On Thursday, Merkel reiterated her message, saying "our main concern is the stability of the euro."
Papandreou backed down after Merkel and Sarkozy threatened to freeze an €8 billion aid tranche until the referendum had been concluded. The Greek prime minister faces a crucial vote of confidence on Friday evening.
As the uncertainty over Greece's future worsened this week, the debt crisis in Italy also intensified. On Thursday, Merkel made clear to the Italian prime minister that he needed to accelerate his planned austerity measures. Later that night, a draft of the G-20 closing statement emerged including language with Italy agreeing to come close to balancing its budget by 2013. G-20 leaders also pressured Berlusconi to agree to have Italy's progress in implementing savings measures and reforms monitored by both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the EU.
In addition, a number of Italian media reports are suggesting Berlusconi's government in Rome could be close to collapse.
German editorialists on Friday look to the latest developments and conclude that the European debt and euro crisis has escalated to a dangerous new level. Some argue that the only hose left that is big enough to fight the fire is the European Central Bank with its money printing machines.
Business daily Handelsblatt writes:
"No matter who takes over the rudder in Athens, Europe shouldn't expect much. Rather, it should prepare for even greater chaos."
"Instead of simply accepting the aid package ... offered, thus demonstrating political leadership, Papandreou suggested to his countrymen that they had a choice. The bitter truth, however, is that there is no choice -- a truth the Greek prime minister heard with perfect clarity from Merkel and Sarkozy on the French Riviera, where he had been summoned to appear. Either Greece accepts European help, was the message from the EU crisis summit in Cannes on Wednesday night, or Greece has to leave the euro zone."
"With this unprecedented ultimatum from EU leaders, the common currency endgame has begun. Even if the referendum does not take place, the damage has been done: For the first time since the founding ff the currency union, the exit of a member state is no longer mere speculation, it is an official alternative."
"(Were that to happen), the effects would not just be felt in an impoverished Greece, rather in the EU as well. Were Greece to be the first 'sinner' to leave the euro area, despite years of assertions to the contrary, attention would immediately move on to the next weak link in this chain. Were Italy and Spain to become endangered, an uncontrollable domino effect could begin -- which may in the end reach France."
"Whether the Greeks leave the euro zone in the end or not -- neither alternative will calm the situation."
Conservative daily Die Welt writes:
"At the end of the eventful day, the redemptive message came: Papandreou would withdraw his referendum because conservative Greek opposition leader Antonis Samaras declared he was ready to vote for the aid package with the government and take part in an interim national unity government. At the very last minute, and after two years of refusals, the opposition party (ND) finally showed a sense of responsibility."
"But the reasons behind this welcome development did not lie in Athens, but in Cannes. There, Merkel and Sarkozy beg the house when they took the Greek prime minister to task. They didn't just say that payments to Greece would stop until the Greeks made it clear they would hold up their end of the bargain. They also insisted that the Greek referendum would essentially be a vote on Greece's membership in the euro zone -- the really big question. The politicians in Athens decided they'd rather not take the risk."
The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes:
"Until Thursday ... one thing had never been questioned -- namely whether an overly indebted euro zone member, regardless what happens, would still belong to the currency union. The subject of a withdrawal or expulsion was always a taboo. The fact that the European treaties neither envisioned the one scenario or the other was the very least of the reasons for that."
"But this taboo doesn't exist anymore. The German chancellor, the French president and the Luxembourgian chief of the euro group no longer rule out what only a short time ago wasn't even allowed to be considered: that Greece will have to leave the currency union if it can't adhere to its agreements on consolidating its budget. Merkel, Sarkozy and Juncker appear to have run out of patience. The predicament Athens is clear to them and they do not underestimate what the Greek people are having to cope with. But their own voters are breathing down their necks."
"Regardless of whether the (inevitable) breaking of a taboo serves as an effective intimidation strategy or not, European politics have arrived on virgin soil. From now on, the order of the day will no longer be increasing the number of member states and transferring ever more competencies to the EU. From now on, the dismantling of institutions and duties will no longer be ruled out -- either because the voters will it or because objective contradictions exist that can no longer be simply resolved with existing methods. The dangers therein are obvious. It could become a slippery slope and once things start moving it may be hard to stop them. Still, this massive Project Europe, a unique undertaking of organizing peace and prosperity under the shared exercise of sovereignty, is experiencing a major crisis of confidence. Perhaps it is now time to give a radical signal with the goal of protecting it in its entirety from greater damage."
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Related Topics Italy Greece Silvio Berlusconi Euro Crisis The World from Berlin DER SPIEGELGraphic: Leadership Duo
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On Thursday, even as Papandreou abandoned his referendum plans, he reinforced the image of a bumbling euro zone unable to get a grip on its currency crisis. His about face came within 24 hours of an emergency meeting with euro-zone leaders in Cannes -- and under tremendous pressure from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
For the first time, the pair broke a longstanding taboo by raising the prospect that Greece might be forced to exit the euro. "We are prepared," Merkel said. And high-ranking representatives of the euro states said they were already reviewing scenarios of a Greek insolvency. On Thursday, Merkel reiterated her message, saying "our main concern is the stability of the euro."
Papandreou backed down after Merkel and Sarkozy threatened to freeze an €8 billion aid tranche until the referendum had been concluded. The Greek prime minister faces a crucial vote of confidence on Friday evening.
As the uncertainty over Greece's future worsened this week, the debt crisis in Italy also intensified. On Thursday, Merkel made clear to the Italian prime minister that he needed to accelerate his planned austerity measures. Later that night, a draft of the G-20 closing statement emerged including language with Italy agreeing to come close to balancing its budget by 2013. G-20 leaders also pressured Berlusconi to agree to have Italy's progress in implementing savings measures and reforms monitored by both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the EU.
In addition, a number of Italian media reports are suggesting Berlusconi's government in Rome could be close to collapse.
German editorialists on Friday look to the latest developments and conclude that the European debt and euro crisis has escalated to a dangerous new level. Some argue that the only hose left that is big enough to fight the fire is the European Central Bank with its money printing machines.
Business daily Handelsblatt writes:
"No matter who takes over the rudder in Athens, Europe shouldn't expect much. Rather, it should prepare for even greater chaos."
"Instead of simply accepting the aid package ... offered, thus demonstrating political leadership, Papandreou suggested to his countrymen that they had a choice. The bitter truth, however, is that there is no choice -- a truth the Greek prime minister heard with perfect clarity from Merkel and Sarkozy on the French Riviera, where he had been summoned to appear. Either Greece accepts European help, was the message from the EU crisis summit in Cannes on Wednesday night, or Greece has to leave the euro zone."
"With this unprecedented ultimatum from EU leaders, the common currency endgame has begun. Even if the referendum does not take place, the damage has been done: For the first time since the founding ff the currency union, the exit of a member state is no longer mere speculation, it is an official alternative."
"(Were that to happen), the effects would not just be felt in an impoverished Greece, rather in the EU as well. Were Greece to be the first 'sinner' to leave the euro area, despite years of assertions to the contrary, attention would immediately move on to the next weak link in this chain. Were Italy and Spain to become endangered, an uncontrollable domino effect could begin -- which may in the end reach France."
"Whether the Greeks leave the euro zone in the end or not -- neither alternative will calm the situation."
Conservative daily Die Welt writes:
"At the end of the eventful day, the redemptive message came: Papandreou would withdraw his referendum because conservative Greek opposition leader Antonis Samaras declared he was ready to vote for the aid package with the government and take part in an interim national unity government. At the very last minute, and after two years of refusals, the opposition party (ND) finally showed a sense of responsibility."
"But the reasons behind this welcome development did not lie in Athens, but in Cannes. There, Merkel and Sarkozy beg the house when they took the Greek prime minister to task. They didn't just say that payments to Greece would stop until the Greeks made it clear they would hold up their end of the bargain. They also insisted that the Greek referendum would essentially be a vote on Greece's membership in the euro zone -- the really big question. The politicians in Athens decided they'd rather not take the risk."
The conservative Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes:
"Until Thursday ... one thing had never been questioned -- namely whether an overly indebted euro zone member, regardless what happens, would still belong to the currency union. The subject of a withdrawal or expulsion was always a taboo. The fact that the European treaties neither envisioned the one scenario or the other was the very least of the reasons for that."
"But this taboo doesn't exist anymore. The German chancellor, the French president and the Luxembourgian chief of the euro group no longer rule out what only a short time ago wasn't even allowed to be considered: that Greece will have to leave the currency union if it can't adhere to its agreements on consolidating its budget. Merkel, Sarkozy and Juncker appear to have run out of patience. The predicament Athens is clear to them and they do not underestimate what the Greek people are having to cope with. But their own voters are breathing down their necks."
"Regardless of whether the (inevitable) breaking of a taboo serves as an effective intimidation strategy or not, European politics have arrived on virgin soil. From now on, the order of the day will no longer be increasing the number of member states and transferring ever more competencies to the EU. From now on, the dismantling of institutions and duties will no longer be ruled out -- either because the voters will it or because objective contradictions exist that can no longer be simply resolved with existing methods. The dangers therein are obvious. It could become a slippery slope and once things start moving it may be hard to stop them. Still, this massive Project Europe, a unique undertaking of organizing peace and prosperity under the shared exercise of sovereignty, is experiencing a major crisis of confidence. Perhaps it is now time to give a radical signal with the goal of protecting it in its entirety from greater damage."
1 | 2 Next Part 1: 'The Common Currency Endgame Has Begun' Part 2: 'The Rescue of the Euro Zone Has Failed Epically' Article... Print E-Mail Feedback For reasons of data protection and privacy, your IP address will only be stored if you are a registered user of Facebook and you are currently logged in to the service. For more detailed information, please click on the "i" symbol.
Post to other social networks:
Keep track of the newsStay informed with our free news services:
All news from SPIEGEL International Twitter | RSS All news from Europe section RSS© SPIEGEL ONLINE 2011 All Rights Reserved Reproduction only allowed with the permission of SPIEGELnet GmbH
ReprintsFind out how you can reprint this SPIEGEL ONLINE article.
Related Topics Italy Greece Silvio Berlusconi Euro Crisis The World from Berlin DER SPIEGELGraphic: Leadership Duo
Related SPIEGEL ONLINE links IMF Babysitter for Berlusconi: Italy Becomes Next Euro Battleground (11/04/2011) Confidence Votes and a Referendum: Greece Split Ahead of Tough Choices in Athens (11/03/2011) Caretaker Government in Athens?: Greece Backs Away from Referendum Plans (11/03/2011) The World from Berlin: Greek Exit From Euro Zone Just a 'Matter of Time' (11/02/2011) Fresh Trouble for Euro: EU Shocked and Furious at Greek Referendum Plan (11/01/2011) Absent in the Euro Crisis: Political Paralysis Prevails in Italy (11/01/2011) Tough Words: Merkel and Sarkozy Halt Payments to Athens (11/03/2011) SPIEGEL Interview with Finance Minister Schäuble: 'Germany Does Not Want to Rule Europe' (10/31/2011) The Division of Europe: EU Summit Paves the Way for a Split Continent (10/31/2011) European Partners PresseuropEurozone crisis | And if Greece goes... (Le Figaro, Paris)
Greek crisis | Referendums - can't always get what you want (Rzeczpospolita, Warsaw)
PolitikenDenmark to treat 50 wounded Libyans
Man doused himself with petrol
Corriere della SeraEmployment Support and Transfers for Civil Servants
Napolitano – “Effective Decisions Without Delay”
Global Partners New York TimesReport Shows Gain in Jobs but Growth Still Sluggish
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MORE FROM SPIEGEL INTERNATIONAL German Politics Merkel's Moves: Power Struggles in Berlin World War II Truth and Reconciliation: Why the War Still Haunts Europe Energy Green Power: The Future of Energy European Union United Europe: A Continental Project Climate Change Global Warming: Curbing Carbon Before It's Too Late Overview International TOP Home Politik Wirtschaft Panorama Sport Kultur Netzwelt Wissenschaft UniSPIEGEL SchulSPIEGEL Reise Auto Wetter DIENSTE Schlagzeilen RSS Newsletter Mobil VIDEO Nachrichten Videos SPIEGEL TV Magazin SPIEGEL TV Programm SPIEGEL Geschichte MEDIA SPIEGEL QC Mediadaten Selbstbuchungstool weitere Zeitschriften MAGAZINE DER SPIEGEL Dein SPIEGEL SPIEGEL GESCHICHTE SPIEGEL WISSEN KulturSPIEGEL UniSPIEGEL SPIEGEL GRUPPE Abo Shop SPIEGEL TV manager magazin Harvard Business Man. buchreport buch aktuell SPIEGEL-Gruppe WEITERE Hilfe Kontakt Nachdrucke Datenschutz Impressum TOP
"But this taboo doesn't exist anymore. The German chancellor, the French president and the Luxembourgian chief of the euro group no longer rule out what only a short time ago wasn't even allowed to be considered: that Greece will have to leave the currency union if it can't adhere to its agreements on consolidating its budget. Merkel, Sarkozy and Juncker appear to have run out of patience. The predicament Athens is clear to them and they do not underestimate what the Greek people are having to cope with. But their own voters are breathing down their necks."
"Regardless of whether the (inevitable) breaking of a taboo serves as an effective intimidation strategy or not, European politics have arrived on virgin soil. From now on, the order of the day will no longer be increasing the number of member states and transferring ever more competencies to the EU. From now on, the dismantling of institutions and duties will no longer be ruled out -- either because the voters will it or because objective contradictions exist that can no longer be simply resolved with existing methods. The dangers therein are obvious. It could become a slippery slope and once things start moving it may be hard to stop them. Still, this massive Project Europe, a unique undertaking of organizing peace and prosperity under the shared exercise of sovereignty, is experiencing a major crisis of confidence. Perhaps it is now time to give a radical signal with the goal of protecting it in its entirety from greater damage."
Post to other social networks:
Stay informed with our free news services:
© SPIEGEL ONLINE 2011 All Rights Reserved Reproduction only allowed with the permission of SPIEGELnet GmbH
Find out how you can reprint this SPIEGEL ONLINE article.
Graphic: Leadership Duo
Eurozone crisis | And if Greece goes... (Le Figaro, Paris)
Greek crisis | Referendums - can't always get what you want (Rzeczpospolita, Warsaw)
Denmark to treat 50 wounded Libyans
Man doused himself with petrol
Employment Support and Transfers for Civil Servants
Napolitano – “Effective Decisions Without Delay”
Report Shows Gain in Jobs but Growth Still Sluggish
Italy Agrees to Allow I.M.F. to Monitor Its Progress on Debt
Jury Deliberates Jackson Doctor's Fate
Toddler Lives on Leftovers for Two Days After Mom's Death
Follow SPIEGEL_English on Twitter now:
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