2012 marks 10 years since Europeans first held euro notes and coins in their hands. But prospects are grim for Europe's single currency in the New Year, as the region's leaders warn of tough sacrifices in this "most severe test in decades". ­With recessi

He has gone, but he’s not out. Geoff Andrews is staff tutor in politics at the Open University. The atmosphere of Silvio Berlusconi's departure from the post of prime minister on 12 November 2011 may have been characteristically undignifi

Just imagine the tory reaction had Cameron signed the treaty. Some of the usual suspects on here would have found reasons to wave their pom-poms, but I’ve little doubt that Cameron would have faced open hostility from his back benches, possible resignati

Italy’s new government comprises well-respected figures, but Prime Minister Mario Monti’s select team will have to act fast and rely on more than just technical competence to overcome vested interests and pass unpopular major reforms. A mix of academic

Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former special assistant to Ronald Reagan, he is the author of Foreign Follies: America's New Global Empire (Xulon). Share with your friends: For months the European Union has tottered from bailout

FORMER Italian premier and European Commission ex-president Romano Prodi has criticised German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying her decisions in the eurozone crisis have been too little, too late. "I have been disappointed. She has made mistakes. Her dec