Brussels' Barroso fights Franco-German diktat
AFP, 23.11.2011
Quote
Long criticised for remaining in the shadow of the Franco-German couple during Europe's unrelenting debt crisis, the head of the powerful European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has finally decided to step into the ring. […]
But Barroso aides say the commission has been working hard for months to stave off debt crisis contagion and save the single currency, outlining the contours of a new financial rescue fund, the European Financial Stability Mechanism, or drafting new measures to tighten budgetary and debt discipline.
"I believe there is a change," said Janis Emmanouilidis of the European Policy Centre. "We see more of a readiness to come up with bold proposals, to put more pressure on member state governments."
"That has all to do with the crisis becoming more severe and that dangers related to the crisis have become more obvious."
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