The EUROPP team take a look at the week in Brussels blogging

The EU centre and the crisis

Figures released by Eurostat this week indicate that the Eurozone has finally emerged from its recession. Open Europe note that while the figures are positive, they were primarily driven by growth in France and Germany, raising questions about the continued divergence between ‘core’ and ‘periphery’ economies in the Eurozone. Daniel Gros disagrees, arguing that the fundamentals of periphery Eurozone economies are improving, and that austerity has ‘done exactly what it was intended to do’.

Sticking with Germany, Revolting Europe have an interview with Italian economist Emiliano Brancaccio on the effect of the Eurozone crisis on the German economy. He argues that there will be no change in the country’s Eurozone policy, regardless of the results of next month’s elections.

On the never-ending EU-UK debate, Mats Persson writes that recent statements from Angela Merkel may open the door to the UK ‘repatriating’ powers from the European Union. He states however that while ‘Merkel will pay a price to keep the UK in the EU… she won’t pay any price’.

Across Europe

Simon Wren-Lewis at Mainly Macro writes on the tendency of far-left and far-right political movements to emerge during an economic crisis. He notes that while this is assumed to only have a serious impact in ‘immature democracies’, there is evidence that it is starting to have an effect in countries such as the Netherlands and the UK.

Elsewhere, Charlemagne’s Notebook has a video compiling views on Silvio Berlusconi and whether his recent trials spell the end of his political career. James Walston asks whether Italy might even be heading towards a ‘civil war‘ over the Berlusconi case, albeit a war fought via the medium of the media and the courts.

The European neighbourhood

Coverage of the European neighbourhood was dominated by events in Egypt this week. Emad Shahin, writing at The Conversation, argues that unless swift action is taken, the country could be heading for either a civil war or prolonged military rule. Stefan Wolff also notes that the EU is in a position to act as a mediator between the Muslim Brotherhood and the army, although its efforts so far have proved unsuccessful.

Meanwhile Daniel Levy at the European Council on Foreign Relations warns against the idea that the removal of Mohamed Morsi from power can be seen as a ‘step towards democracy’, arguing that the country is instead heading towards a regime analogous to that of General Gamal Abdel Nasser.

And finally…

Jon Worth takes a look at how politicians should design their Twitter profiles.

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Note:  This article gives the views of the author, and not the position of EUROPP – European Politics and Policy, nor of the London School of Economics.

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